The Safe Breakers' Gang — page 29: what you’re looking at

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} : — ee + L~ =f as we ~ ae eo No. 194 DEE Eee us now. You have worked mighty slow, but 1 want to see if you can’t work fast. You see the horse-shed yonder, where the laborers put up their teams ?” “Yes, I see it.” “Well, there is plenty of straw for bedding inside. and fetch all you can stagger under. Do you bear?” “Yes, I’1l doit!” “And, mind,” added the invincible tones of Jepworth, “T shall cover you with my revolver while you are going and returning, and if’ you are too slow I'll find a way to quicken your steps. uy Go Now, hustle! Tad Silsby was a giant, but he knew that he could not cope with a loaded revolver. | He started at a run toward the shed alluded to, his heart beating fast with a new and terrible apprehension. He realized that he had leagued his fortunes with those of a desperate man, and one who would not flinch before any foe, nor shrink from any deed that should promise | him triumph in his struggle to escape from the man- trackers who, day by day, pressed him more closely. The ‘“tail-ender” of the “three H’s” could hear every | and I’ll gamble on it?” he said, as he took one of her small hands in his. word spoken by his invincible enemy, and he realized that the Jatter was about to try some desperate device for defeating his adversary. THE “LOG CABIN LIBRARY. Zz 29 The door had opened, and by the dim light of the lamp that illumined the place he beheld the graceful form of a young girl approach. At first he did not recognize her. But when she bent her gaze full upon him a low exclamation broke from his lips. “Tt is Lena Jepworth!” he said, half-aloud. “Yes, but speak low!” she responded, bending over him, and fixing her beautiful eyes upon his. Once more he was indescribably thrilled by her beauty and the music of her voice, the like of which he had never seen or heard before. ‘And you are here!” he murmured, trying to rise. “To liberate you,” she answered. “Good! I couldn’t believe that you were in leAgue with those thugs and burglars! I felt that your connection with them must be Xs “ Hush !” she cautioned, with her finger upon his lips. In another moment she had unlocked his manacles, and with a long breath of infinite relief he sprang to his feet. “You followed me here to save me from those ruffians, 3 ‘TI overheard their plot to seize you,” she answered, “This isa pretty good time for me to put in my best) ‘‘and tried to get here in time to prevent it. But I was too licks, if I’ve got any left!” was the muttered comment of | the detective. And in a moment he had snatched one of the burning fagots from the bottom of the pit and began a more thor- | ough examination of the excavation into which he had) retreated. late. I had to await my chance to get in here. And now there is not a moment to lose if you would escape unob- served.” ‘‘T don’t know as I care whether I’m observed or not, so long as I have the use of my wits and my limbs. You have done mea mighty good turn, and I think that To his intense relief he found that it extended in the} deserves another, as the saying is. I happen to know that shape of a narrow tunnel, in an upward angle. I owe this little experience to members of Jules Jep- - ° . ° . . Without hesitation he began to crawl along its length, | worth’s safe-breaking gang, and they acted under orders impelled by a growing conviction that 1b would lead him to liberty. Once he glanced back. pit, and it was in a red glare of flame. He could hear the crackling of the fire, and knew that Tad had returned from Jules Jepworth himself. I fancy that you know as ;much %” Hie could see the interior of the | Quimby’s clear eyes sought those of the girl. And hers fell, while a faint flush stole into her cheeks. “I came pretty near ending up my career at the hands with the straw, and that the safe-breaker was throwing} of some of these same toughs when [| paid you the visit. the inflammable material into the well. The latter was a mass of roaring, crackling blaze ! For a moment the detective watched if, sobered by the) . ‘could not get out in time. Believe me, sir——” realization of the unique and dreadful peril from which he had escaped. At the same time he became conscious of a strong draught of air from the as yet unexplored end of the tunnel. “That tells the story!” he exclaimed, half aloud. “There is an opening ahead, and the heat ot the fire in the pit makes a draught. Lucky forme that it blows toward the fire instead of the other way, else I might be smoked out like a°Woodchuck !” Without further delay Kirk Hyde made his way along the steep, narrow passage, and soon he found that he had reached what appeared to be the end of it. Still the air blew strong in his face, and it had the smell of a cellar. A rock, fitted loosely in the end of the opening, was all that blocked his way, and this he quickly removed. It was in a cellar that he now found himself; and a lit- tle later he had climbed a flight of stairs and stood in the principal room of one of the laborers’ houses. The occupants had just stepped out, in response to a cry of fire. The hut next to which the pit was dug was in flames. The fire had caught from the roaring flames that came up out of the well, and a crowd was rapidly gather- ing. in the meantime, while the lurid glare lit up the scene, Jules Jepworth hurried away into the forest. And he was followed by the writhing, stealthy form of the “ tail- ender” of the “three H’s !” CHAPTER XIX. “HANDS UP!” At the close of chapter sixteen we left Quimby Hall, the “sandwich” of the great detective firm, fetteredetind manacled, and a prisoner in what appeared to be an under-ground room. : te dite a ees 3 tr ae . r . : EG okt TTT eS ela RI ) 7 d ae , 4 ay Patek zh Be O41 KK - < 4%, Vein g” ae ate OS Ae Kean, Soh eee ja oy ‘hastened to interrupt. already. ‘Did you kiiow anything about that?” “TI could not help you then. I mtended to come to you and give you warning, but I was locked into a room and “Oh, I believe you, you may gamble on it!” Quimby ‘*But what I wantis more truth rather than a repetition of what I feel convinced of I overheard you talking with a cranky chap who called himself Jules Jepworth. What was he to you? You seemed to be afraid of him ?” “He is my brother,” was the low reply. “But that is not the chief of safe-breakers %” OD en Ons “And yet the real Jules Jepworth—the one who opens safety-vaults as he opens common doors—makes his head- quarters at that place, or at least for a part of the time?” She hesitated, but answered, frankly, at last: “That is the real Jules Jepworth’s home. The one you saw is insane, and he imagines himself to be Jules. His real name is Robert. He reads in the papers about the exploits of the real Jules, and that colors his vagaries.” “Very well. But that isn’t telling what the real Jules is to you?” And Quimby’s eyes fairly compelled hers to meet them. “T gannot betray him!” she answered, in a tremulous tone. “T don’t ask it. But I must know what he is to you. A great deal depends upon it. You must tell me—for your name is Jepworth, too!” “Yes, our names are the same.” “Ts he your father?” 74 No. 9 “Your husband ?” : A bright flame leaped into her cheeks. “No, no!” she cried. The “sandwich” of the “three H’s” suddenly felt as though he had been given wings, and could fly. “Glory !” he ejaculated. He caught one of her hands in his, raised it to his lips, then as suddenly released it,.saying: “Then I can fall in love with you if I please, and I may ; . ‘ > ‘ 7 ne - - : a f . > we a pm ‘ . 4 7 ‘ : ‘ - ; o os , ~ ol, Ya . ae “— 5 ¥ AML! % Lm 4, Sir 7 : ai fee TS ST hi pS ER rs he ae YP, op rere =