Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-18
BTTZEIs'S SNUFF HON.



For a moment the two cowardly
men stood as II they were affixed TO
$i6wy am" aud agleiy the Ff FORM sfiGci
from sight. The two men gazed at
each other mechanically.
ishcd bitter. who was the first to
break the silence.
Speak no more of this matter. to.
night" replied his companion. Let
US retire and take our rest"
Without another word the two men
assembled the little flight OF stairs
and retired to their rooms.
But let us turn TO little John. and
discover what he has been doing dur
AS mentioned before the hoy had
fallen asleep. having been exhausted
by sn Ms long iii tit Of Weeping 81, IN
Something had awakened him. but
what it was he could not say. 1t
sounded as il It were scream OF
dismay.
mind. he threw himself back on his
pillows again and closed his eyes.
1t Was a BIZ weaker and seemed to
die away until he couitl not hear.
lie sprang from his bed, and had
gained the second floor before he
gathered together all of his senses.
Tiptoeing down the stairs to the
first floor he concealed himself behind
came from the library.
Opening the door very softly so as
not 20 he heard by the two men
slowly in. Seeing no. one. he crossed
The, room and pcered down into the
little room At the foot Of tho stairs,
The sight that met his eyes made
him staggcr back as If stung by the
blow of n pistol shot.
lie thought nc saw form of some
one lying on the little bed.
Before he could hide himself the
Two men turned about and discovered
Almost too frightened TO move he
drew back behind the curtain, think
ing that the two men might come af-
But it happened that the two men
,Summoning every inch Of strength
two long stairwnys. lie felt his knees
/ give from under him and then he
/ pitched hcadiong upon the floor of
/ the room he occupied.
AS the first strcaks of the red dawn
/ put in their appearance above the pic
turcsHue little foothills to the west OF
I newcd strength and making a hasty
| toilet. slipped out Of the house and
/ went to the frosted window of the
little room in which Jane Porter was
! imprisoned.
Placing his ear to the pane he lis
tened as his heart seemed To pound
~ first all was still. Then he was
sure he heard II low moan. Then he
b StuSnl Il wOru or TWO.
brother" he heard In broken sobs.
II want my brother" The hoy sank
down in management 1t was all so
strange he could not believe, it. lie
recognized the voice as James
lane" he, called softly. Jane"
Mter short pause the answer
came can Wh- whiwho is it?" she asked
It's me. Jane! It's john
steal an tho non snn 62th ha abou, mo yet
Su hri inv
brother. I-I-I-can't say more, they
they're coming"
library and glanced ar are a ' fnr me me
curious, snun box. lie saw his mas as.
y YER, ,n old Spanish snufr box. on the
side there was apparently nothing SO
Wonderful about il. Nothing hut an
ounce Of snun.
me room and went to the kitchen to
get his breakfast and to 70 about
MS household duties.
Half an hour later, as he was p,ss
ing from the lawn to the servants
entrance on an errand there came 10
his ears n rumble OF carriage i'm the
cnrSn i,, anu anu 4 siE swung around the
Halting the horse. the driver leaped
10 the ground; tied the animal 10
up the path.
wheeling about. John hurried into
yHe mouse 20 announce tho young man
Upon entering the library he found
me Two absent. but he could hear
thcir voices down in the little room
AS ne was leaving the room he an W
on the cigar stand a snun box he had
neSer seen before. Quickly snatch
ING IL up. he lifted the cover.
mere II was! y crumpled piece Of
paper with strange lettering on il.
AZ .hr bottom of the page he saw his
masters name. "Bit2er.' N
me boys heart lcapcd. for he kncw
ny this paper he had found the pre
ciouS snun box! r''
tTo Be Concluded)
bf THOMAS RUTHERFOORD. III