The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-11-04

q moment before It to make sure 81
our plans.
Its q bad hole" whispered Corson.
"A fine place for an ambush" re
turned obviously.
We'll. there's no help for It." said
the policeman. Come on" And
drawing his club and revolver he stole
noiselessly up the stairs.
We were not two-thirds the way up
the flight before . voice shot out OF
the darkness.
Who's there?"
There was no more need for silence
and Corson and reached the landing
just as a door opened that let the light
stream from within. Two men had
sprung to the doorway and another
could be seen family outlined in the
dark hall.
The two men jumped back into the
room and tried to close the door, but ]
was upon them before they could
! swing it shut. Four of my men had
followed me close, and with a few
blows given and taken the two were
prisoners.
Tie them fast" ordered, and
fastened to see how Corson Jared.
l met the worthy policeman in the
hall, blown but exultant. Owens was
! following him, and between them they
half-dragged. half-carried the man
who had given the alarm.
Aren't there any more about?"
asked. There were more than three
left in the gang" -
IF there had been more of us, you'd
never have got in" growled one of the
prisoners.
where's Barkhouse?" l asked.
Find him." was the defiant reply.
/! We began the search, opening one
ing rooms, some the meeting rooms
while the one we had first entered ap
peared to be the guardroom.
Hello! What's this?" exclaimed
Corson, tapping an iron door. such as
closes warehouse against fire.
Its locked, sure enough" said
Owens, after trial.
1T must be the place We are look
ing for" l said. Search those mer
for keys"
The search was without result.
Its a sledge We must get" said
Owens. starting to look about for one
''Hould on" said Corson. Il was
near forgetting. I've got a master-key
that fits most of these locks. It's
handy for closing up warehouse
when some clerk with his wits avian
dering forgits his job. So like enough
it's good at unlocking"
1t needed a little coaxing, but the
bolt at last slid back and the heavy
door swung open. The room was fur
nished with large table, a big desl
and a dozen chairs. which sprang out
of the darkness as I struck a match
and lit the gas. 1t was evidently the
council room of the enemy.
This is illigant.." said the police
man, looking around with approval;
but your man isn't here, I'd say"
We'll, it looks as though there
might be something here of interest,
replied, Selling eagerly upon the
papers that lay scattered about upon
the desk. Look in the other room
while l run through these"
A rude diagram on the tOpmOst
paper caught my eye. 1t represented
a road branching thrice. On the third
branch was a cross, and then at in
tervals four crosses, as if to mark
some features of the landscape. I'm
derneath was written:
From B-follow ~ m. Take third
| road-S or s."
The paper bore date of that day, and
! guessed that it meant to show the
| way to the supposed hiding-place Of
the boy.
Then, as l looked again, the words
and lines touched a cord of memory
Something had seen or known be
i for was vaguely suggested. l CROPPED
in the obscurity for a moment, vainly
reaching for the phantom that danced
just beyond the grasp of my mental
fingers.
There was no time to lose in spec
ulating, and turned to the work that
pressed before us. But as l thrust
the papers into my pocket to resume
the search for Barkhouse, the elusive
memory flashed on me. The diagram
of the enemy recalled the single slip
of paper l had found in the pocket OF
Henry Wilton's coat on the fatal night
of my arrival. l had kept 1t always
with me, for it was the sole memoran.
dunn left by him of the business that
had brought him to his death.
brought it out and placed it side by
side with the map had before me.
The resemblance was less close than
l had thought, yet all the main fea-
lures were the same. There was the
road branching thrice; a cross in both
marked the junction of the third road
as though it gave sign of building or
some natural landmark; and the other
features were indicated in the same
order. No-there was a difference in
this point; there were five crosses on
the third road in the enemy's diagram,
while there were but four in mine.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
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