Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-09-27

crown jewels and parchments. ] am
going into that house and take them
away from the man you know as Loeb,
If he has them. Il be hasn't them my
work here is a failure"
Going into the houseF' 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.
must insist"
Il am not asking you to 60 into the
house, my friend. / shall 60 alone"
said SprOuse coolly.
ION 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
1t from me, hoping that you will come
tonight. I 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 q col
lapsible fishing rod. First we use 1t
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-alI ready to
take her away. Tell her to lower her
valuables, some clothes, etc., from the
window by means Of the rope we'll
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. II they have taken
them away from her she'll say so,
some way or anOther-and she will
not leave Now I've mad a good look
at the front Of that house. 1t is COW
cred with a lattice work and huge
vines. / can shin up like a 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,
Il am not risking my life for the fuES
OF the thing. am riskinR 1t for her,
bear that in mlnd-fOr her ami her
people. And II I am killed they won't
even say Well done, good and faith
ful servant So let's not argue the
point Are you going to stand by
me Or-baek OutY'
Barnes was shamed. 'TIl 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 a
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 a
faint glow Of light up there to the
right. The third window, did you say?
Well, that's about where 1 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 were be-
ginning to think that she was asleep
and that their efforts were in vain
their straining eyes made out a shad-
Owy object projecting slightly beyond
the sill.
After a moment or two of suspense
Barnes experienced a peculiar, almost
electric shock. Someone had seized
the tip Of the rod; 1t stiffened sud-
denly, the vibrations due to its nex-
Utility ceasing. Someone was untying
the bit of paper he had fastened to
the rod, and with fingers that shook
and were clumsy with eagerness.
He had written: 81 am outside with
a trusted friend, ready to dc your
bidding. Two Of the guards are safely
bound and out of the way. Now is
our chance. We viii never have an.
other. If you are prepared to come
with me now write me word or two
and drop it to the ground. will pass
up a rope to you and you may lower
anything you wish to carry away with
you. But be exceedingly careful. Take
time. Don't hurry a single one Of
your movements" He signed it with a
large 3D."
It 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 walt
Sprouse had noiselessly removed his
coat. proceeding that puzzled Barnes.
Something light fell to the ground. II
was SprOuse who stopped and searched
for 1t in the grass. When ne resumed
an upright posture he put his lips
close to Barnes ear and whispered:
!
/ Rarnne Cnroiica nnd