Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-06-10
Continued from last week
CHAPTER XIII.

ingS.
To the right the top of the high
wall shone with the customary broken
bits of glass; the rear defenses glisten-
ed also in formidable fashion. He
noted. however. several places where
this safeguard against unwonted in
vasion showed signs of deterioration.
In n or two spots the jagged frag-
ments had been broken or had fallen
off. These slight breaks in the con
tinuity of irregular. menacing glass
bits he fixed in mind by a certain
shrub or tree. Against the real wall.
which was of considerable height.
Ieaned his neighbours low conserva-
tory, almost spanning it from side to
side.
breakfast or supper that's waiting for
you" Captain Forsythe's man had
reappeared ana stood now at the top
of the landing looking in at him. cts
a 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 q few mouthfuls.
He made up his mind as to his
ours 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
tRassoStman; Xaesssapeaiekszat.as
IRON knocker without had justss ound-
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
"One moment, Dennisv' The man
paused. "Of course you will make sure
it is the postman?"
"As if l didn't know his knock!" he
said, departing.
John Steele's pulses now throbbed
expectantly. He had obtained a key to
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 neal 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. 1t was about six feet high; but.
seizing hold, he was about to spring
into the air. when behind him, from
the direction of the row, a 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 longer. but drew himself up to a
level with the top of the wall. The
effort made him acutely aware of his
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 a 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 a loud, disappointed voice, sound
ing above another voice, came from q
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 a
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. 60 attempt to reach the gate. to