Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-06-13

the WY WHAT ID thc uuihocN VI 9ouA
roomT'
'Twenty-twO-on the next floor.
"Good. Go upstairs now and TIL join
you in about ten minutes. | win tap
three times on your door"
"Why should you come to my room,
Sprousel We eau say all that is to be
said"
''If you win look on the register you
will discover that Mr.. J. II. Prosser
registered here about half an hour
ago. He Is In room 30. He left call
for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is an
other name for Ugo. He left the cot
tage an hour ago. Came In jitney or
I could have got to him on the way
over"
Barnes. regardless Of consequences.
dashed over to inspect the register.
Sprouse followed leIsurely.
"See{" cried Barnes. excltedly, put
ting his finger on the name Miss
Jones'" "She's In room 32-next to
his. BY gad, sprouse, do you suppose
he knows that she Is heref Would the
dog undertake anything"
"You may be sure he dosen't know
she's here. or you either. for that mat
ter. The country's full Of Joneses and
harnesses. Go on upstairs. Leave
everything to me-"
Barnes had been In his room for
twenty minutes before he heard the
tapping on his door. He opened 1t and
Sprouse slid into the room. The In
stant the door closed behind him. he
threw open his coat and coolly pro-
tiuced long, shallow metal box such
us one finds In safety vaults.
"Wlth my compliments" he said
dryly, thrustlng the box into Barnes
hands. you'd better have the c0un-
tess check them up and see II they're
all there. | am not well enough ac-
quainled with the collection to be
positive"
Barnes was speechless. He could
only stare. open-mouthed, at this
amazing man.
my God, Sprouse, have you been
In that mans room since | saw you
down"
"All you have to do is to keep quiet
and look innocent. Stay out Of the hall
tonight. Don't 90 near the door OF
No. 30. Act like man with brains.
said l would square myself with you
and with him, too. Wen, I've done
both. Maybe you think II is easy to
give up this stun. There is II half-mil-
lion dollars worth Of nice little things
In that box. small as ii ls."
81 cannot begin to thank you
enough" said Barnes "See here, you
must allow me to reward you in some
way commensurate with your"
"Cut that out" said Sprouse darkly.
"rm not so virtuous that l have to be
rewarded. | like the game. It's the
breath OF life to me"
"The time will surely come when I
can do YOU a good turn, Sprouss, aud
you will not find me reluctant" said
Barnes, lamely.
THAT'S different II ever need a
friendly hand I'll call on you. It's only
fair that | should give you a tip,
Barnes. just to put you on your guard.
From now on, I'm free agent. want
to advise you to put that stun In a
safe place. I'll give you two days
start. After that. II can get 'em
away from you. or whoever may have
them. rm going to do It. They viii be
fair plumber from then on. Good
nlgh,--and good-hy for the present.
Stick close 10 your room till morning
and then beat II with her for New
York. l give you two days start, re-
member"
tie switched Oh the light suddenly.
There was no sound for many seconds,
save the deep breathing Of the two
men. Then. with infinite caution.
sprouse turned the knob and opened
the door a half inch or 80. He left the
reem so abruptly that Barnes never
quite got over the weird impression
that he squeezed through that slender
crack. aud pulled Il after HIM
Many minutes passed before he
turned on the light. The key Of the
box was tied to the wire grip. With
trembling fingers he inserted II In the
lock aud opened the I'D. "A
half.mlllion dollars worth Of nice lit
tie things Sprouse had said
He DID not close his eyes that
night. Dayhreak found him lying In
bed. with the box under his pillow. a
pistol nt hand. and his eyes wide open.
lie vas IN a grayer quandary than
ever. Now that he had the treasure In
his possession. what was he to do with
III
He solved the breakfast problem by
calling downstairs for a waiter and
eFslerlng coffee aud rnlls and eggs sent
~ 20 his room. slngulafls enough the
waiter solved the other and more dis.
turning problem for him.
some robbery last night. said that