Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1919-09-06
CHAPTER XIII.
The Second Wsyfarer Receives Two
Visitors at Midnight


/ The Coroner's inquest over the bod
| les of Room and Paul was held thai
/ afternoon Mt st. Elizabeth Witnesses
! from Harris Tavern were among those
TO testify. The verdict was Murder
| Mt the hands Of parties unknown"
| SprOuse did not appear at the Tav-
/ ern until long after nightfail. The Sc
/ Cret agent listened somewhat indiffer-
| emily to the latter's account OF his
| telephone experiences. At nine O'Clock
he yawned prOdigiously and announced
that he was going TO bed, greatly to
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 arc to IN
Idertake-"
Il have some Cause for believing
that one Of those chaps. In there is
from Green Fancy. Go to- BED at ten
o'clock, my friend. and PUT out your
light don't insist on your takins
or your clothes. however. viii rap
on your door at eleven O'Clock. By
the way, don't forget to stick your re-
yolver In your pocket"
A few minutes before eleven there
came gentle tapping on Barnes
door. He sprang to his feet and
opened It. presenting himself before
Sprouse fully dressed and as the &C.
cret agent said later on, aft 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 II seemed
10 him that they stumbled along par
allel to the road for miles before
Sprouse came to n halt. This 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 a quarter Of a mile below
Curtis house. Are you all r'ghtr
Fine as a fiddle. except for a
barked knee and skinned elbow, a
couple OF more or less busted ribs.
I've banged into more trees than"
Ssh" After a moment Of silence,
intensified By the mournful sQuawk Of
night birds and the chorus Of katy
dds. Sprouse whispered, Did you
hear that?"
Barnes thrilled. This was real mel
odrama. "Hear what?" he whispered
shiily.
Listen" After a second or two ::
"Therer
IT'S woodpecker hammerirg on
the limb Of a"
"N oodpeckerS don't hammer at
night. my lad. Don't stir! Keep your
ears open"
&prouse clutched his companions
arm and, dropping to his knees in the
thick underbruSh. pulleI 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. IT'S
system they have &c reporting to each
other. There are two men patrolling
the grounds near the house. You see
what were up against, Barnes. DO
you still want TO 60 on with it?"
TIL 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 PARKWAY thud of footsteps came to
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 a dull.
heavy blow, a 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. II never came.
\ sharp whisper reached his ears.
Come here-quick :"
He fioundered through the brush and
almost fell PROSTATE over the kneel-
ing figure Of man.
Take care! Lend a hand" wills
pered Sprouse.
Dropping TO his knees, Barnes felt