Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-07-10


open, remember that from the mo-
ment / unlatch it, everything said or
done here can be heard in the adj
joining yard. So no whispers and no
unnecessary movements. When you
hear him coming, as sooner or later
you certainly will, fab carefully to
your knees and lean out just far
enough to catch glimpse of him be-
fore he steps down from the porch II
he stops to light his cigar or to pass
few words with some of the men he
will leave behind, you may get plain
enough view of his face or figure to
identify him. The fight is burning low
in that rear hall, but it will do If it
does motif you can't see him or il
you do, don't hang out of the window
more than second. Duck after your
first look. l don't want to be caught
at this job with no better opportunity
for escape than we have here. Can you
remember all that?"
George pinched his arm enoourag-
ingly, and Sweetwater, with an amused
grunt, softly Unmatched the window
and pulled it wide open
A fine sleet few in, imperceptible
save for the sensation of damp 1t
gave, and the slight haze it diffused
through the air. Enlarged by this
haze, the building they were set to
watch rose in magnified 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 comparatively short distance
separated them from the porch where
George had been told to look for the
man he was expecting to identify. All
was dark there at present, but he
cou4l heaS. from time to time some
sounds of RESTLESS movement, as the
guard posted inside shifted in mis- mar
row quarters, or struck his benumbed
feet softly together.
But what came to themt from above
was more interesting than, anything
to be heard or seen below. A mans
voice, raised to wonderful Hltch Dy
the passion of oratory, had burst the
barriers of the closed hall in tha6 tow
ering third story and was carrying its
tale to other ears than those Within.
SweetWater, in whom satisfactiNn
was fast taking the place of impsS
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?"
mo"
did you note just now the large
the speakers head?"
yes, but I could judge nothing from
that"
Well he's a rum one / shan't open
this window again till he gives signs
of,reaching the end of his speech. It'a
too cold"
But almost Immediately he gave a
start and, pressing Georges arm, ap-
peared to 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 shooting
bolt, which, proclaiming as it did that
the invaders were not friends but
enemies to the cause which was being
yaunted 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 window flew up ana
a voice called down:
who's that? What do you want
down there?"
(To BE CONTINUED