Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-07-03
me or-haCk out?."

truTlltS WIS Stltliith, ~'Nilt Wy
you" he said, and they stole forward
There were no lights visible. The
house was eve darker than the nIaht
itself; IL was vaguely outlined 10y a
deeper shade Of black.
At last they were within Il few
yards of the entrance and nj the cCSe
Of a small space that had been cleared
of s%hrubbery. Here Sprouse stopped
and began To adjust the sections of
his fishing rod.
Write" he whispered. There is a
faint glow of light up there Ia the
right. The third window, did yen say?
Well. that's about where | 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 m the
hard surface. Just as they were he
ginning to think tina, she was asleep
and that their efforts were in vain
their S%training eyes made M Il Shad-
owy object projecting slightly beyond
the sill.
After Il moment or two nj suspense
Barnes experienced Il peculiar. almost
electric shock. Someone had seized
the tip of the rod; ii Stiflcncd sud
denly. the vibrations due Ia its ileX-
Utility ceaSing. Someone was untying
the bit of paper he had fastened to
the rod, and with fingers that shook
and We're clumsy with eagGrursS.
He had written: Il am outside with
a trusted friend, ready to do YOU
bidding. Two of the guards are safely
bound and out ot the way. Now i
our chance. We will never have an
other. If YOU are prepared To come
with me now write me a >rd or two
and drop il 10 the ground. / will BASS
up Il rope to you and You may lower
anything you wish to carry away with
you. But he exceedingly careful. Take
time. Don't hurry Il single one Of
large b"
1t seemed an hour before their eyes
distinguished the shadowy head above.
As a matter of fact but a few min
uteS had passed. During the wait
Sprouse had noiSeleSSly removed his
coat. Il proceeding that puzzled Iiarnes.
Something light fell 10 the ground. II
was Spcouse who stopped and searched
for il in the grass. When he resumed
an upright posture he put his lips
close TO Barnes ear and whispered:
Il will put my coat over your head.
Here is a little electric torch. Don't
flash il until | am sure the coat is
arranged so that yon can do 81 with
out Il CLEAN of light getting out from
UNDER He pressed the torch and a
bit of closely folded paper in tha
Others hand and carefully draped the
coat over his head.
Barnes read THANK God! | was
afraid you would wait until tomorrow
night. Then it would have heen too
late. l must get away tonight hut i
cannot lcavc-I dare not leave without
something that is concealed in an
other part of the house. | do not
know how to ecure it. Nv door is
locked from the outside. What am
to do? | would rather die than to 20
away without it,"
: Hastily he wrote: IF you do not
come at once. we will force "ur way
into the house and fight it out with
them all. Ny friend is coming up the
vines. Let him enter the window. Tell
him where to 20 and ha will do the
: rest. He is Il miracle man. Nothing
is impossible to him. If he does net
! return in ten minutes, shall follow"
There was no response to this. The
, head reappeareh in the window, but III
word came down.
, Sprouse whispered 81 am going up
! Stay mere II you hear a coihmotioi
in the house, run fer it. Don't wal
; for me. m probably be done for"
4 sri do just as | please about run
ming" said Barnes, and there was
deep thrill in mis- whisper. 'Gond luck
. God help you If they catch you"
mot even he could hcip me then
> Good-by. ri do what | can to induce
y her to drop out of the window II any
l thing goes wrong with me downstairs
t A moment later ne WAS S'l"ntl.
u scaling the wall of the house, fcelln'
u his way carefully, testing every pre-
carious fOothOld, dragging hiR53I
o,irfuIlv ,,p,C1rIc nv means of tnl