The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-07-11
CHAPTER Xxx.


Claims Another.
What are you doing here?" de-
manded Barnes, staring. He seized
the mans arm and inquired eagerly:
Have you got the jewels?"
mo; but / will have them before
morning." replied Sprouse coolly.
"Would you be surprised If / were to
tell you that his royal nlbs is hiding
In this town? Well, he certainly is.
The Baroness Hedlund has been here
for week or ten days. She goes by
the name Of Mrs. Hasselwein. / popped
down here this afternoon and found
out that she is at the sanatorium, but
that she expects to leave tomorrow
morning. / made another trip out there
this evening and waited. About eight
o'clock Mr.. Hasselwein strolled up. He
sat on the veranda with her for half
an hour or so and then left. l fol-
lowed him. He went to one of the
little cottages that belong to the sana-
forum. l couldn't get close enough to
hear what they said, but l believe he
mobile early In the morning 1t is
seventy-mile ride from here to the
junction where they catch the train
for the West. I'm going up now to
make call ON Mr. Hasselwein. By
the way, what is the number of your
room?"
'"Twenty-two-'on the next floor
Good. Go upstairs now and I'll join
you in about ten minutes. l will tap
three times ON your door,"
"Why should you come to my room,
SIrouse? We can say all that is to be
said
IF you will look on the register you
will discover that Mr.. J. H. Prosser
registered here about half an hour
ago. He is in room 80 He left call
for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is an
other name for Ugo. He left the cot
tage an hour ago. Came in jitney or
could have got to him on the way
over"
Barnes, regardless of consequences,
dashed over to inspect the register.
Sprouse followed leisurely.
"See!" cried Barnes, excitedly, put
ting his finger on the name Miss
JONES'" "She's In room 32-next to
his. By CAD, Sprouse, do you suppose
he knows that she is here? Would the
dog undertake anything"
You may be sure he dosen't know
she's here, or you either, for that mat
ter. The country's full of Joneses and
Barneses. Go on upstairs. Leave
everything to me-"
Barnes had been in his room for
twenty minutes before he heard the
tapping on his door. He opened it and
Sprouse slid into the room. The in
slant the door closed behind him, he
threw open his coat and coolly pro-
duced long, shallow metal box, such
as one finds in safety vaults.
with my compliments he said
dryly, thrusting the box into Barnes
hands. you'd better have the coun-
tess check them up and see if they're
all there. 1 am not well enough ac-
quainted with the collection to be
positive"
Barnes was speechless. He could
only stare, Open-mouthed, at this
amazing man.
my God, Sprouse, have you been
down"
"All you have to do is to keep quiet
and look innocent. Stay out of the hall
tonight. Don't go near the door of
No. 80 Act like a man with brains.
1 said would square myself with you
and with him, too. Well, I've done
both. Maybe you think it is easy to
give up this stuff. There is half-mil-
lion dollars worth of nice little things
in that box, small as it is"
81 cannot begin to thank you
enough" said Barnes. "See here, you
must allow me to reward you In some
way commensurate with your"
"Cut that out" said Sprouse darkly.
I'm not so virtuous that I have to be
rewarded. 1 like the game. It's the
breath of life to me-"
1.-THE time will surely come when 1
can do you a good turn, Sprouse, and
you will not find me reluctant" said
Barnes, lamely.
That's different. If I ever need a
friendly hand I'll call on you. It's only
fair that 1 should give you a tip,
Barnes, just to put you on your guard.
From now on, I'm free agent. l want
% 1x-ien 70 N cfI1ff in
safe place. I'll give you two days
start. After that, if I can get 'em
away from you, or whoever may have
them, I'm going to do it. They will be
fair plumber from then on. Good
highland good-by for the present.
Stick close to your room till morning
and then beat it with her for New
York. 1 give you two days start, re-
member"
He switched off the light suddenly.
There was no sound for many seconds,
save the deep breathing of the two
men. Then, with infinite caution,
Sprouse turned the knob and opened
the door a half inch or so. He left the
room so abruptly that Barnes never
quite got over the weird impression
that he squeezed through that slender
crack, and pulled it after him.
Many minutes passed before he
turned on the light, The key of the
box was tied to the wire grip. With
trembling fingers he inserted it in the
lock and opened the lid. "a