Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-19
tcepyrisht, 1910, BY sobb.. Merrill company.I
IcoNTINUEp.]

CoNTINUED.1
1t was q quick. silent struggle. The
intruder wore no shoes. 1t would be
a test Of endurance. Fitzgerald re-
called some tricks he had learned In
japan, but even rs he stretched out his
arm to perform one the arm was
caught by the wrist while second
hand passed under his elbow.
"Don't!' he gasped slowly. "I'll give
in." His arm would have snapped
If he hadn't spoken.
A muttered oath In German. "Fitz'
gerald" came the query in a whisper.
Eyes. Is this you. Breitmann?"
"Sh! Not SO loudl What are you
doing here?"
"And your
Listen! 1t has stopped He has
heard our scuffling."
ut seems. then. that we are both
here for the same purpose" said Fitz-
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 hands
over the rug.
The other saw him but dimly.
whats the matterT
II have lost one of my studs" with
the frugal spirit Of his mothers fore
bears You are stronger than l
thought"
Much obliged"
"lts a good thing you did not get
that hold first. You'd have broken my
arm"
wouldn't have given In. eh? l SIM
ply cried quits in order to start over
again. There's no fair fighting In the
dark, you know"
well. we have frightened him away.
It Is too bad"
"What have you on your feetT
"Felt slippers"
Are you afraid Of the cold~
A laugh Not l."
Come with me-"
"WhereT
First to the cellar. Remember that
hot air box from the furnace that
backs the chimney way upT
II looked only at the bricks"
We'll 60 and have look at that
box. 1t just occurred to me that there
Is cellar window within two feet Of
that box"
Let US hurry. Can you find the
way?"
IL can try"
But lights?"
Fitzgerald exhibited his electric pock-
ct lamp This will do"
"YOu Americans!
After some mistakes they found their
way to the cellar. The window was
closed. but not locked. and resting
against the wall was plank. 1t lean
ed obliquely. as If left in hurry. Fitz-
gerald took 1t up and bridged between
the box and the window ledge. Brett
mann gave him a leg up, and In an
other moment be was examining the
brick wall of the great chimney under
a circular white patch Of light A
dozen rows Of bricks had been cleverly
loosened. There were also evidences
of chalk marks. something on the or
der Of diagram. but 1t was rather un-
certain. as 1t had been redrawn four
or five times. The man hadn't been
sure of his ground.
"Can you seeT asked Fitzgerald.
"Yes." Only Breitmann himself knew
what wild rage lay back Of that mono
syllable. He was sure now. That dia-
gram brushed away any lingering doubt
The lock had been triaed with. but the
man who had done the work had not
been sure of his dimensions.
"Clever piece Of work. Took away
the mortar In his pockets. No sign OF
It here. The admiral had better send
for his bricklayer for more reasons than
one. There'll be a defective flue pres.
emily. Now, what is the duffer ex'
pecting to 6nd? Fitzgerald coolly
turned the light full into the others
face.
1T Is beyond me-" with equal cool
ness, unless there's pirates treasure
behind there" The eyes bllnked lit
tie, which was but natural.
pirates treasure. you say?" F1tz'
gerald laughed. THAT would be joke.
eh2
"What now" For Breitmann thought
Il best to leave the initiative with bis
friend.
"a little run out to the stables" re-
calling to mind the rumor Of the night
before.
"The stablesT"
"Why. surely. The fellow never got
In here without some local assistance.
and am rather certain that this comes
from the stables. Besides no one Will
be expecting U.s." He came down
agilely.
Breltmann nodded approvingly at the
ease with which the other made the de-
scent. ut would be wiser to leave the
cellar by the window" he suggested.
my Idea too Well make step out
of this board. The stars are bright
enough" Fitzgerald climbed out arst
and. then gave hand to Breltmann.
81 understood there was burglar
alarm in the house"
"Yes. but this very window, being
open, probably breaks the circuit All
cleyerly planned. But I'm crazy to
learn what he Is looking for. Double
your coat over your white shirt"
Breitmann was already proceeding
with this task. A dog trot brought
them into the roadway. but they kept
to the grass. They were within a yard
Of the stable doors when hound be-
gan bowling. Breitmann smothered q
laugh and Fitzgerald a curse.
"The quicker we get back to the eel
lar the better" was the formers OBJ
servation.
CHAPTER TX.