Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-24

cCC nCttf clAn1cCt uC NAiohrAlN
'ft's all very well for you. knocking
men over like this. but just what is
your object? What does all this lead
up tot"
Sprouse broke in. and there was
not the slightest trace of emotion in
his whisper.
''Quite right. You ought 10 know
I suppose you thought l was bringing
you up here for a Romeo and Juliet
tete-a-tete with the beautiful Miss
Cameron-and for nothing else. Well
In a way. you are right. But first OF
E, all. my business IS to recover the
crown jewels and parehments. am
going into that house and take them
away from the man you know as Loeb,
Il he has them. II he hasn't them my
work here is a failure"
"Going into the house? gasped
Barnes. "Why, my God man. that Is
impossible. You would be shot down
as an ordinary burglar and-the law
would justify them for killing you. I
must insist"
Il en- not asking you to 60 into the
house, my friend. l shall go alone"
said SprOuse cOOlly.
"On the other hand, I came up here
to rescue a helpless"
keep cooll It's the only way.
Now listen. She has designated her
room and the windows that are hers.
She is lying awake up there now, take
1t from me, hoping that you will come
tonight. I shall lead you directly to
her window. And then comes the only
chance we take-the only instance
where we gamble. There will not be
light in her window, but that won't
make any difference. This nObby
cane I'm carrying is In reality a col
lapsible fishing rod. First we use it
to tap gently on her window ledge or
shade or whatever we find. Then you
pass up little note to her. Here is
paper and pencil. Say that you are
below her window and-all ready to
take her away. Tell her to lower her
valuables, some clothes, etc, from the
window by means of the rope wen
pass up on the pole. There is a re-
mote possibility that she may have the
jewels in her room. For certain rea-
sons they may have permitted her to
retain them. II such is the case our
work is easy. If they have taken
them away from her she'll say so,
some way or another-and she win
not leavel Now I've had a good look
at the front of that house. II is COW
cred with a lattice work and huge
vines. / can shin up like a squirrel
and go through her room to the"
"Are you crazy, Sprouse? You'd
take your life in your hands and"
"See here" said Sprouse shortly,
II am not rlsking my life for the fun
Of the thing. l am risking it for her.
bear that in mind-for her AMI her
people. And If am killed they won't
even say We'll done, good ana faith
full servant SO let's not argue the
point. Are you going to stand by
me or-back out?"
Barnes was shamed. am stand by
you," he said, and they stole forward
There were no lights visible. The
house was even darker than the night
itself; it was vaguely outlined by a
deeper shade Of black.
At last they were within a few
yards of the entrance and at the ecge
of small space that had been cleared
of shrubbery. Here Sprouse stopped
and began to adjust the sections of
his fishing rod.
write" he whispered. "There is a
faint glow Of light up there to the
right. The third window, did you sayi
Well, that's about where l should
locate it."
The tiny metallic tip of the rod,
held In the" upstretched hand Of
Barnes, much the taller Of the two
men, barely reached the window ledge.
He tapped gently, persistently on the
hard surface, Just as they were be-
ginning to think that she was asleep
and that their efforts were in vain
their stralning eyes made out shad-
owy object projecting slightly beyond
the sill.
After moment or two of suspense
Barnes experienced a peculiar, almost
electric shock. Someone had seized
the tip Of the rod; It stiffened sud-
denly, the vibrations due to its fex-
ibility ceasing. Someone was untying
the bit Of paper he had fastened to
the rod, and with fingers that shook
and were clumsy with eagerness.
He had written: 81 am outside with
a trusted friend, ready to do your
bidding. Two Of the guards are safely
bound and out Of the way. Now Is
our chance. We will never have an
other. II you are prepared to come
with me now write me a word or two
and drop it to the ground. win pass
up rope to you and you may lower
anything you wish to carry away with
you. But be exceedingly careful. Take
time. Don't hurry a single one Of
your movements" He signed 1t with a
large sB."
Il seemed an hour before their eyes
distinguished the shadowy head above.
As a matter Of fact but few min
utes had passed. During the wait