j* -. iv y, ^v 0-V'» n* j, 1 4 INTERNATIONAL FALLS PRESS, JUNE 5, 1919 PAGE THREE is fepruuse whispered: "i aiu goiu& "Mr. O'Dowd will see that no evil Sprouse clutched his companion's if he has them. If he hasn't them my Stay nere. it you hear a commotion befalls me here, but he refuses to help GREEN FANCY arm and, dropping to his knees in the work here is a failure." me to get away. I quite understand in the house, run for it. Doa wait thick underbrush, pulled the other "Going into the house?" gasped for me. I'll probably be done and appreciate his position. I cannot ioi. down after him. Barnes. "Why, my God, man, that is "I'll do just as 1 please about ru ask him to go so far as that. Help Presently heavy footsteps approached. impossible. You would be shot down ning/' said Barnes, and there v,*as a An unseen pedestrian as an ordinary burglar and—the law deep thrill in nis whisper. "Good luck. passed within ten yards of the.m. They would justify them for killing you. I God help you if they catch you." 0 GEORGE MM scarcely breathed until the sounds must insist—" "Not even he could help me then. passed entirely out of hearing. Sprouse "I am not asking you to go into the Good-by. I'll do what 1 can to induce put his lips close to' Barnes' ear. house, my friend. I shall go alone," ner to drop out of the window il anything "Telegraph," he whispered. "It's a H-CUTCHEON said Sprouse coolly. goes wrong with me downstairs." system they have of reporting to each "On the other hand, I came up here A moment later he was silently other. There are two men patrolling to rescue a helpless—" scaling the wall of the house, feeling the grounds near the house. You see "Keep cool! It's the only way. his way carefully, testing every precarious what we're up against, Barnes. Do Now listen. She has designated her foothold, dragging himself you still want to go on with it?" Author tf "GRAUSTARK," -THE room and the windows that are hers. painfully upwards by means ot the "I'll stay by you," replied Barnes HOLLOW OF HER HAND," THE She is lying awake up there now, take most uncanny, animal-like strength sturdily. APRINCE OF GRAUSTARK," ETC it from me, hoping that you will come and stealth. Several minutes went by. There tonight. I shall lead you directly to Barnes could not recall drawing a was not a sound save the restless patter her window. And then comes the only single breath from the instant the man of rain in the tree tops. At last chance we take—the only instance left his side until the faintly luminous the faraway thud of footsteps came to CmrHtth.DmH MmimiOmfm. where we gamble. There will not be square above his head was obliterated the ears of the tense listener. They *®1 don't believe He will get much encouragement a light in her window, but that won't by the black of his body as it wriggled SYNOPSIS. drew nearer, louder, and once more from her, Mr. Sprouse," make any difference. This nobby over the ledge. seemed to be approaching the very said Barnes stiffly. cane I'm carrying is in reality a collapsible We will follow Sprouse. When he K. Barnes, CHAPTER I—Thomas spot where he crouched. "If she is as clever as I think she fishing rod. First we use it crawled through the window and stood trip wealthy New Yorker, on a walking? Then came the sound of a dull, ill!) through New England, la caught in a is she will encourage him tremendously. to tap gently on her window ledge or erect inside the room, he found himself At storm miles from his destination. a heavy blow, a hoarse gasp, a momentary I would if I were in her place. shade or whatever we find. Then you confronted by a tall, shadowy figure, crossroads point he meets a girl In the commotion in the shrubbery, same plight. While they discuss the situation Mr. O'Dowd is only human. He isn't pass up a little note to her. Here is standing half-way between him an automobile, sent to meet the and—again silence. Barnes' blood ran and the door. grirl, arrives and Barnes is given a lift to immune." paper and pencil. Say that you are cold. He waited for the next footfall Hart's tavern, while the girl is taken "I catch the point, Mr. SJprouse," below her window and—all ready to He advanced a step or two and uttered on to her destination, which she tells of the passing man. It never came. Barnes is a place called Green Fancy. a soft hiss of warning. said Barnes, rather gloomily. He did take her away. Tell her to lower her A sharp whisper reached his ears. "Not a sound," he whispered, drawing not like to think of the methods that valuables, some clothes, etc., from the CHAPTER II—At the tavern Barnes "Come here—quicl-!" still nearer. "I have come four falls in with a stranded troupe of "barnstorming" might have to be employed in the subjugation window by means of the rope we'll He floundered through the brush and actors, headed by Lyndon of Mr. O'Dowd. "There is a pass up on the pole. There is a remote Rushcroft, and becomes interested in almost fell prostrate over the kneeling them. rather important question I'd like to possibility that she may have the figure of a man. ask. Is she even remotely eligible to jewels in her room. For certain reasons CHAPTER III—As the storm grows, "Take care! Lend a hand," whispered her country's throne?" Barnes finds himself worrying over the they may have permitted her to Sprouse. safety of the girl,' traveling over the "Hello! How Are You This Morning?" "Remotely, yes," said Sprouse. retain them. If such is the case our mountain roads at what he considers dan- Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt f'ancy erous speed. He learns tnat Green "So remotely that she could marry work is easy. If they have taken will have to come from the outside. for and touched wet, coarse garments, is something of a house of mystery. a chap like O'Dowd without giving them away from her she'll say so, Two mounted men leave the tavern It will be dangerous—terribly dangerous—" and gasped: in a manner which arouses Barnes' curiosity. much thought to future complications?" some way or another—and she will "My God! Have you^ killed him?" he ventured. not leave! Now I've had a good look "You say O'Dowd will not assist "Temporarily," said Sprouse, between CHAPTER IV—He meets "Miss Thackeray," "She'd be just as safe in marrying at the front of that house. It is covered you to escape?" his teeth. "Here, unwind the leading lady of the stranded theatrical O'Dowd as she would in marrying with a lattice work and huge troupe, who is acting as chambermaid. "He urges me to stay here and take rope I've got around my waist. Take That night he Is aroused by the you," was Sprouse's unsatisfactory response. vines. I can shin up like a squirrel my chances. He believes that everything bringing of a dying man to the tavern, I The man's brow ^als Wrinkled and go through her room to the—" one of the two who had ridden away a will turn out well for me in the short time before. They tell of finding the in thought. "See here, Mr. "Are you crazy, Sprouse? You'd end, but I am frightened. I must get dead body of the other man. Both had Barnes, I am planning a visit to Green take your life in your hands and—" been shot. away from this place." Fancy tonight. How would you like "Sefe here," said Sprohse shortly, "Then keep your eyes and eais open CHAPTER V—The wounded man, registered to accompany me?" "I am not risking my life for the fun at the tavern as Andrew Paul, dies, for the next night or two. Can you and Barnes is informed he must not leave "I'd like nothing better," said of the thing. I am risking it for her, tell me where your room is located?" Until after the inquest. O'Dowd and De Barnes, with enthusiasm. bear that in mind—for her and her Boto, guests at Green Fancy, visit the )f "It is one flight up the first the tavern, apparently much mystified over "Will you agree to obey instructions? people. And if I am killed they won't two windows in my room is the third the affair. I can't have you muddling even say 'Well done, good and faithful to the right of the entrance. I am CHAPTER VI—Barnes advances Rushcroft things up, you know." servant.' So let's not argue the confident that someone is stationed money sufficient to release the comP^ny "The grounds are carefully guarded," point. Are you going to stand by from its embarrassing position, below my windows all night long." thereby becoming its official backer. He me or—back out?" said Barnes, after they had discussed "You still insist that I am not to Visits Green Fancy, and in the grounds the project for some time. Barnes was shamed. 'Til stand by meets his acquaintance of the night before, call on the authorities for help?" finding her a girl of surprising "Miss Cameron is constantly under you," he said, and they stole forward "Yes, yes! That must not even be beauty. the watchful eye of one or more of There were no lights visible. The considered. I have not only myself to CHAPTER VII—She seems not to be the crowd." house was even darker than the night consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very desirous of recognizing him, and turns "I know. I passed a couple of them away. "O'Dowd appears and in apparently itself it was vaguely outlined by a small atom in—" to- friendly fashion escorts Barnes (who feels last night," said Sprouse calmly. "By deeper shade of black. "All right! We'll get along without he is unwelcome) from the grounds. the way, don't you think it would be them," he said cheerily. "Afterward At last they were within a few CHAPTER VIII—Miss Thackeray warns very polite of you to invite the Green we will discuss the importance of yards of the entrance and at the ec.ge Barnes that a man stopping at the tavern, Fancy party over here to have an oldfashioned ostensibly a book agent, had searched atoms." of a small space that had been cleared his baggage in his absence. O'Dowd country dinner with you tonight?" of shrubbery. Here Sprouse stopped "And your reward as well, Mr. comes to the tavern and with Barnes and others goes over the scene of the previous Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed and began to adjust the sections of night's shooting. Barnes is invited to "Not a Sound,'5 He Whispered. "It would be useless, Mr. Sprouse. his fishing rod. off into an indistinct murmur. He dinner at Green Fancy. They will not come." heard the receiver click on the hook, "Write," he whispered. "There is thousand miles to help you, countess. CHAPTER IX—His acquaintance of the "I am perfectly aware of that, but and after calling "hello" twice hung faint glow of light up there to the This is not the time or place to explain. storm is introduced as Miss Cameron. The makeup of the house party, particularly it won't do any harm to ask them, up his own with a sigh. Evidently right. The third window, did you say? We haven't a moment to waste. a man introduced to him as ".Loeb," will it?" O'Dowd had warned her of the approach Well, that's about where I should I need only say that I have been sent and the number of menservants about the place, somewhat astonishes Barnes. Barnes chuckled. "I see. Establishing of a less considerate person locate it." from Paris by persons you know to aid myself as an innocent bystander, than himself. you in delivering the crown jewels into CHAPTER X—Miss Cameron Informs The tiny metallic tip of the rod him she is a prisoner in the house, appealing eh?" the custody of your country's minister held in th^ upstretched hand of to him for aid and binding him "Get O'Dowd on the telephone and CHAPTER XIII. to secrecy. In conversation with the Barnes, much the taller of the two in Paris. We must act swiftly. Tell chauffeur who drives him back to the ask him if they can come," said me where they are. I will get them." men, barely reached the window ledge. tavern, Barnes becomes convinced there Sprouse. The Second Wayfarer Receives Two is a conspiracy of moment hatching at He tapped gently, persistently on the "Who are you?" she whispered Green Fancy. "My God! Have You Killed Him?" "But there is Jones to consider. The Visitors at Midnight. hard surface. Just as they were beginning tensely. telephone is in his office. What will The coroner's inquest over the bodies CHAPTER XI—At breakfast the supposed to think that she was asleep "My name is Theodore Sprouse. I the end—here. Got a knife? Cut off book agent introduces himself as he think—" of Boon and Paul was held that and that their efforts were in vain have been loaned to your embassy by Sprouse, & government secret agent. a section about three feet long. I'll "Jones is all right," said Sprouse afternoon at St. Elizabeth. Witnesses Sprouse tells Barnes he is there to watch their straining eyes made out a shadowy my own government. I beg of you do get the gag in his mouth while you're the party at Green Fancy, describing briefly. "Come along. You can call from Hart's Tavern were among those object projecting slightly beyond not ask questions now. Tell me where them as refugees from a country overrun doing it. Hangmen always carry their up from my room." He grinned slyly. to testify. The verdict was "Murder by the Germans. He asserts that "Miss the sill. the prince sleeps, how I may get to his own ropes," he concluded, with grewsome Cameron" is a relative of the former ruler "Such a thing as tapping the wire, at the hands of parties unknown." room—" After a moment or two of suspense of the devastated country and that she or humor. "Got it cut? Well, cut you know." Sprouse did not appear at the Tavern "Loeb" have with them the crown jewels, Barnes experienced a peculiar, almost "You know that he is the prince?" two more sections, same length." of enormous value, which Sprouse would Sprouse had installed a telephone in until long after nightfall. The secret recover. electric shock. Someone had seized "And that you are his cousin." With incredible swiftness the two his room, carrying a wire upstairs agent listened somewhat indifferently She was silent for a moment. "Not the tip of the rod it stiffened sud of them bound the feet, knees and CHAPTER XII—Barnes agrees to accompany from an attachment made in the cellar to the latter's account of his denly, the vibrations due to its flexibility only is it Impossible for you to enter Sprouse on a nocturnal visit to arms of the inert victim. of the Tavern. He closed the door telephonic experiences. At nine o'clock Green Fancy, Sprouse with the object of his room but it is equally impossible ceasing. Someone was untying "I came prepared," said Sprouse, so securing the jewels, and Barnes with the to his little room on the top floor. he yawned prodigiously and announced for you to get out of this one except hope of rescuing Miss Cameron." the bit of paper he had fastened to calmly that Barnes marveled at the "With the landlord's approval," he that he was going to bed, greatly to the rod, and with fingers that shook by the way you entered. If I thought iron nerve of the man. CHAPTER XIII—They enter the grounds explained, pointing to the instrument, the surprise of Mr. Barnes, who followed and were clumsy with eagerness. there was the slightest chance for you In safety, Sprouse overcoming two men "By heaven, Sprouse, I—I believe "but unknown to the telephone company, him from the taproom and demanded evidently on guard. Reaching the house, to—" He had written: "I am outside with Barnes sends up, by means of a fishing he's dead. We—we haven't any right you may be sure. Call him up an explanation. rod carried by Sprouse, a note to "Miss "Let me be the judge of that, countess. a trusted friend, ready to do your to kill a—" about half past ten. O'Dowd may be "People usually go to bed at night, Cameron," informing her of their intention Where is his room?" bidding. TWO of the guards are safely to enter the house. She tries to dissuade "Don't be finicky," snapped Sprouse. up at this unholy hour, but not she. don't they?" said Sprouse patiently. them, but Sprouse climbs to her "The last to the right as you leave bound and out of the way. Now is "It wasn't much of a crack, and it room and goes through it on a quest for Now I must be off to discuss literature "It is expected, I believe." our chance. We will never have an this door—at the extreme end of the the crown jewels and state papers. was necessary." Straightening up, "But, my dear man, we are to undertake—" with Mrs. Jim Conley. The hardest corridor. Across the hall from his other. If you are prepared to come with a sigh of satisfaction, he laid his CHAPTER XIV—Barnes becomes uneasy part of my job is to keep her from room you will see an open door. A with me now write me a word or two at Sprouse's long absence and follows hand on Barnes' shoulder. "We've subscribing for a set of Dickens. Conley's "I have some cause for believing him, climbing by means of the ivy and drop it to the ground. I will pass man sits in there all night long, keep- just got to go through with it now, attached to the wall. While talking to house is not far from Green that one of those chaps in there is You could not approach up a rope to you and you may lower iuwci ing 'Miss Cameron" a commotion in the -r -v-rv uuu juu uiajf Watch. Fancy. Savvy?" Barnes. We'll never get another from Green Fancy. Go to bed at ten house warns them that Sprouse has been anything you wish to carry away with Prince Ugo's door without being seen detected. Barnes, with "Miss Cameron" chance. Putting that fellow out of o'clock, my friend, and put out your Barnes, left to his own devices, you. But be exceedingly careful. Take by that watcher. clinging to him, makes his escape to the business queers us forever afterward." wandered from taproom to porch, light. I don't insist on your taking ground. Hi loses his sense of location time. Don't hurry a single one of "You said in your note to Barnes He dropped to his knees and began and they become lost, finally taking refuge from porch to forge, from forge to off your clothes, however. I will rap your movements." He signed it with in a small shed. "Miss Cameron" that the—er—something was in Curtis* searching over the ground with his on your door at eleven o'clock. By taproom, his brain far more active explains how she was decoyed to the large "B." study." house, and was her to be married against hands. "Here it is. You can't see it, than his legs, his heart as heavy as the way, don't forget to stick your revolver will to the man "Loeb," whom she reveals It seemed an hour before their eyes The prince sleeps in Mr. Curtis* of course, so I'll tell you what it is. in your pocket." as a prince of the house to which lead and as light as air by turns. distinguished the shadowy head above, room. The study adjoins it, and «*an, she belongs. They are surprised in the A nice little block of sandalwood. I've A few minutes before eleven there More than once he felt like resorting darkness by O'Dowd. As a matter of fact but a few min only be entered from the bedroom. already got his nice little hammer, so to a well-known expedient to determine came a gentle tapping on Barnes' utes had passed. During the wait There is no other door. What are you CHAPTER XV—O'Dowd the we'll see what we can raise in the way demands door. He sprang to his feet and whether he was awake or dreaming. jewels, •Sprouse had noiselessly removed his which he thinks the fugitives have doing?" of wireless chit-chat." opened it, presenting himself before Could all this be real? In their possession, not knowing of coat, a proceeding that puzzled Barnes. "I am going to take a peep over the Sprouse's enterprise. Convinced neither Without the slightest hesitation he Sprouse fully dressed and, as the secret Ten minutes later he was In "Miss Cameron" nor Barnes have them, Something light fell to the ground. It transom, first of all. If the coast is is'l struck a succession of qtfick, confident agent said later on, "fit to kill." O'Dowd puts them on the right road to Sprouse's room, calling for Green was Sprouse who stooped and searched the tavern, where Barnes gives his companion clear, I shall take a little stroll down blows upon the block of wood. The night was as black as pitch. Fancy over an extension wire that had into the care of Miss Thackeray. for it in the grass. When he resumed *W, the hall. Do not be alarmed. I will Next day O'Dowd tells Barnes Sprouse, Barnes, trusting to the little man's "By gad, you area wonder!" cost the company nothing and yielded an upright posture he put his lips whom he describes as an expert burglar, come back—with the things we both eyes and hanging close upon his coattails, "Wait till tomorrow before you say nothing in return. After some delay got away with the treasure, after killing close to Barnes' ear and whispered: want. Pardon me." He sat down on a guard in the house. O'Dowd and "Loeb" followed blindly but gallantly O'Dowd's mellow voice sang out: that," replied Sprouse, sententiously. leave Green Fancy. "I will put my coat over your head, the edge of the bed and removed his in the tracks of the leader. It seemed "Come along now. Stick to the trail. "Hello! How are you this morning?" Here is a little electric torch. Don'l shoes. She watched him as if fascinated to him that they stumbled along parallel CHAPTER XVI—Barnes tells "Miss We've got to land the other one." flash it until I am sure the coat is Cameron" of Sprouse's treachery, arid while he opened the bosom of to the road for miles before Turning sharply to the right, she tells him the whole story of Green "Grievously lonesome," replied arranged so that you can do so without his soft shirt and stuffed the wet shoes Fancy. The man known as Loeb is her Sprouse came to a halt. "This is the Sprouse guided his companion through Barnes, and wound up a doleful account a gleam of light getting out from cousin, and he inveigled her to the house inside. short cut to Green Fancy," he whispered, the brush for some distance, and once with the object of possessing himself of of himself by imploring O'Dowd under." He pressed the torch and Then he said: "You are not dressed the Jewels, which were in her custody. laying his hand on Barnes* more came to a halt. Again he stole to save his life by bringing the entire bit of closely folded paper in the for flight. May I suggest that while I arm. "We save four or five miles, on ahead, and as before the slow, confident, CHAPTER XVII—O'Dowd returns and Green Fancy party over to dinner other's hand and carefully draped the 1%" am outside you slip on a dark skirt y. Informs Barnes of the identity of "Miss coming this way. Do you know where even careless progress of a that night. coat over his head. Cameron." She is of royal blood, he asserts, and coat? You cannot go far in that we are?" man ceased as abruptly as that of the Countess Therese Mara-Dafanda. O'Dowd was heart-broken. Personally Barnes read: ••Thank God! I was dressing gown. It would be in shreds "I haven't the remotest Idea.* -f I' comrade who lay helpless in the afraid you would wait until tomorrow he would go to any extreme to CHAPTER XVIII—Barnes visits Green before you had gone a .hundred feet "About a quarter of a mile below thicket below. Fancy to secure the wardrobe of the save so valuable a life, but as for the night. Then It would have been too through the brush. If I do not return Curtis' house. Are you all right?" countess. He meets Sprouse, who tells Barnes laid a firm, detaining hand late. I must get away tonight but I rest of the party, they begged him to him Loeb got away with the jewels after to this room inside of fifteen minutes, "Fine as a fiddle, except for a on the man's shoulder. killing the guard and accusing Sprouse say they were sorry to hear of the expected cannot leave—I dare not leave without vir the or if you hear sounds of a struggle, of murder and robbery barked knee and a skinned elbow, a "See here, Sprouse," he whispered, something that is concealed in another death of so promising a chap crawl through the window and go couple of more or less busted ribs. CHAPTER XIX—Barnes and the countess "it's all very well for you, knocking and that, while they couldn't come to part of the house. I do not down the vines. Barnes will look out leave Hart's tavern with tN actors, I've banged into more trees than—" men over like this, but just what is know how to secure It My door is and at Crowndale. where they are to his party they would be delighted to for you." "Sh!" After a moment of silence, appear. Bs*nes again meets Sprouse. your object? What, does all this lead locked from the outside. What am I come to his funeral. In short, it would intensified by the mournful squawk of "Yon must not fail, Theodore up to?" be impossible for them to accept his to do? I would rather die than to go CHAPTER XX—Sprouse tells Barnes night birds and the chorus of katydids, Sprouse," she whispered. "I must regain Loeb Is in hiding in Crowndale with his kind invitation. The Irishman was Sprouse broke in, and there was away without^!." mistress, and promises to rob him of the Sprouse whispered,: "Did you the jewels and the state papers. Hastily he wrote: "If you do not so gay and good-humored that Barnes not the slightest trace of emotion in jewels. He does so, delivering the treasure hear that?" I cannot go without—" to Barnes, as agreed, at the same took hope. his whisper. come at once, we will force our way time, informing him that ne would take Barnes thrilled. This was real melodrama. '1 shall do my best," he said simply. "Quite right. Ton ought to know. into the house and fight it out with itSrom him if be.could, at the expiration "By the way, O'Dowd, I'd like to "Hear what?" he whimpered Silently he drew a chair to the door, ef one week. speak with Miss Cameron it she can I suppose you thought I was bringing them all. My friend is coming up the shilly. mounted it and, drawing himself up by come to the telephony." you up here for a Romeo and Juliet vines. Let him enter the window. Tell CHAPTER XXI—With the oountess, "Listen!" After a second or two: his hands, poked his head throngh tha Barnes leaves Rushcroft and the rest and him where to go and he will do the "Don't be surprised if you are cut tete-a-tete with the beautiful Miss hurries to New York. There he leaves •"There!" the jewels in a place of safety and introduces off suddenly. The coast is clear for Cameron—and for nothing else. Well, rest. He is a miracle man. Nothing "It's a woodpecker hammering qn the countess to his sister. is impossible to him. If he does not the moment, but— Here, Miss Cameron. in a way, you are right. But, first of Sprouse risks his life in a daring effort (To be continued next week.) the limb of a—" to obtain the treasure, and failing takes Careful now all, my business is to recover the return in ten minutes, I shall follow." "Woodpeckers don't hammer at his leave of Barnes In a characteristic crown jewels and parchments. I am There was no response to this. The Her voice, soft and clear and trembling manner. With little prospect of an early Bring your clean, soft cotton rags night, my lad. Don't stir! Keep your return to her home Europe, the countess in with eagerness, caressed Barnes1 going into that house and take them head reappeared in the window, but no to this office. We will pay you 8 cents agrees yields to Barnes' pleading and ears open." away from the man yon know as Loeb, word came down. to become his wife. per pound. 1 AT i1 v.7