Evening star., 1928-12-16
INsTALLMENT I.

It was almost midnight. More than
an hour before all the lights in the Hill
side Academy for Boys were supposed "a
have been eXtinguished. But five min
utes later, a small portable electric lamp
had clicked on in the room occupied by
Barrie Bayliss and Jack Seymour.
The person who lighted the lamp evi-
IDENTIFY felt the need for great secrecy
The shades on the windows were tight
ly drawn. The entire room was in dark
ness, except for the circle of white light
in Barrie BayliSS' bed. and that was
partially hidden by the sheet, which
had been fastened to the head of the
bed. like a tent to afford concealment.
Underneath this shelter. the lone occu-
pant of the room lay with book before
him. his eyes glued to the pages. his
body rigid with attention. And when
ever a board creaked somewhere In the
big building. or the Winter wind
whistled wildly outside, the eyes of this
boy in the bed shifted nervously.
Notsonly was Barrie BayliSS breaking
the lights out" rule of the academy,
but he was reading mystery thriller, 1"
and it was SO exciting that every sound
startled him. Jack Seymour, his room
mate, was out for the evening jacks
sister was student at a neighboring
OlIlOOl
for Girls. and Jack had permission to
visit her there one night each week.
Thus. alone in the room, Barrie was
enjoying the gripping tale to the ut
most
The detective hero of the story was
trapped. In cave far below the earth's
surface, masked figures had Jumped
upon him. They were about to tor
ture him, much to Barrie's chagrin.
when suddenly the boy sat bolt upright
in bed, his hair prickling along his
scalp. What had he heard? 1t wasn't
just the wind this time. No! There
were stea,thy footsteps in the hall out
side his door.
Barrie remembered with a sinking
feeling that the door was not locked
He watched the knob with fascinated
eyes as the quiet, ominous tread came
door slowly opened and Barrie's room
mate. Jack Seymour, entered quietly.
"Oh-h-h-h!" Barrie sank back into
the bed with a sigh of relief, The
ether boy, who was taller than the oc-
cupant of the bed. and unusually well
built, grinned at him.
Breaking rules again, are you?" said
the newcomer, throwing of his Sheep
skin coat. Reading another thriller, too.
You look scared half to DEATH
Il was" admitted Barrie Boy, this
book is a peach! I'll never go to sleep
until finish it."
THAT sop said Jack. well, suppose
you throw aside your mystery story
while tell you about true mystery
that is just about as battling as any you
are reading"
Barrie regarded his roommate mar
rowly, and saw that he was not Joking.
Jacks face was, in fact, very serious.
Hanging up his sweater, he drew a
heavy bathrobe from the closet and put
1t on. Then he sprawled on his own
bed. few feet from Barrie's.
Wed better be quiet. or we1l have
Mr.. Havre up here giving us the
dickens" he said. But I've got to tell
YOU about this. Barrie. You think you're
the schools prize detective, and maybe
you are. Anyway, here's chance to
Barrie had reluctantly showed his
book under the bed
I'm listening" he answered. But
It's got to be good If you expect to keep
me away from that book. Let's hear
your mystery"
For moment Jack said nothing.
Deep wrinkles showed in his forehead
below the curly yellow hair, and his
eyes had puzzled, worried expression
Barrie. watching him out of his own
lively black eyes, could easily believe
that he was about to hear something
worth listening to. Then, while the
wind from the lake whistled mourn
fully about the Corners of the building.
Jack began to speak.
Barrie" he said, I'm worried about
Kay"
About Kay?" Barrie's interest was
Immediately increased by the mention
Of Jacks pretty sister.
Yes. You know, she's dead set on
winning this university medal for
scholarship over at her school. and she