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“WHAPEY DAYS Se
Jk
He must hear more and he crouched al-
most to the ground and pressed forward,
every sense on the alert, when guddenly a
man burst into the room and s:
“Look at this thing what I found in the
something.
“ What’ s that? A spectacle case ?”
“‘That’s what it is, andit’s got his let-
ters on it, J. B, and if thet Pint Jack
“ How'd it get there: ev
“Don’t know, ’less he come down the
chimney, but here it is all th
Jack could account for the finding of the
case in only on ie wa
> It must have slipped’ from his pocket in
his sudden descent, and thus have been
found on the floor of the cave.
ow the finder got into the council
chamber without passing him was 3 anys:
tery, unless there were other pas
And the glasses is still here,” aid, the
man. ‘That shows he didn’t chuck the
thing away, and it fell down chimney. No,
sir; he came down himself, I found ‘em
just under i
“Then he’s ‘there yet!” cried Jim. “ Run
and catch him
Jack had atigen at the first alarm, and
had retreated, and now, ashe heard Jim
give orders to Search for him, he drew back
still further.
Harried tootste 3 were heard in the pas-
t was suddenly cut off,
_ butin another instant there game Sothe er
interruption as startling as the
“Well, if here ain’t the g
“allo! What do you fant?”
“Don’t let her get away |”
The light suddenly entered the passage
again, and Jack knew that the men had
eft
“What would you do?’ asked a voice,
which Jack instantly. recognized as
Kitty’s. .
“Put you where you won't do us no
more harm,” snarled the man who had led
the former pur:
“Help |” voreanied Kit!
“Without a thought as te Tis danger, Jack
dasbed along the passage and leaped into
the cave.
‘Two rough men had seized Kitty, while
others were hurrying forward to their as-
sistance,
“Stop!” cried Jack in a voice of com-
mand, as he sprang into the rooi
table, he struck at t
dealing one a blow Af across the head,
A second blow alighted on Jim's hand,
and a shower of sparks fe]l to the floor.
Undismayed by the greater number of
his foes, Jack struck about him with the
blazing torch, andthe men uttering cries
of Tage, fell back,
me thie way I" the brave boy gasped,
seizing Kitty by thearm, ‘There is not
an instant to lose.”
Ue dashed toward the passage opposite
that i in which he had at first stood while
men, recovering from their first sur-
prise, f followed him with hoarse shouts,
e was not room for two persons to
alk vabreas t in the passage, and Jack
ushed Kitty. iin front of him bidding
er to baste:
“You will be taken | r oes said.
“Never mind if I a
“But Tam afraid this is. ‘not the right
passage
“Go ‘on, "cried Jack.
back n
Ina tow moments they came out into
the open air, the full moon shining above
the tree tops.
Close at hand Jay a pile of logs, in one of
whieh an ax was stuck. .
Go on,” mutter
“We can’t turn
Jack, urging his
soup forward, throwing own his
tore and wrenching the ax from its
pla
The wind sighed among the trees and
there was a sound of rushing water not
far away.
The moon lighted the path asif it had
been day, and their way was plain before
they hesitated, however, and murmured ‘
in Breat agitation:
“Tam afraid there is no escape, This
place is a perfect, maze. We have taken
the wrong pat!
“Then do you escape while Icover your
retreat. We must go on.”
As they hurried on the sound of rushing
waters increased, and presently Jack saw
the cause of
n the mountain there were numer-
ous prings, and these, overflowing, made
streams, w whieh fed by the rains often
grew most turb
The path eudenty ended at one of these
mountain stream
From a ledge of rock thirty feet above
them, th er came rushing down ina
fallo ot forty feet in heig!
At lace where «oKiéty suddenly
anted, there was a level bank, about t
feet in front of the fall, and extending a
few feet only beyond this,
Opposite it, at a distance of twenty feet,
was another bank, and from that point
there was a path leading down the mount-
“ We are lost!” cricd Kitty.
we cross the strea
“By the bridge, Oia Jack, pointing to
a tree whi which had been felled so as to span
c
“* How can
At this 1 moment the hoarse voices of the
pursuers: were heard, arising above the
noise of the falling wa
e haste !” cried Jack. “The bridge
is firm. ‘and strong, and I will see that you
cross safely,
The moon rode high i in the heavens, and
bridge, fall falls, wood and ledge, were thrown
n fu .
Kitty sprang upon the narrow bridge, to
which there was no hand-rail, and cheered
on by the courageous boy, advanced rapid-
ly to the center,
Jack followed, ax-in hand, and as he
reached a point athird of the’ way across,
turned and stood facing his pursuers.
was without hat or coat, and the
light, shining full upon his slight figure,
revealed to the pursuing outlaws a form
like that of a hero of old, an enemy not to
e despised, and one who would defend
the honor of the weak with his last drop
orth e outlaws paused, irresolute, on the
brink of the chasm, no one daring to take
the first step.
“TH kill any or all who set foot on the
bridge till that young lady is safe across,”
hissed Jack, and the robbers never doubted
that he would keep his wor
hoot down the young geub I” cried one.
“ “we ee had trouble enough from him al-
on No, he must be taken alive and made
one of us,” snarled Jim, “That will be a
sweet revenge.”
“Make haste !” whispered Jack, turning
his head for an instant, and seeing that
Kitty had again paused,
“Shoot the girl ‘and capture the boy !”
eried Jim.
Shoot "them both and have an end to
our trouble with them
0, no, the boy rast be spared,”
“ Advance at your peril!” shouted Jack,
brandishing the ax, on the sharp blade ot
which the moonlight glinted, ‘* He dies
who ots & foot on the bridge!”
nm quivering of the fallen tree
told Sack: that Kitty had reached the other
bank and he darted forward two or three
paces, then turning and facing his pur.
pies. two of whom had stepped upon the
5
=
"He covered the remaining distance,
swung his ax vigorously and began cut-
ting at the tree where it rested upon the
- “the chips flew and. the bridge began to
show signs of weakening.
“Back with you 1 roared Jim. ‘‘ The
young imp will get the best of us after
* Shoot the pestilent young cub!”
There were three or four quick reports;
a bullet flattened itself on the blade of the
ax, one cut a twig not six inches above
Jack’s head and the others whistled ver
close to him, but he gaily redoubled his ef-
forts and the rude _ bri ge _Presently fell
into the stream below, tl upon i
barely Te reaching the opposite bank with
eir liv:
CHAPTER VIII.
WHAT A LAZY BOY COULD Do.
WHEN satisfied that the pursuit of the
outlaws was cut off for a time, at least, for
it was possible that they could throw an-
other bridge across the chasm, Jack threw
away his ax and hurried down the rugged
ath.
we itt , Kitty! it’s all right—the can't
follow; "ve cut the bridge !” he calle
ranon.. “ Wait a momen ou taueen rs
o down the mountain alone!”
“We presently saw the girl standing ina
small, open space waiting for him, and as
he ‘joined her they both hurried on.
“You are a brave boy, Jack,” Kitty said
at length. “Twiee you have saved m
from these miserable creatures,”
why do you go there?” asked Jack.
“Xow surely have nothing in common
wit!
“Wh Go gou go there yourself?” replied
Kitty
his time it was by omething the first
time I wished to learn somethin,
“So did I,” returned Kitty, quickly, and
then, the path becoming plainer, she ran
her es
sW, ait a cried Jack. ‘Yonder dies the
village. It is dangerous to pass it.”
hey were almost upon the little village
in a few moments, the path suddenly turn-
ing abruptly into the main road down the
mountain,
‘All was dark and still in the village,
owever, and not a sound came from th
buts closely Buddled together as the boy
and girl flew
At the foot of the mountain Kitty sud-
denly sprang forward, and Jack, who was
t| thing, but I
ahead as if desirous of ridding herself of | astra:
only a few paces behind, saw her leap into
alight wagon, drawn by¢ a single horse, and | now
drive qT apidly aw
“*Good-night, Tack I” she called back at
him, and then he heard a ringing laugh
mingling with the sounds of the wheels
and the hoof beats of the hor:
e boy stood in the road "for a few mo-
ments utterly dumfounded.
What his feelings were might well be
imagined, perhaps, but when he at length
spoke, all he said was:
* Well, girls are funny things, and the
fellow who can make "em ont is a regular
wizar
‘here was no word of complaint against
efended, and
‘ten miles in the chill October night, in-
sufficiently clad and on a road noted for
its evil i reputatio n.
e simple comment that girls
were Guest creatures, Jack set out upon
his weary journey, now whistling, now | go
singing, not to keep up his courage, but
simp! ply forcompany, and mile after mile
was thus left behind him till he was really
surprised at finding himself on the out-
skirts of the tow:
There wasa cheerful fire burning in the
sitting-room when Jack entered his moth-
er’s house, and, grea' to his surprise,
Tom was standing in front of it, having
evidently only just entered, as he still re-
ned his hat a light overcoat, and
"Tom saw hint shiver, noticed that his
hands and face were blue with the cold,
and said:
“You haven't been out with no hat nor
coat, Jack?"
Yes, and walked ten \ miles at that.”
eI
**T don’t think you show much consider-
ation for mother, to say nothing of your
own health,” said Tom, impatiently. “*No
doubt she has been worrying about you all
the evening. I shouldn’t think you'd be
so thoughtless, at I had done it you’d ’ve
made no end o;
** Perhaps,” said Jack, quietly. “I sup- Rep
pose I
mother Knows that
will not woi
* But what. have you been doing on Bald
Head, and why did you walk? Did you
bust my wheel? Lou punctured it once
before, k
Tom ia not Snention the fact that Jack
had bought him a new tire, which w:
quite true,
** No, I did not use your wheel, Tom ; I
walked both ways.”
“But what ander the sun took you to
Bald Head?”
“Oh, I had business there,” was the care-
less answer, and then the boy went to the
pantry for something to eat, having had
nothing for hours,
hen he returned to the sitting-room,
Tom had gone up*to bed.
late for Tom,” hem used. ‘* How-
ever, if may be all right, I won’t say any-
shall have fe Keep my eyes
open a little more, perha
He did not leave the house for the next
two or three days, spending his time in
writing and reading, and getting the name
of being idle, though that troubled him
but little, so long as his mother did not
comp
On the ‘second day a stout, smooth shay-
en, severe-looking gentleman called to see
him and was shown up to his room where
he sat at work.
‘* My name is Marriner,” he beg:
“Ye: es, paymaster of the Stonehill
e| Quarry,” added Jack. ‘I am well ac-
quainted with your son and daughter, but
now a only by sight. Won't you sit
have a nasty temper. However,
have been out, and
ent mea letter of warning, but
id nots give me full particulars,” said the
other, in rather a doubtingtone. ‘I don’t
pay. any attention to such matters asa
but your letter was so mysterious
that I thought i it best to see you and get
you to explain.
* There was nothing | mysterious about
it, sir,” said Jack, in his usual tone. ‘I
wrote you that there was a plan on foot to
rob you just before the next pay day at
the quarry, and that you had best be pre-
pare I did not wish to write you all
the particulars, as letters sometimes go
ay.”
“ Tean hardly pelieve that any one would
attempt so rash a thing when it is well
known that I always go armed and keep
two ferocious dogs,” said the paymaster,
with an air of great confidence in himself.
“* Never theless,” said Jack, quietly, ‘the
attempt will be made, and you would best
take extra precautions. Keep your mone
in the bank until you need Tete ay Oo:
the men. Don’t keep it in your Snbase as
you have done heretofore.”
“ Nonsense |” Jaughed the pazmaster.
apparently
“Oh, very well,” said Jaci
,”"| this” plan
not at all nettled. “Will you excuse me
Ihave some work espe ecially die.
sire to get finished to-day. ou won't
mind my not going down with you? Lam
not feeling nery Sireng to o-day.”
strong, hearty man looked af the
clivate, sto -shouldered boy wearing
glasses" at is age, and said,- impa-
tiently - :
“Come, come, there may be something ~
in what you say afterall. You gettainly
do not look like one who would play @
joke on me or who would be frightened at
nothing. Tell me all you know about this
matter,” and Mr, Marriner sat down,
ing been standing during the preceding
interview.
Jack related what he had heard and seen
the mountain, telling only what re-
ferred to the paymaster’s case, “however,
and no more.
The narrative seemed -to impress the
man greatly, and he said as he arose to
‘i Well, I will take your advice. My
wife has often asked me not to keep the
men’s money in the house and I won't.
Good-day,
“One To) ment,” said Jack, “I would
appear to do things the same as you have
ways done. Go to the bank, but take
home a package of blank paper, not money,
and do not eppear to be any more concern-
ed than usual. You will be watched, and
you must not do anything to alarm the
thieves. Moreover, do. not go away on
any summons from out of town, although
you might appear todoso. If you follow
you will nab the robbers
nicely.
“TT Yall do as you suggest,” said Mr.
Marriner.
‘Two days afterward the paymaster call-
ed again and went up to Jack's room. In-
deed, the boy usually sat there when in the
house those days, as the sitting-room was
evel, occupied by boarders, -
ve go! great story to tell
pou." said Jack's visitor, sitting down, a
road smile upon his face. ‘* Yesterday I
went tothe bank and left it with a nice
pile of white paperin my little valise. I
saw two men watching me when I came
out, but I never let on that I saw them,
but went straight to the house and putthe —
ackage in my desk, where l always have -
ein “the afternoon I heard from my
brother in Boston, He wanted me to come
and see him without delay, as he was ex-
ceedingly ill and not likely to live through
e night. Well, I took the train for Bos:
ton—that is, I, left town on it, but Id
not go anywhere near Boston. I went id
the next town and wired my brother to
know what was the matter with him. He
sent back word that there wasn’t anything
the matter ith him, but that there seem-
0 be with m
“Well, then T came back to town, but
nobody would have known me for myself,
for I had a new suit of clothes, wore a silk
hat anda beard and sat talking with my
own wife for five minutes, and she never
knew me till I told her who I was and
took off my beard. Julie and the boy were
out, so they never knew a word about it,
and they thought I was in Boston.
“Early in the evening I heard ‘the dogs
making a fuss in the yard, and, looking
through the blinds, I saw a ” rough- looking
fellow throw: something at them and go
away. Now I have trained those dogs not
to touch a piece of meat or anything else,
unless I give it to them, and tell them they _
can have it, anda stranger would have to
club them to death, and then he couldn't
get them to take anything.
“IT went out on the quiet to get the meat
or whatever it was, but our fool cat, seein;
that the dogs wouldn’t touch it,
hooked on toit and was eating away for
all her life, That's just what it was, too, ~
for she went into convulsions and died be-
fore I could fet the stuff away, and the
doctor said ¢ ere was arsenic enough in it
0 kill a horse.
, 1 kept quiet, and everybody went
to bed, only my wife knowing that I w
x
&
zs,
did not want to. frighten her.
all hands had gone to t down
into the library and waited allt in nthe dark
for my. my | friends to come, because I knew
ey
fe Tey ras pretty late when I heard a slight
noise at the window, which opens to the
floor, and pretty soon it swung open and
in came three men, with their stockings
over their shoes, and slouched hats on
their heads,
“They went straight to the desk, pried
it open and took out the package of nice
white paper, ehuekling at the capture they
had mas ade, a at how well they had
cheated the. nd at ator and then they
It was my turn
them
shine straight through them.
“Wel ey wanted fo. argue the case,
and one of
I a pretty
knows it Rn role to his ear this
but
them knows it by