The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-11-12

Stupid! a pump. Of course" re-
piled Mrs. Knapp, with another laugh.
Now see If 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 up it 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 gToaned In
boggy series of ruts, and a branch
whipped him in the face. was forced
to give a grunt myself, as another
slapped my sore arm and sent sharp
twinge of pain shooting from the
wound till it tingled in my toes. Dicky,
protected between us, chuckled SOFT
ly. l reflected savagely that nothing
spoils a 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.
81 guess so. We've come against
something like fence"
We'll, then, she replied, when we
get through, take the road to the left.
That will bring us to the house"
You are CeTtain?"
That is what Henry wrote in the
cipher beneath the map. The house
must be only 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 a sudden turn the house loomed
up before us and wild clamor of dogs
broke the stiffness of the night.
II hope they are tied" said, with
a 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 nc
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. 1--WE
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?"
at is l.. NJ. K.," 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 sount
Of bolts shooting back and the heav!
door opened enough to admit us. Al
we passed in, it was closed onc'
more and the bolts shot home.
Before us stood a short, heavy-se
man, holding candle. His face, whicl
was stamped with much of the bull
dog look in it, was smooth shaven eS
cept for bristling brown mustache
| ;,;, - =
rs he here-the boy?" cried Mrs
Knapp, her voice choked with anz
iety."
Yes" said the man. do We NOV
again?"
AT once" said Mrs. Knapp, in he
tone of decision.
1T will take ten minutes to ge
j ready" said the man. Come thi
way"
l was left standing alone by the doc
in the darkness, with burden lifte
from my mind. We had come in TIM
The single slip of paper left by Henr
Wilton had been the means, throug
strange combination of events,
point the way to the unknown hidin
place of the boy.
In a few minutes the wavering ligt
of the candle reappeared. Mrs. knap
was carrying a bundle that took
be the boy, and the man brought
valise and blanket
Its all right" said Mrs. Kanpl
"No--I can carry him--I want to carr
him."
! The man opened the door, the
closed and locked it as / helped Mr.
;. Knapp into the carriage.
/ Have you got him safe?" aske
t Dicky incredulously. We'll, I'll hay
t to say that you know more than
thought you did" And the relief an
/ satisfaction in his tone were so eN
dent that gladly repented of my su
| picions of the light-hearted Dicky.
d Have you heard anything" / aske
him anxiously.
d 81 thought I heard yell over hel
6 through the woods. We had oett'
get out of here"
p Don't wait second" said the ma
It "The south road comes over this 9TH
d way. If you've heard anybody ther
they will be here in five minutes. !
l. follow you on horse"
e With an injunction to haste,
It stepped after Mrs. Knapp into the ca
s riage, the door was shut, Dicl
d mounted the seat, and we rolled dow
IT the road on the return journey.
y (TO BE CONTINUED)
40 a