Cleveland County herald., 1919-07-31

if he has them. If he hasn't them my
 work here is 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"
 q am not asking you to go into the house, my friend. I shall go alone. " said SprOuse coolly.
 "0n the other hand, I came up here to rescue a helpless-n
 Keep cool! 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 it 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 a light in her window, but that w0a't make any difference. This hobby 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 yaluables, some clothes, etc., from the window by means of the rope we'll pass up on the pole. There is a re- mote possibility that she may have the jewels in her room. For certain req sons they may have permitted her to retain them. If 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 will not leave! Now I've had q good look at the front of that house. It is coy cred with lattice work and huge vines. I 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, "I am not risking my life for the fun of the thing. I am risling it for her, bear that in mind-for her and her people. And if I am killed they won't even say Well done, good and faith ful servant So let's not argue the point. Are you going to stand by me or-back out?'
 Barnes was shamed. "I'll 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 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 q faint glow of light up there to the right. The third window, did you say? Well, that's about where I 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, consistently on the hard surface. Just as they were be- ginning to think that she was asleep and that their efforts were in vain their straining eyes made out a shad- owy object projecting slightly beyond the sill.
 After a moment or two of suspense Barnes experienced peculiar almost electric shock. Someone had seized the tip of the rod; it stiffened sud- denly, the vibrations due to it's flex- 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: q am outside with ! trusted friend. ready to do your bidding. Two of the guards are safely pound and out of the way. Now is our chance. We will never have an- other. If you are prepared to come N It'll uON NIliC ulc st hOlu u OI two md drop 1t to the ground. I will pass ID a rope to you and you may lower you wish to carry away with 7ou. But be exceedingly careful. Take ime. Don't hurry a single one of rour movements" He signed it with a arge "R."
 It seemed an hour before their eyes distinguished the shadowy head above. As a matter of fact but a few min ltes had passed. During the wait Sprouse had noiseiessly removed his 'oat. proceeding that puzzled Barnes. light fell to the ground. 1t vas Sprouse who stopped and searched Or it in the grass. When he resumed m upright posture he put his lips close to Barnes ear and whispered: -----------,7