Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-01
tcopyright The Bobps-Merrin G.,
CHAPTER XVII.
Three-I.,irty A. NJ.

- 1AECc.lalrty u. Va
Joseph Almer and Captain Woea-
mouse sat in the darkened OF the
darkened n heavily blinded office
reception room OF the Hotel Splen6tas,
All hotel had long since been pa;
TO bed, and the silence in the rata-
p!lng house was audible. The hands
or the Dutch clock on the wall were
pointing to the hour of thres-tfttrcS,
Strain was on both the men. They
spoke In monosyllables. and only &C.
caslonally. 'Almer's hand went out
from time to time to lift a squat bot
tie of brandy from the table between
them and pour a tiny glass brimrar.
ne quaffed with a sucking noise
Woodhouse did not drink.
It's th~ree-thirty,'' the latter fretteo.
with an eye on h mottled clock
He will come" Almer assured. y
long pause.
'This man Jaimihr-he is thorough
ly dependable? 2" The man in uniform
put the question with petulant brusk-
ness.
1T is his passion-what we are to
for-his religion. Nothing except
judgment day could-Hah"
The sharp chirp of a telephone bell.
a. dagger of sound in the silence.
broke Almer's speech. He bounced
to his feet; but not so quickly az
Woodhouse, who was across the room,
In a single stride and. had the re-
ceiver to his ear.
Well, well! Yes, this is the one
you name" Woodhouse turned 70
Almer and his lips framed the word
Jalmthr. Yes. yes; all is weIl-anu
waiting. Bishop? He is beyond an
terference-coming down the Rock
l did work silently. What's that
W~oodhouse's face was tensed In
strain; his right, hand went to a breas,
pocket and brought out a pencil. WITH
It he began making memoranda on
face Of a calendar by his side.
seven turns-ah, yes-four to the
left-correct." His writing hand was
moving swiftly. Press. one to the
right. Good! I have 1t, and I'm OF
at once: Goodbye"
Woodhouse finished a line OF scrip,
on the calendar face, hung up the
ten notes from the calendar and put
them into his pocket.
Jatmlhr says he has work to do al
Government House and cannot come
down" Woodhouse turped to Almer
and explained in rapid sentences. But
he's given me the combination-to
Room D-oYer the wire. and now Tn
l L-- \. -. s|s11s.f HE
Almer was all excitement now. He
lowered lovingly about Woodhouse,
patting him on the shoulder, giving
him his helmet, mothering him with
little cooling noises.
Speed quickly, Nineteen Thirty
two! Up the Rock to the signal. tow
er, Nineteen T~hirtS-two, to do the
deed that will boom around the world.
The swftches-one pull. my brother,
and the fatherland is saved.to triumph
over her enemies, %victorious!'
Right, Almer!" Woodhouse was
moving toward the door. Tn eight
minutes history will be made. The
minute o hear the blast start for
Spain. I will try to escape. but !
A knock came at the barred front
door-one knock, followed by three.
Both men were transfixed. Almer.
first to recover his calmness, motion
ed Woodhouse through the door to
the dining room. When his compan-
ion had disappeared, he stepped to
the door and cautiously asked: "Who
knocks 2"
An answer came that caused him
to shoot back the bolts and thrust
out his head. A message was hurri-
edly whispered into his ear. The
Splendide's proprietor withdrew his
head and slipped the bolt home again.
His face was a thundercloud as he
summoned Woodhouse; his breath
came in wheezy gasps.
my Arab boy comes to the door just
now to tell me of Louisa's fate; she
has been arrested" he said.
Come, Almer! I am going to the
signal tower-there is still time for us
to strike"
Out on to waterproof street leaped
Woodhouse. and the door closed be-
hind him