The San Francisco call., 1910-10-30

Loot QUIT" cried Tony, hes going
to jump" A simultaneous backward
movement of the whole party left a
clear area in front. Herman still hesi-
tated. After. moments silence Tony
called out starting for the ladder at
the same time: Come on, Thorpe, we
will yank him down." Mark pushed his
way to Tony and, catching hold of his
arm to keep him back, turned to the
trembling figure at the top of the lad
der and said There is nothing to be
afraid of, Herman If you will come
down and answer our questions truth
fully. but il you don't, we will have
to take steps to drag you down."
Something that Herman had heard
had had the effect of changing his
whole appearance. His face had lost
its worried look and was changed to
one Of good nature. Say he called
down to Mark, you are not the son or
Captain William Thorpe of Yarrow, are
you?" Yes, am" said Mark, looking
a little puzzled. well, then / will
come down and tell you everything
you want to know. Captain Thorpe
once did me a good turn a number or
years ago and I've never forgotten It,"
So saying, he lost no time in scram-
bling down from his cramped position
and Joining his wouldbe captors. AS
he Strengthened himself up he stood
a head and shoulders above the' tallest
of the boys. The trusting, familiar
smile Of the village innocent (as the
Scotch would Say) once more Hghted
UP his face
Now, Herman" began Mark, II want
you to tell where the Terriers have
taken our boys" 1t did not take more
than five minutes or so OF judicious
questioning on Marks part to elicit
all the information they wished from
the now thoroughly plant and confid
sr1. IIA,. fha latf hAir, mi
delighted to do all that he could to
help the son of his old friend, Captain
Thorpe. Herman told how Beetles, the
redoubtable, had met him down the
road some hours before and had asked
If he wanted to earn SO cents. He told
Beetles that he certainly did. He was
directed to go to the old grist mill
with lanterns and was told to flash
them now and again from the various
windows. The Yarrow boys undoubt-
edly would think the place was haunt
ed and so would be frightened off be-
fore they could attack the Terriers
of Ruckford, who had taken several of
their party prisoners. Beetles had said
he knew the Yarrow boys would make
a big effort to rescue their friends,
and the most likely place for them to
seek would be the old grist mill. Did
you see any white ghosts on your way
hereY asked Herman. Those were
scared of them myself. Whenever
flashed light from the window and
saw these old white things scudding
about among the trees / dived down
into the dark of the room and hid my
head for a while / thought maybe
you were real ghosts when l heard you
coming in and l thought I'd have to
fight"
well, Herman" said Mark after he
and the other boys had done laughing
at poor Hermans account of playing
spook, tell us where our friends are"
"Oh yes, OF course went on Schroeder,
"why 1 most forgot about it," He
brushed a few cobWebs and old grain
husks from his touseled head as he
spoke. You will find your friends
somewhere near the blue slide
heard Beetles say that they did not in
tend to 'drub' them, whatever that
meant. but they certainly would miss
the first days fishing in Jaynes creek"
Now, this blue slide was often the
scene of rough and tumble encounters