St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-06

leaned his neighbours low conserva-
tory, almost spanning it from side to
side.
''Sure, sir, don't know whether it's
breakfast or supper that's waiting for
you" Captain Forsythe's man had
reappeared and Stoou now at the cop
of the landing looking in at him. Its
q sound sleep you've had"
John Steele glanced at the clock.
The afternoon was waning.
The servant was now eying the Wis
itor obviously. John Steele wheeled,
a perfunctory answer on his lips, and,
going to the dining room, swallowed
hastily a few mouthfuls
He made up his mind as to his
course then, the last desperate shift.
Amid a turmoil of thoughts a certain
letter he had had in mind to send to
Captain Forsythe occurred to him,
and, calling for paper and pen, he
wrote there, facing the window, fe-
verishly, hastily, several pages. Then
he gave the letter to the servant for
the postman, whose special call at the
iron knocker without had just sound
ed The letter would have served
John Steele i'll had it fallen into his
enemies hands, but once in the care
of the royal mails it would be safe.
If it were, indeed, that person at the
gate and not some one
zone moment, Dennisr' The man
paused. "Of course you will make sure
it is the postman?'
GAS if 1 didn't know his knock" he
said, departing.
John Steele's pulses now throbbed
expectantly. He had obtained a key to
the gate and moved toward the front
door. By this time the darkness had
deepened, and, key in hand. he step
ped out.
At first he walked toward the front
on the gravel that the servant might
hear him, but near the entrance he
paused, hesitating, to look out. AS he
remained thus some one who had been
standing not far off drew near. John
Steele stole around the place until he
reached the back wall.
There he examined his position, felt
the top, then placed his fingers on the
wall. It was about six feet high; but.
Selling hold, he was about to spring
into the air, when behind him, from
the direction of the row, low me-
tallic sound caught his attention. The
front gate to the Forsythe house had
suddenly clicked. Some one had en-
tered.
John Steele looked back Even as
he did so a number of figures abruptly
ran forward from the gate. He waited
no 1Onpor h11t droxU hipoco1f I'M tO q
level with the top of the wall. The
effort made him acutely aware of his
wounded shoulder. He WINGED, but
set his teeth hard and swung himself
over until one foot came in contact
with the iron frame of the greenhouse
next to the masonry. To crawl to the
end of the lean-to, bending to hold to
the wall and then to let himself down,
occupied but brief interval
He heard behind him an imperative
knocking at the front door of Captain
Forsythe's house, succeeded by the
noise of feet fastening into the house.
For some time nothing save these
sounds was waited to the listener
Then loud, disappointed voice, sound
ing above another voice, came from a
half opened window. John Steele stood
still no longer Great hazard, almost
certain capture, lay before him in the
direction he was going-the street this
garden led to would be watched-but he
could not remain where he was. He
moved quickly forward AS he neared
the house, more imposing than Captain
FOrsythe's, a stream of light poured
from a window. Through this bright
space he darted quickly, catching
feeting view of people within, several
with their faces turned toward him.
Close to a side of the square looking
house he paused, his heart beating
fast. To attempt to reach the gate, to
get out to Surrey road, little doubt ex-
listed as to what awaited him there. He
remained motionless. Sharp twinges
again shot through his shoulder. Then
on a sudden he became unmindful of
physical discomfort. A plan of action
that had flashed through his brain
held him oblivious to all else 1t offer
ed only the remotest chance of escape
but still a chance, which he weighed,
determined to take! 1t had come to
him while listening to the merry
voices within the room near him talk
ing of the gay dinner just ended. of
the box party at the theater that was
to follow.
Already cabs were at the door. A
servant walked out and unlocked the
gate, and with light badinage the COM
pany issued forth. As they did so
john Steele, unobserved. stepped for
ward In the semidarkness the party
passed through the entrance info the