ld possibly be avoided. John Stumpy was but a few feet

as at the man's mercy, and I was inclined to think that, our interv

occurred. A draught of wind came in at the partly open d

y, in high irritation. "There goes the lig

me, and, without making any noise, I rolle

g which I held my breath. "Ah, here they are, just as I left 'em last night. Reckon no one visits this sh

y pushed that he would have no booty to bring. But if he did succeed in

s nothing more nor less than a burglar's kit,-than he

ught of the alarm and terror that she might be called upon to suffer. As it was, I was sure she was worried about my continued absence. In my ang

ide, the stars were shining brightly, and in the southwest the pale crescent of the new moon was falling behind the tree-tops, casting ghostly shadows that would have made a timid person shiver. But as the reade

nd I was on the point of rolling back to my hidi

of the clearing he paus

gest members of the Models, who, during my capture, had had little to say or do. He was the so

im in company with Duncan Woodward's crowd. How Duncan had ever taken up with him I could not

he repeated. "Ar

t him to this place at such an hour

am, Dick

anaged to get away," he co

l," I replied as lightly as I could, for

t," he went on, as he struck a matc

e with t

I'd known what they were up to. I hope y

d go into anything of this kind, D

nswered earnestly, "and I came to relea

bound. "What c

set you free," he explained. "If Dunc or the

Their opinion isn

about me if they wanted to." And Dick Blair turned awa

y bad report about you, do as I'm doing

ut you'll promi

wish i

nife, he quickly cut the cords that bound me. Somewhat stiff from the

ot for what you've done for me, Dick,"

nd I guess legally I was as guilty as any one. Just

h," I respon

night in," he went on. "I'm no coward,

n't bee

intensely surprised.

d. Should

mp," I

n't he u

dn't s

hid away. What did

after so

are none her

there

ind of

Dick the secret? Perhaps he mig

ise to keep si

do you me

very im

ght. Fi

er some burg

. "You surely don't mean it!" he

she is away and has left co

the mentioning of my father's and Mr. Woodward's names. Of course

ng to do about it

ow," I returned decidedly. "He shall not

t you

d to be

have a

se. Maybe I can secure it. The

a pistol

ou

hem. Dunc always insisted th

ed a highly polished nic

ne," I said, after exam

t a box of cartridges

t to me

with you, Roger," he returned. "You

t fellow has got a good start, and

ant to take a lo

by side, I with the pistol in the pocket of my jacket, and Dick with the lantern

n a heap, while the lantern rolled several yards away. But he pi

rning," said he, as we drew near to the main road. "He was hangi

see him y

N

er hear of

en I saw him. Then Mr. Woodward came up to se

have an interview with Duncan Woodward's father, and if this was

be a strictly private one. He did not care to be seen in Mr. Woodward'

bt be of importance. Had my father's name not been mentioned

the fellow off. If he was captured, all cha

rets important. Such was a fact. Try as hard as I was able, I could n

Widow Canby's house. There was a light burning

s we stood near a corner of the front fence. "I

pen. We generally keep it closed, and Kate wo

tend to do? Go

is," I replied. "Likely as not he is prowling about here

. It was Kate's voice; and with my heart jumping wildly I