Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-16
CHAPTER XIX.
What Law Behind the Door.

conservatory was row of four long
dark windows, and still above them
two further stories. On the second
story In the center of the house was
a high window covered with wire net
work, evidently staircase window of
stained glass.
The whole place was in darkness,
as we're 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 show
ing was in the basement-a faint glim-
mer behind the green holland blinds.
which showed the presence of Levi
in the lower regions.
''He sleeps in the front" remarked
Charlie. II expect, however, he keeps
this on all night"
Where does old Sam sleep?"
THAT I don't know. Well have to
discover"
The windows above the conserva-
tory we're their objective, but to as
cend 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 both serious personal injury as
WOll nS luoIouC ulSSoNSly.
In the whispered consultation that
followed, both recognized the danger,
but both were equally determined to
risk 1t. 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 to flash his
electric lamp too often lest the atten-
ton Of any neighbor might be attract
ed and an alarm of burglars" given.
Neither knew whether servant
might not be looking out upon the
night The house they desired to en-
ter had earned reputation as house
Of mystery, therefore it was more
than likely that Some watchful eye Of
a curious neighbor, master or servant,
was kept upon the rear of the prem
ise.
At last, Max, who was the more
athletic 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 side. The ascent
was difficult one, but he resolved to
attempt 1t.
Taking small coil of thin but very
strong rope which Charlie produced
from the capacious pocket Of the
shooting jacket he wore for that pur-
pose, he mounted upon his friends
shoulders and then climbed slowly up
with an agility which surprised his
friend.
Once upon the roof he made fast
the rope to one of the iron stays of
1of %o rIo
who few moments later swarmed up
it and stood on the edge Of the glass
roof beside his companion.
Their position there was one of
greatest peril. They stood together up
on the narrow 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 it would bear their
weight Besides, there was nothing
to grasp by which to relieve their
weight, for above them rose the wall
sheer to the lodges of the row Of
windows, too high for them to reach.
A step in the wrong direction, and
down they must come with crash
into the neglected conservatory.
Max could hear his own heart beat
ing. The risk was greater than he
had ever anticipated. Yet so 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
thin iron support running into the
wall-part of the framework of the
roof-and towards that Max crept
carefully, until at last he reached It
and stood in a safer position.
The weight of both men caused the
curved roof to give slightly, and more
than once they heard sharp noises
where the glass, fitting too tightly,
cracked across by the undue pres
sure.
Neither spoke. Max was eagerly
searching for some means by which
to reach one of the windows above.
In his ascent there he had torn his
ing. He had left his hat below, and
the light rain was falling upon his
uncovered head.
Slowly he crept forward from iron
to iron until he reached the opposite
Slue VI lue DlS glass ToOl, ana Lnere
found, as he had hoped, another iron
rain-spout which led straight up past
the end window, to the roof of the
house.
Back he came to his companion in
order to obtain the rope, and then,
with 1t bullying in his pocket, he stole
along apd assembled the second pipe
as he had done the first This pro-
ceeding was, however. far more dan
gerous, for to fall with the glass be-
meath him meant almost certain
death.
Charlie watched his form ascending
in the darkness, scarce daring to
breathe Slowly he went up, until,
on level with the window, he halt
ed. Around the ledge, six inches
above, was an iron bar let into the
wall IN order to prevent flowerpots
from being blown down upon the con-
servatory roof. This iron proved
Maxs salvation, for gripping 1t he
steadfed himself while he secured the
rope to the spout as he had previously
done on the first ascent.
Then, win firm grip upon the