Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-12-20

A fine slcct flew in. impcrceptibR
save for the sensation OF damp IL
gave. and the Slight haze it diTusvd
through the air Enlarged by this
haze. the building they were set to
watch rose in magniGed proportions
at their left The yard between. piled
high in the center with snow-heaps or
other heaps covered with snow. could
not have been more than forty feet
square. The window from which they
peered. was halfway down this yard
so that a comparatively short distance
separated them from the porch where
George had been told TO look for the
man he was expecting 70 identify. All
was dark there at present, but he
could hear from time to time some
sounds of restless movement, as the
guard posted inside shifted in his mar
row quarters. or struck his benumbed
feet softly together.
But what came TO them from above
was more interesting than anything
to be heard or seen below. A mans
voice, raised to a wonderful pitch by
the passion of Oratory, had burst the
barriers Of the closed hall in that tow
ering third story and was carrying it's
tale to other ears than those within.
Sweetwater, IN whom satisfaction
was fast taking the place of impa-
thence and regret, pushed the window
to before asking George this question
Did you hear the voice of the man
whose action attracted your attention
outside the Clermont?"
No"
Did you note just now the large
shadow dancing on the ceiling over
the speakers head?"
Yes. but could Judge nothing from
that"
We'll, he's a rum one. | shant open
this window again till he gives signs
of reaching the end of his speech. It's
too cold"
But almost Immediately he gave a
start and, pressing Georges arm. APP
peared 10 listen, not to the speech
which was no longer audible, but to
something much nearer--a step or
movement in the adjoining yard. At
least, SO George interpreted the quick
turn which this impetuous detective
made, and the pains he took to direct
Georges attention to the walk run.
ming under the window beneath which
they crouched. Some one was steal,
ing down upon the house at their left,
from the alley beyond. A big man,
whose shoulder brushed the window
as he went by. George felt his hand
seized again and pressed as this hap
pened, and before he had recovered
from this excitement, experienced an.
other quick pressure and still another
as one, two, three additional figures
went slipping by. Then his hand was
suddenly dropped, for a cry had shot
up from the door where the sentinel
stood guard. followed by a sudden
loud slam. and the noise of a shooting
bolt, which, proclaiming as it did that
the invaders were not friends but
enemies TO the cause which was being
Wanted above, so excited Sweetwater
that he pulled the window wide open
and took bold look out. George fol.
lowed his example and this was what
they saw:
Three men were standing fiat
against the fence leading from the
shed directly to the porch. The
fourth was crouching within the lat.
ter, and in another moment they heard
his fist descend upon the door inside
in a way to rouse the echoes Mean
time, the voice in the audience hall
above had ceased, and there could be
heard instead the scramble of hurry.
ing feet and the noise of overturning
benches. Then a window flew up and
a voice called down:
Who's that? What do you want
down there?"
(TO BE CONTINUED