Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-10-08

little way to reconnoiter.
I hope l have not brought you on a
wild goose chase" he said when he re
turned. Timothy is eating his supper
| we shall have to be careful when he goes
with his rounds. Hush. What is that?'
/ as a slight sound was plainly audible
| Don't move, ] implore you, Allie ~ And
Roger cautiously raised himself on his
hands and knees and crept q few PAGES
nearer to the entrance. but in a moment
! he returned and babe Alison to move
! further into the darkness.
1T is Ferguson; l heard his voice. y
| he whispered. Come a little further
| Timothy has his lantern and he might
! turn 1t on US; and now not a word il
you can help it. Are you frightened,
! dear?'
No" returned Alison. a little IN
steadily, but at that moment she was GER
tainly wishing herself and Roger safely
! at home. Rogers caution was not in
vain; sudden fare of light penetrated
the entrance of the wood pile they could
see two men; but al the moment the Ian
| tern was lowered and Timothy's face was
| turned to his companion.
| "A wet night, master" he said in a
grumbling voice. I'll just go on my beat,
! and then back to the shed again"
"All right, Timothy" returned the man
ager briskly. Il must just hunt for the
paper 1 told you about. Possibly I may
be a quarter Of an hour in the Office
but | will call out to you when | am
ready for you to let me out of the yard. -
'Ay, ay, will let you out, sure enough,
Master Ferguson, if so be as you strike
upon the little window in the she'd" And
the old man moved on slowly.
Don't move, Allie; I'll be back in a
moment" whispered Roger in her ear.
And Alison remained where she was.
feeling the dampness all around her, an
unpleasant moisture beginning to trickIe
| down her neck The rain was pouring
in torrents outside; its very violence
promised short duration. Presently Roger
crept back to her.
1T is just as / said" he began. hur-
riedly. He is unlocking the safe: he
has a duplicate key-I was sure of it.
There is not a moment to lose. [ dare
not trust Timothy. I must go for my
father. Allie, may I leave you here? You
are perfectly safe-no one would harm
you. But one of us must watch Fergus
son; which shall it be-"
you must go, Roger" she exclaimed.
You will go more quickly, and will know
how to avoid Timothy"
Very well. keep up your courage, Al
lie, and do not lose sight of the villain
he returned Il will bring father back
in no time. Wait where you are until
Timothy has passed again"
Alison's reply was inaudible, but her
mute assent testified obedience. That
moment she was literally beyond speech ::
the hOrrid darkness seemed to swallow her
up again; a nervous oppression made her
heart beat with distressing quickness. 1t
was quite a relief when Timothy passed
again; the familiar figure in the heavy
watchnan's coat gave her a comforting
sense ct human support.
She stole cautiously across the open
path, and in another moment she was
standing outside the Office window. There
were two windows, for this one was
necessarily darkened by the woodpile, but
over the other the blind had been lowered
to shut out prying glances. Alison sup
posed, as Roger had, that he had locked
himself in to carry on his unhaIlowed
work. The dark background of piled-up
planks quite overshadowed the white girl
ish face peering in at the uncurtained
window.
She was frightened at her own daring,
but she remembered that she was Rogers
witness; it was necessary for her own
eyes to testify to Fergussons dishonese
doings. Now there could be no mistake :;
the open safe was conclusive, and so
were the notes and gold that he was stow
ing away in that great black bag. Alison
watched, half fascinated by horror He
had nearly finished; yes, he was locking
his bag and closing the safe, the candle
stood futtering beside him on a chair
not on the table; he almost pushed
against it as he went to the door and set
it open. Yes, he had locked himself in,
for she could see him take the key out and
fix it carefully in the outer lock, and then
he went back into the ROOM Oh, what
had become of Roger? In another mo-
ment he could have escaped with his
booty. The main entrance to the timber
Yard was in the opposite direction to the
private door opening into the garden of
The Holms. Even if Roger and her faith
err were coming in this moment, Ferguson
would have no difficulty in eluding them
1t was true the door locked and Tim
othy had the key, but he could easily
swim across the canal and reach the tow
ing path unseen.
Alison's agony was rising to a pitch
that almost justified rashness She was
becoming desperate in spite of her terror
4 sudden thought came to her, thrilling
her with horror-could she do it? Yes,
for Rogers sake she would try. Another
second she was gliding round the little
building and passed the curtained window
with a CLEAN of light shining through the
crevice. As she passed it there was sud-
den darkness; he had extinguished the
candle. In another instant Alison had
shut the door, almost knocking Fergus
son back, if she had known it, and had
| turned the key in the lock. Alison had
felt a qui k, hysteric sob rise in her throat
as she heard the key turning under her
hand Had she really done ir2 Had
| some unseen presence beside her given her
the needful strength? Was the dishonest
| servant a prisoner, and she his captor
But Alison hdu no time to do more than
ask herself these questions, for Timothy
came out OF his she'd and was hobbliug
| toward her, and the next moment the key
was in Alisous pocket, and she was stand
| ing at bay.
What does this mean. miss? How
came you here?" exclaimed the old man,
| suspiciously.
Il have locked Mr.. Ferguson in he is
| stealing papa's money out of the safe, y
returned Alison, turning her white face to
| Timothy. and the sob rising in her throat
again. L will not give up the key until
papa comes"
fierce kick at the door behind her
drove her from it Il few PAGES.
Let me out, Timothy :" Numbered Fer
gusson. The girl is mad; she must be
out of her mind to say such things. Mr..
| Merle desired me TO look over some papers
/ for him rbpy ir,1-Npptanr aud