The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-12-21
Continued from page p

lect I'm the past twenty years 1t need
ed painting and many of Its windows
were broken. Bruce rejoiced to see
that there we're no lights In the east
wing OF the house; the window that
Linda had indicated In the note was
Just q black square IN the mOonlit
wall.
There was a neglected garden close
to this wing of the house. Ii he could
reach this spot In safety he could ap-
proach within a few feet of the house
and still remain in cover. He went
dat, then slowly crawled toward 1t.
Once a light sprang up In a window
a the front, and he pressed close
to the earth. But in a moment 1t went
away. He crept on. He didn't know
when a Waterman In one OF the dark
windows would discern his creeping
6guret But he did know perfectly just
what manner of greeting he might ex-
pect In this event. There would be a
single little squirt of fire in the dark
ness, so small that probably his eyes
would quite fail to catch 1t. If they
did discern it, there would be no time
for a message to be recorded in his
brain. 1t would mea a swift and GER
tain end Of all messages. The Turner'S
would lose no time in emptyilg their
rifles at him, and there wouldn't be the
Slightest doubt about their hitting the
mark. All h clan were expert shots
and the range was close.
The place was deeply silent. He
ment more, he Slipped into the shad-
ows Of the neglected rose gardens.
He lay quiet an instant, resting. He
didn't wish to risk the success Of his
expedition by fatiguing himself now.
He wanted his full strength and
meet in the room where Linda was
confined.
Nevertheless. the stock of his rife
felt good in his hands. Perhaps there
would be a running fight after he got
the girl out of the house, and then his
cartridges would be needed. There
might even be a moment Of close work
with what guards the Turner's had set
owe her. But the heavy stock used
like q club, would be most use to him
then.
Many times, he knew, skulking fig
ures had been concealed in this gar
den. Probably the Turner'S, in the
days of the ~blO0d-feud, had often wait
ed In its shadows for a sight of some
one OF their enemies in a lighted win
dow. Old ghosts dwelt In it; he, could
see their shadows waver out OF the
corner Of his eyes,. Or perhaps 1t was
only the shadow of the brambles,
blown by the wind.
Once his heart leaped into his
throat At a sharp crack of brush be-
side him; and he could scarcely re-
strain a musculer jerk that might have
revealed his position. But when he
turned his head he could see nothing
but the coverts and the moon above
them. A garden snake, or perhaps q
bird mole, had made the sound.
Four minutes later he was within
a dozen feet Of the designated win
dow. There was q stretch or moon
light between, but he passed 1t quick
IL. And now he stood in bold relief
against the moOnlit house-wall.
He was In perfectly plain sight of
any one on the hill behind. Possibly
his distant form might have been dis
cerned from the window Of Of the
lesser houses occupied by SfmOn's kin.
But he was too close to the wall to
be visible from the windows of Simon's
house, except by a deliberate scrutiny.
And the window slipped up noiseless-
ly in his hands.
He was considerably surprised. He
had expected this window to be locked.
EE ~IsSs.