The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-05-19

nounced in a low voice. "Now for
the fun-if you regard emulating
the sparrow as fun. I'll 60 UP
first. Find yourself limb where
you won't be exposed, but where
you can see pretty well all around
you through the leaves"
We had climbed up and had been
sitting in silence in our precarious
lseclusion : for about ten minutes
when a corpulent figure, which /
recognized as Fleel, came into sight
on the pathway to the left. He stood
irresolutely opposite the tree for
several moments and looked about
him. Then approached the tree.
He paused beneath where ! sat
twelve or fourteen feet above him,
and ran his hand around the trunk
Of the tree until he found the large
irregular hole on the east side; then
he took q package from under his
coat. The package was about ten
inches long and four inches square,
and he inserted il slowly and care
fully into the hole. Backing away,
he ontentatiously relighted his ci-
gar, tossed the burnt match-end
aside, and walked slowly toward the
west, to another pathway at least
hundred yards away.
It was less than ten minutes lat
er that I saw q figure moving to-
ward US from the north. No one
had passed along the little-known,
illy-lighted pathway since we had
taken our place in the tree. At each
succeeding light picked out an
additional detail Of the approaching
figure: a long dark cape which
to trail on the ground; a curious
toque-shaped, dark hat, with a
turned-down visor extending far
over the eyes; and a slim walking
stick.
"How positively thrillin!" I heard
Vance whisper, though his voice did
not sound in the least excited. "This
may be the culprit we're waitin' for.
But what in the world will we do
with Inn when we catch him? If
only he wouldn't walk so deuced
slowly"
The dark-caped figure was moving
at most deliberate gait, pausing
frequently to look right and left, as
if sizing up the situation in all di-
rections. It was impossible to tell
whether the figure was stout or thin,
because Of the flowing cape. It was
sinister looking form. tt gait was
SO dilatory and cautious that chill
ran over me as I watched-it was
mysterious nememis, impercept-
IDLY but inevitably creeping up on
US.
Then, as if with a burst of vigor,
the cloak4d form stepped toward
the natural cache on the east side Of
the trunk and, furnbIing round a
moment or two, withdrew the pack
age that Fleel had placed there a
quarter of an hour earlier.
I glanced apprehengively at the
red food-light on the lamppost
Heath had described to us, and saw
it flash on and off like a grotesque-
ly winking monster. Suddenly
there were wide shafts of white
light from the direction of Fifth
Avenue splitting the gloom; and the
whole tree and its immediate envi-
rons were flooded with brilliant il
Elimination. For moment I was
blinded by the glare, but could
hear a hustle of activity all about
us. Then came Vance's startled and
awstruck voice somewhere at my
left.
ooh, my word' he exclaimed
over and over again; and there was
the sound of his scrambling down
the tree.
Everything seemed to happen
simultaneously. Markham and Fleel
and Kenyon Renting came rushing
by Heath and Sullivan. The two
detectives were the first to reach
the spot, and they grasped the
black-clad figure just as it straight
end up to move away from the tree.
Each man had an arm tight in his
clasp, and escape was impossible.
pretty nice work." Heath sang
out with satisfaction, just as I
reached the ground and took a
tighter hold on my automatic. Vance
brushed by me from around the
tree and stood directly in front of
Heath.
my dear fellow-oh, my dear fell
low!" he said with quick sternness.
Don't be too precipitate.''
AS he spoke, two taxicabs swung
crafty along the pedestrian walk
on the left with a continuous shrill
blowing of horns. They came to
jerky stop with a tremendous clat-
ter and squeaking of brakes. Then
the two chauffeurs leaped out of the
cabs and came rushing to the scene