The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-26

the brush for some distance, and once
more came to halt Again he stole
on ahead, and as before the slow, con-
fident, even careless progress Of
man ceased as abruptly as that of the
cOmrade who lay helpless in the
| thicket below.
Barnes laid firm, OBTAINING hand
on the mans shoulder.
"See here, Sprouse," he whispered,
'it's all very well for you. knocking
men over like this, but just what Is
your object? What does all this lead
up to"
Sprouse broke In, and there was
not the slightest trace of emotion in
his whisper.
"Qute right. You ought TO know.
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 way, you are right. But, first Of
all, my business Is to recover the
crown jewels and parchments. i am
going into that house and take them
away from the man you know as Loeb,
If he has them. IF 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"
II am not asking you TO go into the
house, my friend. l shall go alone"
said Sprouse coolly.
"On the other hand. came up here
to rescue a helpless"
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. | 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 coll
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 Inc 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. 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 a good look
at the front of that house. 1t is COW
cred with "A lattice work and huge
vines. / can shin up like 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,
81 am not risking 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 and faith
| full 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
faint glow of light up there to the
right. The third window, did you say?
| 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 We're be-
| ginning to think that she was asleep
and that their efforts were in vain
their straining eyes made out shad-
owy object projecting slightly beyond
the sill.
After moment or two of suspense
Barnes experienced peculiar, almost
electric shock. Someone had seized
the tip of the rod; 1t 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 eagernass
He had written: II 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.
| ether If Won are prepared to come