Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-10-10
"And the cockcycd barn." In iuired

l was struck silent by this, and
looked blankly at the dark forbidding
structure that fronted on the road
You're right" said Mrs. Knapp
with laugh. Cant you make out
that funny little window at the end
| there?"
| looked more closely at the build
| ing. In the dim light of the stars the
coat OF whitewash that covered 1t
made Ii possible to trace the outlines
OF window in the gable that fronted
| the road. Some freak of the builder
had turned il quarter of the way
around. giving il comical suggestion
of man with droop to his eye.
And the iron cow" I asked.
Stupid. a pump, of course" re-
piled Mrs. Knapp, with another laugh
Now see il there is lane here by
the barn"
A narrow roadway Just wide enough
for a single wagon joined the main
| road at the corner OF the building.
Then drive mp 1t quietly" was Mrs
Knapp's direction.
Just beyond the barn made out the
figure OF the pump in a conspicuous
! place by the roadside and felt more
| confident that We were on the right
! road.
The driver swOre in an undertone
as the hack lurched and groaned in a
DOGGY series OF ruts. and branch
whipped him in the face. I was forced
| TO give grunt myself. as another
| slapped my sore arm and sent sharp
twinge Of pain shooting from the
wound till II tingled in my toes. Dicliy,
protected between us. chuckled soft
ly. I reelected savagely that nothing
spoils man for company like mis-
taken sense Of humOr.
Suddenly the horses stopped SO
short that We were almost pitched out.
Mrs. Knapp raped on the carriage
door and opened it.
Have You come to the bars?' she
asked presently.
IL guess so. We've come against
something like fence
well, then, she replied. when we
get through, take the road to the left.
That will bring us to the house
You are certain
That is what Henry wrote in the
cipher beneath the map. The house
must be only a few hundred yards
away"
The bars were there, and lifted the
wet and soggy boards with an anxious
heart. Were we, after all. so near the
hiding place? And what were we to
find?
On sudden turn the house doomed
up before us and a wild clamor of dogs
broke the stiffness of the night.
Il hope they are tied" | said, with
poor attempt to conceal my misgiv-
ings.
We'll have lively time in quar-
ter of minute if they aren't" laughed
Dicky, as he followed me.
But the baying and barking came no
rearer, and | helped Mrs. Knapp out
of the carriage. She looked at the
house closely.
This is the place" she said, in an
unmistakable tone of decision. I'VE
must be quick. wish something would
quiet those dogs; they will bring the
whole country out"
1t seemed an hour before we could
raise any one, but it may not have
been three minutes before a voice
came from behind the door.
Who's there?"
ct is l.. NJ. H." said Mrs Knapp;
then she added three words of gibber-
ish that | took to be the passwords
used to identify the friends of the boy
At the words there was the sound
of bolts shooting back and the heavy
door opened enough to admit us. AS
We passed in, it was closed once
more and the bolts shot home.
Before us stood short. heavy-set
man, holding a candle. His face, which
was stamped with much of the bull
dog look in it, was smooth shaven ex-
cept for a bristling brown mustache.
He looked inquiringly at us.
rs he here-the boy" cried Mrs
Knapp, her voice choked with anx.
iety."
Yes" said the man. do we move
again."
~ OllCC, Sdlu NudDD, Ill UsI
tone of decision.
1T will take ten minutes to get
ready" said the man. Come this
way"
was left standing alone by the door
in the darkness, with a burden lifted
from my mind We had come in time
The single slip of paper left by Henry
Wilton had been the means, through
a strange combination of events, TO
point the way to the unknown hiding
place of the boy.
In few minutes the wavering light
of the candle reappeared. Mrs Knapp
was carrying a bundle that | took to
be the boy, and the man brought
valise and a blanket.
It's all right" said Mrs. Knapp.
Mo- can carry him want to carry