Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-11-26
ght, 1913, by Burton e. Stevenson.

intricate design of arabesQued incrus-
%tations.
II there is a secret drawer here"
said Godfrey, lit is somewhere in the
back, where there seems to be a hollow
space. But to discover the combina-
He ran his fingers over the inlay,
and then, struck by a sudden thought,
tested each of the little figures along
the tympanum, but they were all set
solidly in place.
There's one thing sure" he said,
the combination, whatever it is. is Of
such a ature that it could not be dis
covered accidentally-by a person lean
ing on h cabinet. for instance. 1t
isn't a question of merely touching a
spring; it is probably a question of re-
leasing a series of levers, which must
be worked in a certain order, or the
drawer won't open. I'm afraid we are
up against it,"
II can't pretend I'm sorry" 1 said
with a sigh OF relief. "As far as I am
concerned, I'm perfectly willing that
We'll, l am not" retorted Godfrey.
curtly, and he sat regarding the cab
met with puckered brows. Then he
rose and began tapping at the back.
l don't know what it was-for 1 was
conscious of no noise-but some mys-
4 uISW my SSGS " lllC
window at the farther side of the room.
Near the top Of the wooden shutter,
Which Parks and l had put in place,
was a small semi-circular opening. to
allow the passage of a little light, per-
haps, and peering through this opening
We're two eyes-two burning eyes . :.
They were fixed upon Godfrey with
such feverish intentness that they did
not see my glance, and l lowered my
lead instantly.
Godfrey" 1 said, in a shaking voice,
don't look up; don't move your head;
but there is some one peering through
the hole in the shutter opposite US"
Godfrey did not answer for quite a
minute, but kept calmly on with his
examination of the cabinet.
Did he see you look at him?" he
asked, at last.
NO, he was looking at you, with his
eyes almost starting out Of his head. l
never saw such eyes!"
Did you see anything of his face?"
| saw the fingers Of one hand, which
he had thrust through to steady him
self"
How high is the hole?"
Near the top of the window"
Godfrey came back to his chair a
moment later, sat down in it, and
passed his handkerchief slowly over his
ldcf- Illell lie leaned IOFWdTQ, aDDdF-
emily to examine the legs Of the cab
met.
II saw him. he said. COR, rather, I
saw his eyes. Rather fierce, aren't
they?"
They're a tigers eyes, I said. with
conviction.
We'll. there is no use going ahead
with this while he is out there. Even
if we found the drawer, we'd both be
dead an instant LATER"
You mean he'd kill us?'
II would shoot US instantly.
Imagine what q sensation hat would
make, Lester. Parks hears two pistol
shots, PUSHES in and finds us lying here
dead. Grady would have u conyulsion
and we should both be famous for a
few days"
I'll seek fame in some other way
L said drily. What are you going to
do about it,"
We've got to try to capture him;
and if we do-well, we shall have the
fame all right! But it's a good deal like
trying to pick up a scorpion-we're
pretty sure to get hurt. If that fellow
out there is who l think he is, he's
about the most dangerous man on
earth"
He went on tapping the surface of
the cabinet. AS for me, / would have
given anything for another look at
those cleaning eyes. They seemed to
be burning into me; hot flashes were
shooting I'D n down my back.
Why can't / go out as though l
were going after something l sug-
gested. Then Park and l could charge
round the corner and get him.
You wouldn't get him, led get you.
You wouldn't have a chance on earth.
If there is a window upstairs over
that one. you might drop something
out on him. or borrow Parks pistol and
shoot him"
wouldn't it?" l suggested, mildly.
My dear Lester" Godfrey protest
ed. when you attack a poisonous
snake. you don't do it with bare hands,
do you?"
l couldn't help it glanced again at
the window. y
He's gone!" l cried.
Godfrey was at the window In two
steps.
Look at that" he said, "and then
tell me he isn't a genius!'
l followed the direction Of his point
ing finger and saw that, just opposite
the opening in the shutter, a little hole
had been cut in the window pane.
That fellow foresees everything"
said Godfrey, with enthusiasm. He
probably cut that hole as soon as it
was dark. He must have guessed we
We're going to examine the cabinet to-
highland he wanted not only to see.
but to hear. He heard everything we
said, Lester"
Let's go after him!" 1 cried, and,
without waiting for an answer I
sprang across the ante-room and
snatched open the door which led into
the hall.
Parks and Rogers were sitting on
the couch just outside and l never saw
two men more thoroughly frightened.
For Gods sake, Mr.. Lester!" gasped
Rogers. and stopped, his hand at his
throat.
is it Mr.. Godfrey" cried Parks.
There's a man outside. Get your
pistol. Parks?'
Yes. sir" n he took it form his
pocket.
i snatched it from him. opened the
door, leaped the railing. Inc stole
along the house to the corner.
Then. taking my courage In both
hands, l charged around it.
There was no one in sight: but from
somewhere near at hand came a burst
of hooking laughter.
CHAPTER XII.
GODFREY is FRIGHTENED.
7 r,,o .@i11 c<o,;a.. -. -. 49,,