The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

162 THE MAJOR’S PLOT. ‘“A thousand dollars to the man who captures him,’’ he shouted loudly, This liberal offer created great excitement among the officers, and a rush was made to procure ladders. Chief Burns possessed a cool demeanor. A brief scrutiny of the roof which the fugitive had gained gave him the key to the situation. On the right was a four story building that towered some feet above the boarding house. The dwelling on the, left was only two stories high, with a sloping roof and several gable windows ir the attic. ‘We'll get our man yet, major,’’ he shouted encouragingly. ‘‘ Don’t lose a moment, though. Follow me closely.’’ He swung from the shed and dropped lightly into the yard. The police had broken open the door of the house, and rushing throug’, the chief and Major Penrose were speedily in the street. The rest of the party were stand- ing in front of the house, and from all directions an excited crowd were gathering. All the windows in the neighborhood were open, and people were looking out, many of them in their night clothes. Down the street came four policemen on a run, bearing a long ladder on their shoulders. The chief thundered against the door next to the boarding house, and it was opened instantly by an old man, who was struck speechless with amaze- ment when the chief dashed past him and ran up the stairway, followed by the major and half a dozen officers. They soon reached the attic, and the chief tore both sashes from one of the front windows. His appearance was greeted by a hoarse cry from the crowd in the street. With drawn revolver he crept out on the narrow ledge that ran along the front of the house, and in a moment Major Penrose stood beside him. They turned the angles of the window—the chief going to the right, Major Penrose to the left—and crawled up the shingles toward the crest of the roof. The flat top of the boarding house was now in view, but nothing could be seen of the fugitive. ‘Go carefully,’’ whispered Chief Burns. ‘‘ He must be very close at hand.”’ . ‘‘T’m ready for him,’’ replied the major, as he cocked his revolver. CHAPTER XLI.—IN WHICH THE CURTAIN FALLS. HARDLY had the words recorded at the close of the preceding chapter left the major’s lips, than a head rose over the crest of the house and was followed by a sharp report and a red flash. “I’m shot,’’ cried Burns, and with a vain attempt to keep his balance, he slipped down over the shingles. Three officers had already crawled out of the window, and as the wounded man came near they caught him tenderly and passed him through to their companions inside. | Major Penrose blazed away instantly, but too late. The assassin dodged out of sight. : A hundred throats were yelling hoarsely in the streét below as the major advanced a few more steps up the roof. He hardly realized the extreme peril of the situation, Cormmicaoolks |