Eastern Colorado times., 1912-11-29

Cured to memory. "Here, you lads,
skulk down into these bushes, while
try that balcony. That is the library.
isn't 1t, Eric? thought SO; Ive been
under guard there twice. The win
dow shows no light, but some one is
in the room beyond. Give me a leg
up, Tom, and stand close SO you can
hear If speak,"
1t was not high from the ground,
but could not grip the top Of the rail
without help. With Toms assistance
went over lightly enough. and with
out noise. The window was the one
which had been broken during the
first assault on the house. and never
repaired. found ample room for
crawling through. The door into the
hall stood partly ajar, little light
streaming through the crack, SO l ex-
perienced no difficulty in moving about
freely. A glance told me the apart
ment was unoccupied, although I
heard the murmur Of distant voices
earnestly conversing. Occasionally
distinct. My first thought was that
the men with me would be better con-
cealed here than in the bushes below,
and I leaned over the rail. and bade
them Join me. Within another minute
the three Of US were in the room in
tently listening. stole across to the
crack Of the door. The hall was
empty so far as l could see looking
toward the rear of the house, and the
voices We heard were evidently in the
dining-room. Occasionally there was
a clatter Of dishes, or the scraping OF
chair on the polished floor. One
voice sang out an order to a servant,
nasal voice, slightly thickened by
wine, and I wheeled about, gazing in
quiringly into Mortimers face.
That's Grant," he said quickly.
"and half drunk"
Il thought SO; that's when he is
really dangerous. Stay close here; If
the hallway is clear am going to get
into the shadow there under the stairs.
Have your weapons ready"
Where the fellow was who had been
at the front door could not deter
mine. He had disappeared somehow.
anu 1 ohpPSu dAoA6 lAO wall AOA Tic
necessary ten feet like a shadow, and
crept in beneath the shelter OF the
staircase. From here could look into
the room opposite. although only
portion Of the space was revealed.
There was no cloth on the table. and
but few dishes, but counted a half.
dozen bottles, mostly empty. and nu-
glasses. Grant was at one
end. his uniform dusty and stained.
but his eyes alone betraying intoxica-
ton. Beside him was a tall. stc0p-
shouldered man. with matted beard.
the coat Of a British Grena-
dier, but with all insignia Of rank
ripped from 1t. He had a mean mouth.
and yellow, fang-like teeth were dis
played whenever he spoke. Beyond
this fellow. and only half seen from
where I crouched, was a heavy-set in
his face almost purple. with
a thatch Of uncombed red hair. He
wore the cooked hat Of a Dragon,
pushed to the back Of his head. his
feet were encased in long cavalry
boots. crossed on the table. and he
was pulling furiously at a pipe, the
stem gripped firmly between his teeth.
Who the bearded man might be had
no means Of knowing. but this beauty
was without doubt Fagin. stared at
him, fascinated. recalling the stories
Of his fiendish cruelty. my heart thump-
ing violently. while my fingers gripped
the butt of my pistol. Then, without
a man stepped out Of the
darkened parlor, passed within three
feet of my hiding place. and stood
within the dlning-room door. The
three within looked at him. and Fagin
roared out:
What is It now? Heard from cul-
yer?"