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Show I'll 3 Si Author of jl I I gf IL "Grauitark," "The III , I S Gtauttark, The 11 By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON .uS-eL?e,u; Copright b7 Dodd, Mead and Company, Lao, No. 30. Act like a man with brains. I said I would square myself with you and with Iilin. too. Well, I've done both. Maybe you think it is easy to pive up this stuff. There is a half-million dollars' worth of nice little things in that box, small as it is." - "I cannot begin to thank yon enough," said Iiarnes. "See here, you must allow me to reward you in some way commensurate with your " "Cut that out," said Sprouse darkly. "I'm not so virtuous that I have to be rewarded. I like the game. It's the breath of life to me." "The time will surely come when I can do you a good turn, Sprouse, and you will not find me reluctant," said Iiarnes, lamely. "That's different. If I ever need a friendly hand I'll call on you. It's only fair that I should give you a tip, Barnes, just to put you on your guard. From now on, I'm a free agent. I want to advise you to put that stuff in a safe place. I'll give you two days' start. After that, if I can get "era away from you, or whoever may have them, I'm going to do it. They will be fair plunder from then on. Good night and good-by for the present. Stick close to your room till morning and then beat it with her for New York. I give you two days' start, remember." re-member." He switched off the light suddenly. There was no sound for many seconds, save the deep breathing of the two CHAPTER XVIII Continued. "Ton take this one," said Barnes, "and I will manage the other." He was in a hurry to get away from the bouse. There was no telling when the government agents would descend upon the place. Barnes helped Peter to lift the trunks into the car and then ordered ldm to start at once for Hart's Tavern. Tav-ern. "You can return later on for your things," he said. "I got 'em tied up in a bundle in the garage, Mr. Burns," he said. "Won't take a second to get 'em out." He hurried around the corner of the house. A dry, quiet chuckle fell upon Barnes' ears. He glanced about In surprise sur-prise and alarm. No one was in sight. "Look up, young man," and the startled young man obeyed. His gaze halted at a window on the second story, almost directly over his head. Mr. Sprouse was looking down upon him, his sharp features fixed in a sardonic sar-donic grin. "Well, I'll be d !'" burst from Barnes' lips. "Surprised to see me, eh? If you're not in a hurry, I'd certainly appreciate a lift as far as the Tavern, old man. I'll be down in a jiffy. Stand aside! I'm going to drop." A moment later he swung over the sill, and dropped lightly to the ground eight feet below. "See, here, Sprouse or whatever your name is " "Better hear me out," broke in Sprouse calmly. "I could drill a hole through you so quickly you'd never know what did it," he went on. His hand was in his coat pocket, and a quick glance revealed to Barnes a singularly sin-gularly impressive angle In the cloth, the point of which seemed to be directed direct-ed squarely at his chest. "But I'm not going to do it. I just want to set myself straight with you. In a word, I never got anywhere near the room In which the jewels were hidden. This Is God's truth, Barnes. I wasn't the only one who was trying to get the baubles, my friend. It was a game in which only the best man could win." "I know the truth now about Roon and Paul," said Barnes significantly. "You do?" sneered Sprouse. "I'll bet you a thousand to one you do not. The girl was led to believe that they were a couple of crooks and that they fixed me in that tavern down there. Isn't that what she told you? Well, that story was cooked up for her special spe-cial benefit. Roon was the Baron Hed-lund. Hed-lund. Hedlund came up here a week or so ago to keep a lookout for his wife. The baroness is supposed to be deeply enamored of Prince Ugo. He found letters which seemed to Indicate that she was planning to join the prince up here. When he heard of the arrival of n lady at Green Fancy the other afternoon, he got busy. I admit that I am the gentleman who telephoned tele-phoned the warning up to the prince. They tried to head the baron and his man off at the cross-roads, but he "Nicholas butted in at this unfortunate unfor-tunate juncture. He made the mistake mis-take of his life. Ugo jumped hack into his room. In less than a second he was out again. He landed squarely on Nicholas' hack as the fellow turned to escape. I saw the sleel flash. Poor old Nick went down in a heap, letting out a horrible yell. Ugo dragged him into the room and dashed back into his own. A moment' Inter he came out again, yelling for help. There was only one thing left for me to do and that was to get out on (lie roof if possible, pos-sible, and wait for things to quiet down. I got out through a trap door and stayed there for an hour or so. "Well, to shorten the story, I finally final-ly took a chance and slid down to the eaves where I managed to find the limb of a tree big enough to support me just as if the Lord had ordered it put there for my special benefit. I was soon on the ground, and that meant safety for me. I had heard Ugo tell the others that Nicholas said the man who stabbed him was yours truly. Can you beat it? "And now comes the maddening part of the whole business. He said that the crown jewels were gone ! The thief was running downstairs when he staggered stag-gered to the door. If we are to find the crown jewels, my friend, we will first have to find Prince Ugo. He has them." "I don't believe a word of this yarn," said Barnes flatly. "You have the jewels anil " "Look here, Mr. Barnes, I'm not going go-ing to double-cross you again. That's all over. I want to get that scurvy dog who knifed poor old Nick. If you can give me a lead, I'll try to run Prince Ugo clown. And if I do, we'll get the jewels." t "We? You amuse me, Sprouse."- "Well, I can't do any more than give my promise, my solemn oath, or something like that. I can't give a bond, you know. I swear to you that if I lay hands on that stuff, I will deliver de-liver it to you. Might just as well trust me as Ugo." "Get in the car," said Barnes suddenly. sud-denly. He had decided to take a chance with the resourceful, indefatigable inde-fatigable rascal. There was something convincing about Sprouse's version of the affair at Green Fancy. Barnes told him that he knew of Prince Ugo's fight. Sprouse looked thoughtful for a long time. "So O'Dowd knows that I really was after the swag, eh? He believes I got it?" "I suppose so." "The only one who thinks I'm absolutely abso-lutely innocent Is Ugo, of course and Mrs. Van Dyke. That's good." Sprouse smacked his lips. "I've got a pretty fair idea where I can find Mr. Loeb. It will take a little time a couple of days, perhaps but sooner or later he'll turn up in close proximity prox-imity to the beautiful baroness." CHAPTER XIX. A Trip by Night and a Late Arrival. Shortly after sundown that evening, eve-ning, the Rushcroft company evacuated evacu-ated Hart's Tavern. They were delayed de-layed by the irritating and, to Mr. Rushcroft, unpardonable behavior of two officious gentlemen, lately arrived, who insisted politely but firmly on prying into the past, present and future fu-ture history of the several members of the organization, including the new "backer." Barnes had devised a very clever plan for getting Miss Cameron away from the tavern without attracting undue un-due attention. She was to leave in one of the automobiles flint he had engaged en-gaged to convey the players to Crowndale, where t'.iey were to "show." In case of detention or inquiry, in-quiry, she was to pose as a stage-struck stage-struck young woman who had obtained ob-tained a place wiih the company at the last moment through his influence. When tile hour eame for the departure depar-ture from Hart's Tavern he deliberately deliberate-ly engaged the two secret service men in conversation. In the taproom. Miss Cameron left the house by the rear door and was safely ensconced in Peter's Pe-ter's automobile long before he shook hands with the "lat-cntehers" and dashed out to join her. Tommy Gray's car, occupied by the four players, was moving away from '.lie door as he sprang in beside her and slammed the door. Peter's efforts to stay behind Tommy's Tom-my's venerable but surprisingly energetic ener-getic car were the cause of many a gasp and shudder from the couple who sat behind him in the bounding car. lie had orders to keep hack of Tommy but never to lose sight of his tail light. "Are you there?" he whispered. "Yes. Isn't it. jolly, running away like this? It must be wonderfully exciting ex-citing to be n criminal, always dodging dodg-ing and " "Sh ! Even a limousine may have ears !" But if the limousine had possessed a thousand ears they would have been rendered useless in the stormy racket made by Peter's muffler and the thunderous thun-derous roar of the exhaust as the car got under way. Sixty miles lay between them and Crowndale. Tommy Gray guaranteed that the distance could be covered in three hours, even over the vile mountain moun-tain roads. Ten o'clock would find them at the Grand Palace hotel, none the worse for wear, provided (lie always al-ways put it parenthetically) they lived to tell the tale! The luggage had gone on ahead of them earlier in the day. Soon after ten o'clock they entered the town of Crowndale and drew up before the unattractive portals of the Grand Palace, hotel. An arc lamp swinging above 1 lie entrance shed a pitiless light upon the dreary, Godforsaken Godfor-saken hostelry with the ironic name. Miss Cameron was warmly conscious con-scious of the thrill that had come into her blood when he carried her up the stairs in his powerful arms, disdaining the offer of assistance from the suddenly sud-denly infatuated Tommy Gray. "Rehearsal at eleven sharp," announced an-nounced Rushcroft. "Letter-perfect, every one of you. No guessing. By the way, Miss er 'pon my soul, I don't believe I got your name?" "Jonrs," said the new member, shamelessly. Barnes went down to the dingy lobby. A single, half-hearted electric bulb shed its feeble light on the desk, in front of which stood a man registering regis-tering under the sleepy eye of the night clerk. Barnes was turning away when a familiar voice assailed him. Whirling, he looked into the face of a man who stood almost at his elbow the sharp, impassive face of Mr. Sprouse. CHAPTER XX. The First Wayfarer Has One Treasure Thrust Upon Him And Forthwith Claims Another. "What are you doing here?" demanded de-manded Barnes, staring. He seized the man's arm and Inquired eagerly: "Have you got the jewels?" "No ; but I will have them before morning," replied Sprouse coolly. "Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that his royal nibs Is hiding in this town? Well, he certainly Is. The Baroness Hedlund has been here for a week or ten days. She goes by the name of Mrs. Hasselwein. I popped down here this afternoon and found out that she is at the sanatorium, but that she expects to leave tomorrow morning. I made another trip out there this evening and waited. About eight o'clock Mr. Hasselwein strolled up. He sat on the veranda with her for half an hour or so and then left. I followed fol-lowed him. He went to one of the little cottages that belong to the sanatorium. sana-torium. I couldn't get close enough to bear what they said, but I believe he expects to take her away in an automobile auto-mobile early in the morning. It is a seventy-mile ride from here to the junction where they catch the train for the West. I'm going up now to make a call on Mr. Hasselwein. By the way, what is the number of your room?" "Twenty-two on the next floor." "Good. Go upstairs now and I'll join you in about ten minutes. I will tap three times on your door." "Why should you come to my room, Sprouse? We can say all that is to be said " "If you will look on the register you will discover that Mr. J. H. Prosser registered here about half . an hour ngo. He is in room 30. He left a call for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is another an-other name for Ugo. lie left the cottage cot-tage an hour ngo. Came in a jitney or I could have got to him on the way over." Barnes, regardless of consequences, dashed over to inspect the register. Sprouse followed leisurely. "See !" cried Barnes, excitedly, putting put-ting his finger on the name "Miss Jones." "She's in room 32 next to his. By gad, Sprouse, do you suppose he knows that she is here? Would the dog undertake anything " "You may he sure he dosen't know she's here, or you either, for that matter. mat-ter. The country's full of Joneses and Barneses. Go on upstairs. Leave everything to me." Barnes had been in his room for twenty minutes before he heard the tapping on his door. lie opened it and Sprouse slid into the room. The instant in-stant the door closed behind him, he threw open his coat and coolly produced pro-duced a long, shallow metal box, such as one finds in safety vaults. "With my compliments,'' he said dryly, thrusting the box into Barnes' hands. "You'd better have the countess coun-tess check them up and see if they're all there. I am not well enough acquainted ac-quainted with the collection to be positive." Barnes was speechless. He could only stare, open-mouthed, at this amazing man. "My God, Sprouse, have you been in that man's room since I saw you down " "All you have to do Is to keep quiet and look innocent. Stay out of the hall tonight. Don't go near the door of "Isn't It Jolly, Running Away Liko This?" men. Then, with infinite caution, Sprouse turned the knob and opened the door a half inch or so. He left the room so abruptly that Barnes never quite got over the weird impression that he squeezed through that slender crack, and pulled it after him ! Many minutes passed before he turned on the light. The key of the box was tied to the wire grip. With trembling fingers he inserted it in the lock and opened the lid. ... "A haif-inillion dollars' worth of nice little lit-tle things," Sprouse had said ! He did not close his eyes that night. Daybreak found him lying in bed, with the box under his pillow, a pistol at hand, and his eyes wide open. He was in a graver quandary than ever. Now that he had the treasure in his possession, what was he to do with it? He solved the breakfast problem by calling downstairs for a waiter and ordering coffee and rolls and eggs sent up to his room. Singularly enough the waiter solved the other and more disturbing dis-turbing problem for him. "Some robbery last night," said that worthy. "Feller up in one of the cottages cot-tages at the sanatorium. All beat up, something fierce they say." "Up in Where?" almost shouted Barnes, starting up. The man explained where the cottages cot-tages were situated. "Seems he was to leave by auto early this mornin', and they didn't know anything was wrong till .Toe Keep he's driving a car Mr. Norton has for rent till Joe'd been scttin' out in front for nearly half an hour. The man's wife was waitin' fer him up at the main buildiu' and she got so tired waitin' that she sent one of the clerks down to see what was keeping her husband. Well, sir, him and Joe couldn't wake the feller, so they climb in an open winder, an' by gosh. Joe says it was terrible. The feller was layin' on the bed, feet an' hands tied and gagged, and blood from head to foot. He was inconscious, Joe says, an' my God, how his wife took on ! Joe says he couldn't stand it. so he snook out, shakin' like a leaf." "Is Is the man dead?" cried Barnes, aghast. "Nope! Seems like it's nothing serious: seri-ous: just beat up, that's all. Terrible cuts on his- head and " "What time did all this happen?" "Doc Smith tiggers it was long about midnight, judgin' by the way the blood co'gulated." "Did they get away with much?" "Haven't heard. Seems as though the burglar must ha' been more'n one of 'em, I say wasn't satisfied with crackin' him over the head. He stuck the point of a knife or something into him just a little way, Joe says in more'n a dozen places. What say?" "I I didn't say anything." "I thought you did. Well, if I hear anything more I'll let you know." (TO BE CONTINUED.) "See Here, Sprouse, or Whatever Your Name Is" beat them to It. If there was to be a fight, they didn't want it to happen anywhere near the house. I believe Ugo is the one who got the baron or Roon, as you know him. Now, that is the true story of the little affair. "To go back to my own troubles. When I got out into the hall night before be-fore last, after leaving her room, I heard voices whispering in Prince LIgo's loom. I beat It up the stairway Into the attic. Nothing happened, so I sneaked down to have a peep around. The door to Ugo's room was open, but there was no light on the 'aside. He came to the door and looked up and down the hall. Then some one else came out and started to sneak away. I leave you to guess the sex. |
