The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-05-28
bridge where We are to watt Rogsri How

|
do not mind the moon being absent; tn,
darkness Is In our favor. But what an
l to do with you, Allie, IL we have q
wet night? You will catch your death OF
cold"
Nonsense" replied Alison stoutly. But
nevertheless she felt an inward twinge Of
discomfort. Neither of them had thought
OF the weather. How weird and eerie ev-
erytnlng looked in the obscure light, the
aark towing path and the sluggish canal,
nns tall factories, and beyond them the
am woodplles and sheds stretching away
INTO the distance. The very barge that
| came noatlng toward them out of the
| darkness seemed to hold dark, gr;sly
shapes upon it.
In few minutes Roger was beln;nc
ner TO scramble on shore. They were now
inc extreme end Of the timber yard,
ana mad some way to walk.
Long before they had reached their
oestination tho heavy patter of rain drops
warned them to make haste; but in the
uncertain light and with so rough a path.
their speed was greatly retarded.
mere we are at last" whispered
noser; follow me closely, Allie" And
sne oDeyed, holding his coat to give her
courage. A pitchy blackness was round
tnem Rogers cropping only led them still
Iurtner into the darkness, Alison or.
perlenced sense Of suffocation until a
ray OF murky light showed her where she
was-at the further entrance Of ons Of
tho wood piles, with the Office window,
witnin few yards Of them.
Alison hrno H.
recognized her position. The interlaced
pianks formed an arched chamber, where
.ney could move with comfort and be shell
terco from the rain. Roger spread the
plaid near the entrance, and babe his ais
tor make herself as comfortable as cir
cumstances permitted while he went a
little way to reconnoiter
II hope I have not brought Won on a
wild goose chase" he said when he r..
turned. Timothy is eating his sumner
We shall have to be careful when be ,o.s
Win his rounds. Hush! What Is that?"
as slight sound was plainly audible.
Don't move, implore you, Alliew And
Roger cautiously raised himself on his
nands and knees and crept a few PAGES
nearer to the entrance, but in a moment
ne returned and babe Alison to move
further into the darkness.
1t is Ferguson; 1 heard his voice"
ne whispered. Come a little further
timothy has his lantern, and he might
turn IL on us; and now not word If
you can help it. Are you frightened
dear"
No" returned Alison, a little un-
steadily, but at that moment she was GER
tainly wishing herself and Roger safely
at home. Rogers caution was not in
vain; sudden flare of light penetrated
the entrance of the wood pile: thew could
see two men but at the moment the Ian.
tern was lowered and Timothy's face was
turned to his companion.
wet night, MASTER" he said in a
grumbllng voice. "I'll just 60 on my beat,
and then back to the shed again"
All right, Timothy" returned the man.
ager, briskly. 81 must just hunt for the
paper l told you about Possibly I NAV
be quarter Of an hour In the office
out l Will call out to you when I am
ready for you to let me out of the yard"
"Ay, ay, I 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 trickle
down her neck The rain was pourin,
In torrents outside; its very violence
promised short duration. Presently Roger
crept back to her.
1T Is just as 1 said," he began. hur.
riedly. HE is unlocking the safe: he
has 4 duplicate KEY was sure of It,
There Is not a moment to lose. I dare
not trust Timothy. I must go for nv
father. Allie, may 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 60, Roger" she exclaimed.
You will 60 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. 81 will bring father back
in ne time Wait where you are until
Timothy has passed again."
Alison's reply was inaudibie, but her
mute assent testified obedience. That
moment she was literally beyond speech +;
the horrid darkness seemed to swallow her
up again; nervous oppression made her
heart beat with distressing quickness 1t
was quite a relief when Timothy passed
again; the familiar figure in the heavy
watchlnan's coat gave her comforting
sense o. human suDport
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 tho other the blind had been lowered
to shut out prying glances. Alison sup
posed, az Roger had, that he had locked
himself In to carry on his unhallowed
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; 1t was necessary for her own
eyes to testify to Fergusson's dishones.
doings. Now there could be no mistake