The San Francisco call., 1910-10-30

flare up at another opening. The boys
strained their ears to catch the faintest
sound, but there was nothing to be
heard but the scraping of the branches
against the side of the old MILL very
creepy sound in that lonely place.
At this point number of boys were
for turning back and giving the whole
thing up. Then some were for sending
for Jerry right away. Mark and some
of the older boys tried to laugh them
out of their fears, but when this did
not seem to do any good they appealed
to their sense of honor. Don't you
know, fellows. that our friends are be-
ing held prisoners in that old grist mill
and may be needing our assistance most
urgently. We would be the worst kind
of towards If we ran away now. Those
lights are nothing more than lanterns
in the hands of the Terrible Terriers
They have guessed at our large num-
bers and are trying to frighten us off.
Why, IL we should turn and run now
we should never hear the last of it, and
we should deserve to be the laughing
stock Of the whole valley if we allowed
ourselves to be SO easily frightened
off,"
These words had the desired effect.
Come, Mark, you lead the way" called
out one of those behind. With cry of
Come on boysi" to keep their spirits
spanned the creek near the waterwheel
and on into the main part of the
building. AS he groped his way around
trying to locate just where he was,
hand like iron suddenly grasped his
ankle and down he went sprawling on
his face. Hearing Marks thud on the
floor the boys behind him rushed to
his assistance. Mark then informed
them that some one had caught hold of
his .ankle and tripped him up. They
all listened silently. more than ever on
the alert, wondering what was to
happen next There wasn't a boy that
would not have given a great deal to
hear at this moment the cheerful voice
Of Jerry Mulligan.
Tony, one of the lads who had come
to Marks aid, went down on all fours
cropping for the dark lantern which
had fallen from the leaders, hand
When he recovered it, he flashed it to
every corner of the room. Nothing
was to be seen but a few frightened
rats as they scuttled to their holes
The situation was tense by this time
While Tony was flashing the light
around and about Mark thought he
heard a sound directly above him.
Throw the light overhead, Tony
there's something up there" pointing
as he spoke to the ceiling. AS Tony
flashed the lantern in the direction
that Mark indicated, whom did they
see but Herman Schroeder. well
known character of Ruckford, calmly
looking down upon them from the top
of tall ladder which he had hurriedly
climbed. Most of the boys knew him
quite well as frequent visitor to Var
row. He did odd jobs about town be-
tween the two places. He was said
to be weak minded but he often showed
shrewdness lacking in many stronger
minded people.
Herman presented such comical ap-
pearance as he looked down upon them
from his high perch that the boys all
burst out laughing. What are you
doing up there?" called out Mark.
Come down from your perch" sang
out another. But to these remarks and
many more of like character Herman
answered not a word. His small, rest :
less eyes moved quickly from side to
side, examining their upturned faces
as though seeking for means Of es-
cape. perhaps calculating the strength
OF his various adversaries before leap
ing down upon the weakest.