Army and Navy Weekly — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a ARMY AND NAVY plied Clif. ‘‘It was just a branch, rotten, I suppose. ”’ He picked up his cap and the twig, the latter more out of curiosity than anything else, and walked on after his companions. “T must have those branches clipped again,’? said Mr. Windom. ‘‘I did not know the trees were in such condition.’’ Cordial farewells were exchanged at the gate, and the two cadets entered a carriage which had been ordered for that liour. “T must be getting nervous,’’ laughed Clif as they rolled away from the villa. He held up the twig and added: “When I jump on being struck by such as this, it is time——’’ He ceased speaking abruptly; and ut- tered a low whistle. ‘The carriage was passing close to a street lainp at that mo- nent, and the light fell full upon the ob- ject in his hand. ‘What’s up??? queried Joy. “Do you see the end of this bit of wood ?’? replied Clif. f (6 Ves. ) ‘(Well, it’s broken sharp and clean.’ What’ of 10.” Clif glanced at the lanky plebe fora moment before replying, then he said slowly: . “This twig is not rotten, chum. Neither did it break of its own weight.”’ Joy showed more excitement than his wont. “Then you think——’’ he began. ‘There was some one up that tree,”’ finished Clif, impressively. ‘‘And he was. there for no good.’’ . “Driver, let us out,’’ he added to the coachman. The latter promptly drew up his horses and received his fare without a word of comment. He was too much accustomed to tlre vagaries of passengers in general to feel surprised. A minute later Clif and Joy were hur- riedly making their way back to the Windorn villa. ed CHAPTER V. THE MIDNIGHT MARAUDER. “What do you think of it, chum?” asked Joy, as they rapidly retraced their steps. 1067 ‘Hard to say,’’? replied Clif, briefly. ‘(Perhaps a plot to rob the house.”? ‘Valuable pearls, eh ?”’ (Ves. 2 EP, ‘We may be mistaken after all,’’ per- sisted the lanky plebe. ‘‘Limbs havea habit of dropping from trees, you know. We would feel rather foolish if we aroused the house and found only a cat or some- thing like that. Miss Windom would laugh.”? “*T]] take the risk of that. any risk rather than see——”’ “See the pearls stolen,’’? interrupted Joy, with an internal chuckle. ‘‘Confound the pearls. ”’ “Oh, I meant girl. Excuse me.”’ By this time the villa was reached. The extensive grounds were separated from the street by a stone wall ten feet in height and surmounted by an orna- mental iron railing. Clif halted near one end of the wall and announced that he would try to enter there. ‘No use arousing the lodge-keeper,”’ he added. ‘‘There may be nothing in it after all, and I don’t want to raise an alarm without proof. You can stay here and I’ll take a peep through the grounds on the quiet.”’ Joy protested, but Clif was firm. ‘Well, it won’t be long until I follow you,’? muttered the former as he gave his friend a ‘‘boost’’ to the top of the wall. ‘“Vgu are altogether too fond of getting into danger. Il have to look after you, sonny.” Clif found it an easy matter to drop into the grounds. Once inside he crouched close to the wall and took his bearings. The night had assumed that depth of » blackness usual before the rise of a full moon. ‘he villa grounds presented one smudge of darkness with no alternating patches of light and shade. A cool breeze came from the direction of the river, bringing occasional bursts of noise and commotion from the central portion of the city. Clif moved away from the wall, step- ping carefully and with hands out- stretched. He had not. covered a dozen feet when he plumped squarely into a depressed flower bed, and sprawled headlong, creat- COmiclbooks.com I’d take ~