Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-06-07
CHAPTER xvlII.
"

Mr.. sprouse CONTINUES to Be Perplex.
Ing, but Puts His Nose to the Ground
Barnes was abroad early. He was
at breakfast when Peter Ames called
up. An inspiration seized him when
the chauffeur mentioned the wholesale
exodus: he hired Peter forthwith and
ordered him to report immediately
with the car He was going up to
Green Fancy for Miss cameron's
wardrobe.
Two minutes after Peter drove up
to the Tavern he was on the way back
to Green Fancy again. and seated be-
side him was Thomas Kingsbury
Barnes, his new master.
There was not a sign Of human life
about the place. Peter accompanied
him upstairs to the room recently Oc-
cupled by Miss Cameron.
They found two small leather
trunks, thickly belabeled, in the room
upstairs. Both were locked.
"You take this one" said Barnes,
'and l will manage the other" He
was In hurry to get away from the
house. There was no telling when the
government agents would descend
upon the place.
Barnes helped Peter to lift the
trunks into the car and then ordered
him to start at once for Hart's Tay-
ern.
"You can return later on for your
things" he said.
II got 'em tied up In a bundle In the
garage. Mr.. Burns" he said. won't
take a second to get 'em out" He
hurried around the corner OF the
house.
A dry, quiet chuckle fell upon
Barnes ears. He glanced about in sur
prise and alarm. No one was In sight.
"Look up, young man." and the
startled young man obeyed. His gaze
halted at a window on the second
story, almost directly over his head.
Mr.. Sprouse was looking down upon
him, his sharp features fixed in a sar-
donic grin.
"well. I'll be d-" burst from
Barnes lips.
surprised to see me, Ell? II you're
not In q hurry, I'd certainly appreciate
a lift as far as the Tavern. old man.
I'll be down In a jiffy. Stand aside !
I'm going to drop" A moment later
he swung over the sill, aud dropped
lightly to the ground eight feet below.
"See. here. Sprouse or whatever
your name is"
Better hear me out" broke in
Sprouse calmly. Il could drill a hole
through you 80 quickly you'd never
know what did H." he went on. HIS
hand was In his coat pocket, and a
quick glance revealed to Barnes a sin
gularly impressive angle in the cloth,
the point Of which seemed to he direct
ed squarely at his chest. "But I'm
not going to do II. I Just want to set
myself straight with you. In a word
| never got anywhere near the room
In which the jewels were hidden. This
Is Gods truth, Barnes. | wasn't the
only one who was trying to get the
baubles, my friend. II was a game In
which only the best man could win"
Il know the truth now about Room
and Paul" said Barnes significantly.
"You dor" sneered Sprouse. 'fil
bet you a thousand to one you do not.
The girl was led to believe that they
were a couple OF crooks and that they
tixed me in that tavern down there.
Isn't that what she told your Well.
that story was cooked up for her spe-
cial benefit. Room was the Baron He'd
lund. Hedlund came up here a week
or so ago to keep a lockout for his
wife. The baroness Is supposed to be
deeply enamored Of Prince Ugo. He
found letters which seemed to indicate
that she was planning to Join the
prince up here. When he heard Of the
arrival Of a lady at Green Fancy the
other afternoon. he got busy. admit
that l am the gentleman who tele-
phoned the warning up to the prince.
They tried to head the baron and his
man or at the crossroads, but he
beat them to II. II there was to be a
fight. they didn't want IT to happen
anywhere near the house. | believe
ugo Is the one who got the baron--or
Room, rs you know him. Now. that Is
the true story Of the little AFFAIR.
ITO go back to my own troubles.
When | got out into the ball night be-
fore last. after leaving her room. |
heard voices whispering In Prince
ugo's room. beat Il up the stairway
into the attic. Nothing happened, 50
| sneaked down to have = peep around.
The door to Ugo's room was open, but
there was no light On the inside. He
came TO the door and Looked up and
down the hall. Then some one else
came out and started to sneak away.
! leave you to guess the ser.