Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-08-08
CHAPTER XIII.
The Second Wayfarer Receives TWO
Visitors at Midnight

Visitors at Midnight.
The coroner's inquest over the bod
les Of Room and Paul was held that
afternoon at st. Elizabeth. Witnesses
from Harris Tavern were among those
to testify. The verdict was Murder
at the hands of parties unknown"
Sprouse did not appear at the Tav-
ern until long after nightfall. The Sc
cret agent listened somewhat indiffer
emily to the latter's account of his
telephone experiences. At nine o'clock
he yawned prodigiousIy and announced
that he was going to bed, greatly tt
the surprise of Mr.. Barnes, who fol
lowed him from the taproom and de-
manded an explanation.
people usually go to bed at night
don't they?" said Sprouse patiently
at is expected, / believe"
"But, my dear man, we are to m
dertake-"
81 have some cause for believing
that one of those chaps in there is
from Green Fancy. Go to bed at ter
O'Clock, my friend, and put out your
light. / don't insist on your taking
off your clothes, however. will raI
on your door at eleven o'clock. BY
the way, don't forget to stick your re
volver in your pocket"
A few minutes before eleven there
came a gentle tapping on Barnes
door. He sprang to his feet anC
opened it. presenting himself before
Sprouse fully dressed and, as the Sc
cret agent said later on, eft to KILL
The night was as black as pitch
Barnes, trusting to the little mans
eyes and hanging close upon his coat
tails, followed blindly but CALAMITY
in the tracks Of the leader. 1t seemed
to him that they stumbled along par
allel to the road for miles before
Sprouse came to a halt. 'aThis is the
short cut to Green Fancy" he whis
pered, laying his hand On Barnes
arm. 1--WE save four or five miles
coming this way. Do you know where
we are?"
II haven't the remOteSt idea"
"About quarter of a mile below
Curtis house. Are you all right?"
''Fine as a fiddle, except for {
barked knee and a skinned elbow, {
couple of more or less busted ribs
I'VE banged into more trees than
"Shi" After a moment of silence
intensified by the mournful squawk d
| night birds and the chorus of katy
dds, Sprouse whispered, did yol
hear that?"
Barnes thrilled. This was real mel
odrama. "Hear what" he whispered
shilly.
"Listen!" After a second or two
''Therev'
"It's a woodpecker hammering OF
the limb of a."
"Woodpeckers don't hammer a,
night, my lad. Don't stir! Keep your
ears open"
Sprouse clutched his companion's
arm and, dropping to his knees in the
thick underbrush, pulled the Other
down after him.
Presently heavy footsteps ap
preached. An unseen pedestrian
passed within ten yards of them. They
scarcely breathed until the sounds
posed entirely out of hearing. Sprouse
put his lips close to Barnes ear.
Telegraph" he whispered. 'Tt's q
system they have Of reporting to each
other. There are two men patrollina
the grounds near the house. You sec
what we're up against, Barnes. Dc
you still want to go on with it?"
"Tll stay by you," replied Barnes
sturdily.
Several minutes went by. There
was not sound save the restless pat
ter of rain in the tree tops. At last
the faraway thud of footsteps came ia
the ears of the tense listener. They
drew nearer, louder, and once more
seemed to be approaching the very
spot where he crouched.
Then came the sound of q dull
heavy blow, hoarse gasp, a momen-
tary commotion in the shrubbery
and-again silence. Barnes blood ran
cold. He waited for the next football
of the passing man. It never came.
A sharp whisper reached his ears.
"Come here-quicki"
He fioundered through the brush and
almost fell PROSTATE over the kneel-
ing figure of man.
"Take care! Lend hand" whis-
pered Sprouse.
Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt