The diamond drill., 1916-03-04

those men are planning some new dew
iltry."
II heard Mr.. Weisner talking about
with his business said
Kitty. "He said that II any outsiders
came skulking around the coal mines
they'd better look out-that there was
trouble enough there already without
bringing I'm any more from outside.
They'll talk in the library" said
Dorothy. "If we slip I'm there now ana
60 into the little alcoye, we can curl up !
in that big settee. IL they hnd us we
can pretend 90 be asleep"
They put their plan into execution.
and. as they expected, they soon heard
the voices OF the members OF the syn
dicate-the survivors OF the orlginai
fifteen. Stone spoke first.
"Weisner-you needn't worry he
said. 81 saw IArnigan just now-met
him as be came from the station. He's
taken his mother and his brother down
10 the country. He explained 10 me
that he wanted them 10 be where II
was safe and quiet, because he had to
go down TO Pennsylvania.
"And you'll keep him away, sup
pose,'S said Weisncr, with sneer.
'Me-I don't trust you or your arrange
ments. Stone You've had plenty OF
chances at these Iarnigans, and you've
messed up every one OF them. Let
him come, say l. I've got ways OF tax
ing care OF him II he turns up!
The two girls couldn't hear all OF the
conversation. Ii was Weisner's voice,
heavy and powerful, that was most
plainly audiblei Stone, from more
highly developed sense OF caution.
pitched his tone low, so that only an
occasional word that he uttered was
clear and distinct And so the two
girls did not realize that Tom would
be I'm peril even before he left New
York; they thought that FOR him the
danger would begin TO be acute when
he reached the coal fields. AZ soon as
they could they stole out and managed
10 get away unobseryed.
"Suppose we went down. suggested
Dorothy. Down TO Pennsylvania
! don't believe Tom realizes the dangers
he will face down there-and we nigh
) save his llfel I'm sure we could be o
! some use"
5 I'm willing said Kitty, eagerly.
Tom, meanwhile. had gone unsus
4 pectingly toward his Hat. lie mean
. 10 accept stones invitation. Ston,
r could, he knew, give him valuable In
i. formation as 10 conditions In tn
e coal fields, aud he had offered TO do SC
o He did not see the spy who lurked u
the lower hallway OF his apartmen
q house; Il was with the utmost uncon
x cern that he inserted his key In th
- door lie stopped for moment, hold
, ing the. door open with his foot. an
| bent down 20 stroke cat that ha
| rubbed against his leg. The cat, y
| guessed, must belong 10 his neighbour
| Then he Strengthened up. and pushe
| the door open But just then nous
| ran across the doorsill, the cat spran
Il after Il. In hot pursuit. Instantly ther
II was n binding flash deafening roa
II and n great'explosion hurled Tom ha
III way down the stairs. lie was bruise
II and shaken but he was not seriousl
| hurt: no bones were broken. And, eve
II ms he picked himself up the spy, hea
II inc the explosion. ran of 20 report thi
IL he had walked into the trap,
III stone was appalled, and astonishc
i when Tom came. as he had promise
| 10 do. But he was able 10 conceal h
III astonishmcnt and his dlsmny.
III "You must spend the night he TO
II Tom. You can get an early mornir
u train-you might as well have OF
more night OF comfort. I'm afra
0' youTl find a pretty rough down
the coal fields The hotels are poo
II and everything is upset and disc
at ganlzed 10y the strike. so that IL W
he be even worse than usual.
Tom agreed. and Stone, after To
lis had retired. sent for Dunn.
III. Hes fooled us again" he said b
he terly. II don't know how-and doI
fri care But-I've arranged n last chan
an for you! He's In this apartmeI
Ith asleep! You can get through the W
ed dow-and this time take no chances
IN Suppose I'm caught--its murd
ew you're asking me 90 dor gasped Dur
er; growing pale
he you've done II before and ri
hat have the proofs" said stone. fierce
TO (which would you rather do-have 1
ore hand those proofs TO the prosecut
he with the certainty that you'll be G
Tas vlcted, or take the chance that y
70 won't be caught7 Who Is going
uld catch your There's no one 20 glve
1is. alarm except myselfr'
or Dunn hcsitated. But he knew q
ose stone held the whin hand.
ex' 'Iilfdo ". said Dunn, glo0miy.
IAN right said stone. There's
she way you can Ect in
her And at once he went downstairs 4
notified the hall boy that he had ~