The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-09

am AFRAID We are going to have
rain," he returned, in a vexed voice. II
do not mind the moon being absent: the
darkness il in our favor. But what am
! to do with you, Allie, IL we have 4
wet night? You will catch your death Of
cold"
Nonsense" replied Alison stoutly. Rut
nevertheless she felt an inward twinpe ~
discomfort. Neither of them had thought
OF the weather. How weird and eerie ey-
erything looked in the obscure light, the
dark towing path and the sluggish canal.
the tall factories, and beyond them the
dim woodpiles and sheds stretching away
into the distance. The very barge that
came floating toward them out Of the
darkness seemed to hold dark, grisly
shapes upon it.
In few minutes Roger was ha,n;r.
her to scramble on shore. They were now
at the extreme end of the timber yard.
and had some way to walk.
Long before they had reached their
destination the 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.
dere' we are at last" WHISPERED
Roger; follow me closely, Allie" And
she obeyed, holding his coat to give her
courage. A pitchy blackness was round
them; Rogers cropping only led them still
further into the darkness. Alison ex-
per'enced sense of suffocation until a
ray OF murky light showed her where she
was-at the further entrance of one Of
the wood piles, with the Office windows
within few yards of them.
Alison breathed more freely when she
recognized her position. The interlaced
pianks formed an arched chamber. where
they could move with comfort and be shell
tered from the rain. Roger spread the
plaid near the entrance, and babe his sis
ter make herself as comfortable as cir
cumstahces permitted, while he went a
little way to reconnoiter.
Il hope l have not brought Won on
wild goose chase" he said when he re-
turned. Timothy is eating his supper.
We shall have to be careful when he goes
with his rounds. Hush! What is that?"
as slight sound was plainly audible.
Don't move, l implore you, Allie ~ And
Roger cautiously raised himself on his
hands 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; l heard his voice"
he whispered. "Come a little further !:
Timothy has his lantern, and he might
turn it on us; and now not a word if
you can help it. Are you frightened,
dearY'
NO." returned Alison, a little m
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: they could
see two men; but at the moment the Ian
tern was lowered and Timothy's face was
turned to his companion.
"A wet night, MASTER" he said, in a
grumbling voice. 'T'll just go on my beat,
and then back to the shed again.
call right, Timothy" returned the man.
ager, briskly. 81 must just hunt for the
paper I told you about. Possibly may
be quarter of an hour in the Office ::
but I will call out to you when I am
ready for you to let me out of the yard
"Ay, ay, | 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 pouring
in torrents outside; its very violence
promised short duration. Presently Roger
crept back to her.
1T is just as I said," he began, hur-
riedly. "He is unlocking the safe he
has duplicate key-I was sure of it.
There is not a moment to lose. l dare
not trust Timothy. must 60 for my
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 go, Roger" she exclaimed.
you will 60 more quickly, and will know
how to avoid Timothy"
Every well, keep up your courage, Al
uc, duU OO uOI lOSc SASuI VI Tue VuldAus
he returned. II will bring father back
in no time. Wait where you are until
Timothy has passed again."
Alison's reply was inaudible, 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 relief when Timothy passed
again; the familiar figure in the heavy
watchman's coat gave her comforting
sense o. human support.
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 the other the blind had been lowered
to shut out prying glances. Alison sup
posed, as 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 1t the uncurtained
window.
She was frightened at her own daring.
but she remembered that she was Rogers
witness; it was necessary for her own
evca n foafifv IN EerpuaS0rl's dishonest