The Glenwood post., 1919-07-05
: Go back before it

You cannot escape. Go back before 1t
is too late" -
"Is SprOuse-where is her"
"He is somewhere in the house. /
was to wait until he-Oh, Mr.. Barnes,
IL am terrified. You will never know
the"
"Trust him." he said. HE is mar
vel. Well be safely out of here in
little while, and then it will all look
simple to you. You are ready to go?
Goodl Sit down, do! If he doesn't
return in a minute or two, I'll take
look about the house myself. 1 don't
intend to desert him. know this floor
pretty well, and the lower one. The
stairs are"
"But the stairway is closed at the
bottom by solid steel curtain. 1t is
made to look Ike a panel in the wall.
You are not to venture outside this
room, Mr.. Barnes. forbid it. You"
"How did Sprouse get out? You said
your door was locked"
Gle had a key. I do not know
where he Obtained"
"Skeleton key, such as burglars use.
By Jove, what wonderful burglar he
would make! Courage, Miss Cameron
He will be here soon. Then comes the
real adventure-my part of it. l didn't
come here tonight to get any tlashy old
crown jewels. came to take you out
Of"
"You-you know about the crown
jewels?" she murmured. Her body
seemed to stiffen. "Then you know
who l amp"
mo. You will tell me tomorrow"
eyes. yes-tomorrow," she whis-
pered.
For some time there was silence.
Both were listening intently for sounds
in the hall. She leaned closer to whis-
per in his ear, Their shoulders
touched. He wondered if she expert
enced the same delightful thrill that
ran through his body. She told him of
the man who watched across the hall
from the room supposed to be occupied
by Loeb the secretary, and of
Sprouse's incomprehensible daring.
"Where is Mr.. Curtis?" he asked.
Her breath famed his cheek, her
lips were close to his ear. There is
no Mr.. Curtis here. He died four
months ago in Florida"
81 suspected as much" He did not
press her for further revelations.
"Sprouse should be here by this time.
l must go out there and see if he re-
quires any"
She clutched his arm frantically.
you shall do nothing of the kind You
shall not"
"Sh! What do you take me for,
Miss Cameron2 He may be sorely in
need of help. Do you think that I
would leave him to God knows what
sort of fate?"
But he said positively that was to
go in case he did not return in-in fif-
teen minutes" she begged. "He may
have been cut Off and was compelled
to escape from another"
"Just the same, I've got to see what
has become Of"
"No! Now She arose with him,
dragging at his arm. "Do not be fool
hardy. You are not skilled at"
''There is only one way to stop me,
Miss Cameron. If you will come with
me now"
"But I must know whether he So
cured the"
''Then let me go. will find out
whether he has succeeded"
He was rougher than he realized in
wrenching his arm free. She uttered a
low moan and covered her face with
her hands. Undeterred, he crossed to
the door. His hand was on the knob
when door slammed violently some
where in a distant part Of the house.
A hoarse shout of alarm rang out,
and then the rush of heavy feet over
thlckly carpeted floors.
Barnes acted with lightning swift
ness. He sprang to the open window,
half-carrying, half-dragging the girl
with him.
"Now for it" he whispered. mot 4
second to lose. Climb upon my back,
quick, and hang on for dear life" He
had scrambled through the window
and was lying fiat across the sill.
"Hurry! Don't be afraid. l am strong
enough to carry you If the vines do
their part"
With surprising alacrity and sure
ness she crawled out beside him and
then over upon his broad back, clasp
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