The Washington herald., 1908-04-12
CHAPTER XIX.
What Lay Behind the Door

Above the dome-shaped roof OF the con-
servatory was a row of four long. dark
windows. and still above them two fur
ther stories. On the second story in the
center Of the house was a high window.
covered with wire network. evidently 2
staircase window OF stained glass.
The whole place was In darkness. as
were the houses on either side. while at
rear of them rose a blank wall, the back
Of one Of the houses in Park street. The
only light showing was in the basement
faint glimmer behind the green holland
blinds, which showed the presence OF
Levi in the lower regions.
He sleeps in the front" remarked
Charlie, Il expect, however. he keeps
| this on all night"
Where does old Sam sleep?"
That l don't know, Well have TO dis
| cover"
The windows above the conservatory
were their objective, but 10 ascend there
was full of peril. for. even though they
could climb up one false step and they
would come crashing through the glass
roof This would mean serious per
sonal injury, as well as instant discovery.
In the whispered consultation that fol-
lowed, both recognized the danger. but
both were equally determined to risk it.
| They had plenty OF time. The night was
still young, therefore there was no need
for haste.
They made careful examination as far as
/ they could in the very faint light. Max
was afraid 10 fash his electric lamp too
often lest the attention OF any neighbOr
might be attracted and an alarm of
burglars" given. Neither knew whether
a servant might not be looking out upon
the night The house they desired to en-
ter had earned a reputation as a house Of
mystery; therefore, If was more than
likely that some watchful eye OF a curl
| GUS neighb0r, master or servant, was kept
| upon the rear Of the premises
At last Max. who was the more ath-
| letic and nimble of the two. decided that
the only way by which to reach the roof
Of the conservatory was by the spouting
at the site. The ascent was a difficult
one, but he resolved to attempt il.
Taking a small coil of thin but very
strong rope which Charlie produced from
the capacious pocket of the shooting
Jacket he were for that purpose, he
mounted upon his friends shoulders, and
then climbed slowly up. with an agility
which surprised his friend.
Once upon the -oof, he made fast the
rope to one of the iron stays of the
spouting, and let it down to Charlie. who
a few moments later swarmed I'D il and
stood on the edge Of the glass roof be-
side his companion.
Their position there was one Of greatest
peril They stood together upon the mar
row edging Of lead by which the glass
roof was joined to the wall OF the house
They moved slowly and gingerly, for it
was quite uncertain whether il would
bear their weight Besides, there was
nothing 10 grasp by which TO relieve
their weight. for above them rose the wall
sheer to the ledges of the row of windows,
too high for them to reach
A step in the wrong direction, and down
they must come with a crash into the
neglected conservatory.
Max could hear his own heart beating.
The risk was greater than he had ever
anticipated Yet Sc greatly was their
curiosity now aroused that nothing could
brook their attempt TO learn the secret
That dark, mysterious house contained.
They stood together, not daring to move.
AT short distance away was a thin iron
support running into the wall-psrt of the
framework Of the roof-and toward that
Max cTept carefully. until at last he
reached it and stood in a safer position.
The weight of both men caused tho
curved roof to give slightly, and more
than once they heard sharp noises whera
the glass, fitting too tightly. cracked
across from the undue pressure.
Neither spoke Max was eagerly search
ing for some means by which 10 reach
one Of the windows above. In his ascent