The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 19 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOSY ‘‘ There’s some sacks you can sleep on. Good night!” He picked up the lantern and passed out, bolted the door securely and the boys followed his footsteps along the hall and down the stairs, where they gradually died away. ‘*Do not forget me,” warbled Chub; but the others did not respond to this touching appeal, and he soon subsided. ‘“ Tf you want to sing anything,” said Dick, ‘‘ try something that will raise one’s spirits, instead of rehearsing your stock of emotional songs.” ‘“T believe if we had sung that the night of our grand closing out sale,’ announced Chub, ‘‘we would have finished ’ ‘* Sooner than we expected,” completed Jack dryly. would have run us out. have one.” : ** Don't plan so far ahead.” advised Dick. ‘' We are not out of here yet, and we are not likely to begin peddling until we are.” That brought them back to paiuful reality, and after a few moments of reflection Jack sugyested : ‘* Let's turnin. They are not likely to molest us during the night, and there will be nothing gained by sitting up.” The noises in the cellar had ceased, and making themselves as com- fortable as the limited means at their disposal would permit, the boys drifted off to sleep, and did not awake until the sun shone through the little window on their faces. ‘The people If you don't believe it, try it the next time we CHAPTER XXII. NIPPED IN THE BUD. “HEIR breakfast was brought by the sharp faced woman named ‘| Moll, and consisted of a loaf of bread and a pitcher of water. ‘* Great Heavens!" ejaculated Chub, after she had left and he had recovered from his surprise. ‘t Nothing but bread and water ! They surely don’t intend to fatten us.” “fT dou’t know,” returned Dick dubiously, turning the meager loaf gingerly over, ‘* You don't want to overteed yourselr ; it is considered healthy.” ‘* Overfeed myself!” snorted Chub disdaintuily. should wait until Bill comes and make him eat it.” ‘* He said the other chap was too brilliant and they shipped him,” warned Jack; ‘Sand he might think we were too familiar and do the same with us.” ‘It is better than nothing, but only by a small margin,” said Dick ; ‘6 and as we can't help ourselves we will have to put up with it. Draw on your imagination and grow fleshy. It is evident that meals, such as we had yesterday, will be athing of the past while we remain here.” And the boys’ faces wore a very woebegone expression as they mas- ticated the simple fare. * T never knew what it was to be locked up before,’ remarked Jack, standing by the window and looking out at the bright sunshine, ‘* It would be no trick at all to walk to that farmer's, even if the roads are muddy.” ‘+ Can't we manage to get out of the window ?” asked Dick, coming to his side and looking out. ‘6 We could if it wasn’t for those bars,” Jack replied. ‘* But it would jar up one considerably to drop to the ground, We have no rope to let ourselves down by.” ‘‘ That is easily overcome,” cried Dick excitedly. ‘* We can tie these sacks together. It would hold all three of us, and there are enough to reach the ground.” ‘* Don’t get in such a hurry,” urged Chub, ** My dear boy, you haven't got those bars off yet, and I’m sure you can’t crawl through.” And Dick’s momentary hopes were as suddenly blasted. ‘¢Tf we had a hammer,” he sighed. ‘* Which we haven't,” answered Chub. we could walk out.” And after looking at him a moment Dick had to smile and give up. An hour or two afterward a loud rap sounded on the front door, which was opened with the customary caution. The boys heard Moll utter a cry of surprise and gladness, and whoever arrived was con- ducted to the sitting room, and for some time the boys could hear a steady stream of conversation. When Moll brought up the dinner somebody accompanied her, and the boys heard her say, as she unbolted the door: ‘They are mighty smart fellers, an’ Dillon thinks they know a heap more'n they let on. We can't tell how long they was prowlin’ round ‘ Onwhat? We ‘Tf the doors weren’t locked 299 before they knocked over the cheer, an’ mebby they've seen the whole workin’ of the——” ‘eSh ! that'll do,” interrupted a man’s voice. And when she opened the door, who should follow her in but Roper !? The surprise was mutual and anything but agreeable to the boys. ‘* Ah, ha!” cried Roper tragically. ‘‘ So you are the chaps, eh ?” ** You're looking at us,” returned Chub boldly. ‘*An’ a healthy lookin’ lot you are,” said Roper with a prin. ‘' But you're not a bit respectful,” he added, ‘' for every time I find you you give me the slip. Mebby itll be different this time.” ** Mebby it will,” agreed Dick. ‘An’ while I think of it,” went on Roper, ‘‘ you might hand me over your money.” ‘“Can you changea quarter ?” asked Chub coolly. ‘*'Cause why 2?” demanded Roper. ‘**Cause I’ve only got a quarter, and ten cents of it belongs to Dick. I’m not in the habit of giving away money that don’t belong to me.” Where's the rest of it ?"’ and Roper began to grow angry. Where our wagon is, and where you won’t get it,” replied Chub spiritedly. ** Your back ts better looking than your face. Mosey !” “Yes, Dwi,” shouted Roper wrathfully ; but he said it in atone that did not indicate assent. ‘' ve pot you ina tight place agin, and I’m goin’ to make ita point to keep you there |” ‘Where's Foxy 2?” inquired Dick. | He'll be down before long. Wedon’t come here in acrowd, There ain’t no use askin’ you where your wagon is, ‘cause | know you wouldn’t tell me, but we’l) nose around the country tll we find it, an’ youll stay right yere tl we do. Tf Dillon’s got any accounts to settle with you, you can do that afterward !” Moll had stood looking on in silence and surprise, and when Roper turned and abruptly left the room she followed. “If you chaps want any better proof of the necessity of our getting away from here, you are very dull,” said Dick, after the others had left. ‘There is no use in attempting to escape by the door,” added Jack. ‘Ttis too well built for us to tackle, so our only hope Hes im the win- dow, and the bars have to be removed without notse. we going to do it 2” The boys were Iving on the sacks, and in a desperate effort to think of some plan Chub rolled and tossed about until a squeak caused him to spring to his feet and exclaim : ‘Eureka, I've got it” “Got what ?” demanded the others, jumping six inches, And for reply Chub began to toss the sacks away. The others looked on in mute surprise until he beyan to pry up a loose board with his jack knife, and then they caught the infection and the board at the same time, and up it came. ‘© Raise the window, Jack,” cried Chub hurriedly. ** All we have todo is to wrap some sacks over the end to deaden the noise, and we have a good battering ram, with three of us to work it.” ‘¢Can't we pry them off easier 2?" Dick asked. ‘We can break the board that way and accomplish nothing,” re- torted Chub. And while Jack raised the window, the sacks were fastened on, and with Dick and Jack to guide it, and Chub’s additional strength on the end, the ram was propelled against the bar close to the frame, with a force that tore the screw bolt through the wood. ‘© Good enough |” cried Jack. ‘* The other side.” There were six bars. Two had been removed and another had yet to be driven off before they could pass out, when a man’s step sounded on the stair. For one brief moment they stood motionless, and then Jack said rapidly : ‘We have gone too far now to stop. have to keep him from sounding the alarm. be done quickly and quietly !” The steps advanced and stopped before the door. They heard him begin to slide the bolts, and quickly taking their places on each side, Chub with uplifted board, they prepared to pounce upon him. (Zo be continued.) Now, how are If he comes in here we will And the work has got to _-_-— ee COULDN'T EVEN MAIL IT. Sue —'* I cannot express my love for you.” Hr (eagerly)—'* Why ?”’ Suk—'* I haven't any.''--/udge. comiclooolkks (CO