The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-07-03

all, my. business is to recover the
crown jewels and ~parchments. I ani
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 Il failure"
Going into the house?" gaspc,l
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.
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. I 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
1t from me. hoping that you will come
tonight. l shall lead you directly tn
nor window. And then ONE the only
chance we take-the only instance
where we gamble. There will not bs
a light in her window. but that won't
make my difference. THIS nobby
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 a little note to her. Here Is
paper and pencil. Say that you nre
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 the r0pe we'll
pass up on the pole. There is n re-
mote possibility that she may have the
Jewels in her room. For certain ren.
sons they may have permitted ner to
retain them. If such is the case u
work is easy. If they have tak<n
then away from her she'll say 20.
some way or another-and she will
not leave! Now I've had a good look
at the front OF that house. 1t is coy
cred with a lattice work and huge
vines. I can shin up like a squirrel
II 20 through her to the"
Are you crazy, Sprouse? You'd
take your life in your hands and"
"See here" said Sprouse shortly,
II am not risking my life for the fun
of the thing. ! am riskins 1t for her.
hear that in mind-for her ami her
people. And If I am killed they won't
even say Well done, good AMI faith
full servant So let's not argue the
point. Are you going to stand by
me or-back 0ut?"
Barnes was shnmed. "Ill stand by
YOU" he said. and they stole forward
There were no lights visible. The
house was ever darker than the nigh.
itself; it was vaguely outlined by Q
deeper shade of black.
At last they were within a few
| yards of the entrance ami at the egg
of Il small space that had been clenred
of s%hrubbcry. Here Sprouse stopped
and began to adjust the sections Of
his fishing rod.
Write" he whispered. "Tkcre is :
faint glow Of light up there to the
right. The third window, did you sayt
Well, that's about where 1 should
locate it."
The tiny metallic tip Of the roc
held in the upstretchcd hand o:
Barnes. much the taller Of the two
men, barely reached the window ledge.
He tapped gently. persistcntly on int
hard surface. Just as they were b..
ginning to think that she was aisle ~
and that their efforts were In vain
their straining eyes made out a slad.
0wy object projecting slightly hnyond
the sill.
After a moment or two of srApense
Barnes experienced a peculiar, almost
electric shock. Someone haf. seized
the tip Of the rod: it stiffet.ed sud-
denly. the vibrations due to it's lcx.
Utility ceasing. Someone was untying
the bit of paper he had fastened to
the rod, and with fingers that shook
and.were clumsy with easec-ness.
He had written: II am outside with
a trusted friend, ready to do your
bidding. Two of the guards are sa1ely
bound and out Of the way. Now is
our chance. We will never have an
other. If you are prepared to come
with me now write me q word or two
and drop it to the ground. I will pass
up a rope to you and you may lower
anything you wish to carry away witt
you. But be exceedingly careful. Take
time. Don't hurry u single one of
your movements" He signed it with a
large "B."
1t seemed an hour before their eyes
distinguished the shadowy head at owe.
AS a matter of fact hut a few min.
utes had passed. During the walt
Sprouse had noiseiessly removed his
coat, a proceeding that puzzled Barnes.
Something light fell to the ge und. It
was Sprouse who stopped and searched
for it in the grass. When he resumed
an upright posture he put his lips
close 10 Barnes ear and viii ,pered:
Barnes, Sprouse and