Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-15

Udlue ny III VI Tue rIcuCu IcpuDuCt
The Marsellaise! She entered the mu-
sic room, and the low but vibrant 4.
chords ceased instantly. Dreltmann
had been playing these melodies stand
ing. he turned quickly. When FitI-
gerald Joined them they were serious
ly discussing Wagner and his Ill treat
ment in Munich and the mad king Of
Bavaria.
As she had planned. both men no
ticed the simplicity Of her dress.
ut is because she doesn't care"
thought Breitmann.
1T Is because she knows we don't
care" thought Fitzgerald. And he was
nearer the truth than Breitmann.
The dinner was pleasant. and there
was much talk of travel. The admiral
had touched nearly every port, Fiu-
gerald had been round three times and
Breitmann four. SO far as the adj
miral was concerned. he was very well
pleased with the new secretary.
Fitzgerald was not asleep. he had
an idea. and he smoked his yellow
African gourd pipe till this same ideal
shaped itself into the form Of a rel
solve. He laid the pipe on the man
tel, turned over the logs-for the
nights were yet chill and a fire was q
comfOrt-and raised a window. HeI
would like TO hear some Of that tap-l
ping in the chimney. He was fully
dressed, excepting that be had ex-
changed shoes for slippers.
! He went out into the corridor.
There was no light under Breltmann's
door. So much the better. He was
asleep. Fitzgerald crept down the
stairs with the caution Of a hunter
who is trailing new game. AS he ar
rived at the turn Of the first landing
he hesitated. lie could hear the old
clock striking OF the seconds in the
lower hall. lie cupped his ear. By
George. Joining the sharp monotony
Of the clock was another sound, softer,
intermittent He was certain that II
came from the library. That door was
never closed. Click-cllck! Click-clicki
The mystery was close at hand.
He moved forward He wanted to
get as close as possible to the fireplace.
He peered in. The fire was all dead.
Only the corner Of log glowed duly.
Suddenly the glow died, only to reap
pear, unchanged. This phenomena
could be due to one thing, q passing Of
something opaque. Fitzgerald had
often seen this in camps when some
ones legs passed between him and the
fire. Some one else was in the room
With light bound he leaped forward,
to find himself locked in a pair OF
arms no less vigorous than his own.
And even in that lively moment he
remembered that the sound in the
chimney went on.
II was a quick. silent struggle. The
intruder wore no shoes. II would be
a test of endurance. Fitzgerald re
called some tricks he had learned In
Japan, but even as he stretched out bis
arm TO perform one the arm was
: caught by the wrist. while a second
hand passed under his elbow.
Don't" he gasped slowly. "rll give
= in" His arm would have snapped
If be hadn't spoken.
A muttered oath in German. "Fitz
gerald?" came the query in q whisper
I eyes. Is this you. RreitmannT
!. Ssh! Not so loud! What are yor
| doing hereT'
E "And yOu?"
!. Listen! 1t has stopped. he hal
S heard our scuff1ing."
d ut seems, then, that we are botl
E here for the same purpose" said Fitx
gerald, pulling down his cuffs and run
= ming his fingers round his collar.
$ "Yes; you came too late or too soon.
: Breitmann stopped and ran his hand
D over the rug.
{ The other saw him but dlmly
D What's the matter?"
r 81 have lost one Of my studs" will
$ the frugal spirit Of his mothers fore
: bears. You are stronger than
J thought"
Il Much obliged"
ITS n good thing you did not e
!. that hold first. You'd have broken N,
y arm"
e Wouldn't have given in, chi l sim
8 ply cried quits in order to start owe
II ngain. There's no fair fighting in Ii
dark. you know"
6 well, we have frightened him away
Il II Is too bad"
n What have you on your feetT
t "Felt slippers"
d "Are you afraid Of the coldi"
n A laugh. Not l."
e Come with me"
o "WhereT'
1t First to the cellar. Remember thu
g hot air box from the furnace thu
" backs the chimney way up2"
" II looked only at the bricks"
E We'll 90 and have a look at tia
box. 1t Just occurred to me that ther
lie Is a cellar window within two feet q
J. that box"
D. Let US hurry. Can you find th
re way?"
g Il can try"
E. But lights"
O. Fitz0nrald exhihifed hIa elprfrin norl