Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1919 — GREEN FANCY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GREEN FANCY

By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

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CHAPTER XIX-Barne. and the ccrnn««m leave Hart’* tavern with the actors, .nd at Crowndale, where ' appear. Barnes again meets Sprouse. CHAPTER XX. ’ Th« First Wayfarer Has One Treasure Thrust Upon Him—And Forthwith Claims Another. "What are you doing here?” demanded Barnes, staring. He seized the man’s arm and Inquired eagerly. "Have you got the jewels?” "No; but I will have them before morning,” replied Sprouse coolly. "Would you be surprised If I were to tell you that his royal nibs Is hiding in this town? Well, he certainly is. The Baroness Hedlund has been here for a week or ten days. She goes by the name of Mrs. Hasselwein. I popped down here this afternoon and found out that she is at the sanatorium, but that she expects to leave tomorrow morning. I made another trip out there thia evening and waited. About eight o’clock Mr. Hasselwein strolled up. He sat on the veranda with her for half Un hour or so and then left. I followed him. He went to one of the little cottages that belong to the sanatorium. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they said, but I believe he expects to take her away In an automobile early In the morning. It Is a seventy-mlle ride from here to the junction where they catch the train for the West Pm going up now to make a call on Mr. HasseKvein. By the way, what is the number of your room?” ' “Twenty-two—-bn the next floor.” “Good. Go upstairs now and I’ll join you in about ten minutes. I will tap three times on your door.” “Why should you come to my room, Sprouse? We can say all that is to be said —” “If you will look on the register you will discover that Mr. J. H. Prosser registered here about half an hour ago. He is In room 30. He left a call for five o’clock. Well, Prosser Is another name for Ugo. He left the cottage an hour ago. Came In a jitney or I could have got to him on the way over.” Barnes, regardless as consequences, dashed over to inspect the register. Sprouse followed leisurely. I* “Seel” cried Barnes, excitedly, putting his finger on the name “Miss Jones.” "She’s in room 32—next to his. By gad, Sprouse, do you suppose he knows that she Is here? Would thp dog undertake anything—” “You may be sure he dosen’t know she’s here, or you either, for that matter. The country’s full of Joneses and Barneses. Go on upstairs. Leave everything to me.” Barnes had been In his room for twenty minutes before be heard the tapping on his dobr. He opened it and Sprouse slid into the room. The instant the door closed behind him, he threw open his coat and coolly produced a long, shallow metal box, such as one finds in safety vaults. “With my compliments,” be said dryly, thrusting the box into Barnes* hands. “You’d better have , the countess check them up and see if they're all there. I am not well enough acquainted with the collection to be positive." Barnes was speechless. He could only stare, open-mouthed, at this amazing man. "My God, Sprouse, have you been In that man’s room since I saw you down —” “All you have to do is to keep quiet and look innocent Stay out of the hall tonight Don’t go near the door of No. 30. Act like a man with brains. I said I would square myself with you and with him, too. Well. I’ve done

both. Maybe you think it Is easy to give up this stuff. There is a half-mll-llon dollars’ worth of nice little things in that box, small as it is.” “I cannot begin to thank you enough," said Barnes. “See here, you must allow me to reward you in some way commensurate with your—” “Cut that out,” said Sprouse darkly. “I’m not so virtuous that I have to be rewarded. I like the game. It’s the breath of Use to me." - "The time will surely come when I can do you a good turn. Sprouse, and you will not find me reluctant,” said Barnes, lamely. “That’s different. If I ever 8 friendly hand I’ll call on you. It’s only fair that I should give you a tip, Barnes, just to put you on your guard. From now on, I’m a free agent. I want to advise you to put that stuff in a safe place. I’ll give you two days’ start After tbat, if I can get ’em away from you, or whoever may have them, I’m going to do It. They will be fair plunder from then on. Good night—and good-by for the present Stick close to your room till morning and then beat it with her for New York. I give you two days’ start remember.” He switched off the light suddenly. There was no sound for many seconds, save the deep breathing of the two men. Then, with Infinite caution, Sprouse turned the knob and opened the door a half Inch or so. He left the ryom so abruptly that Barnes never quite got over the weird Impression that he squeezed through that slender crack, and pulled It after him! Many minutes passed before he turned on the light. The key of the box was tied to the wire grip. With trembling fingers he Inserted It In the lock and opened the lid. . • • “A half-million dollars’ worth of nice little things,” Sprouse had said! He did not close his eyes that night. Daybreak found him lying In bed, with the box under his pillow, a pistol at hand, and his eyes wide open. He was In a graver quandary than ever. Now that he had the treasure in his possession, what was he to do with it?

He solved the breakfast problem by calling downstairs for a waiter and ordering coffee and rolls and eggs sent up to his room. Singularly enough the waiter solved the other and more disturbing problem for him. “Some robbery last night,” said that worthy. “Feller up In one of the cottages at the sanatorium. All beat up, something fierce they say.” “Up In — Where?” almost shouted Barnes, starting up.

The man explained where the cottages were situated. “Seems he was to leave by auto early this mornin’, and they didn’t know anything was wrong till Joe Keep —he’s driving a car Mr. Norton has for rent —till Joe’d been settln’ out In front for nearly half an hour. The man’s wife was waitin’ fer him up at the main bulldin’ and she got so tired waitin’ that she sent one of the clerks down to see what was keeping her husband. Well, sir, him and Joe

couldn’t wake the feller, so they climb In an open winder, an’ by gosh, Joe says it was. terrible. The feller was layln’ on the bed, feet an’ hands tied and gagged, and blood from head to foot He was inconscious, Joe says, an’ —my God, how his wife took on! Joe says he couldn’t stand It, so he snook out, shakln* like a leaf.” “Is —is the man dead?” cried Barnes, aghast “Nope 1 Seems like It’s nothing serious : just beat up, that’s all. Terrible cuts on his head and —" “What time did all this happen?" “Doc Smith Aggers it was long about midnight judgin’ by the way the blood co’gulated." “Did they get away with’ much?" “Haven’t heard. Seems as though the bprglar-‘-must ha’ been more’n one of ’em, I say—wasn’t satisfied with

crackin’ him over the .head. He stuck the point of a knife or something into him—just a little way, Joe says—in more’n a dozen places. What say?” “I—l didn’t say anything.” •*I you did. Well, If I hear anything more I’ll let you know.” Barnes listened at the door until he heard the waiter clattering down .the stairway, and then went swiftly down the hall to No. 30. Mr. Prosser was sleeping just as soundly and as resoundlngly as at midnight!

“By gad!” he muttered, half-aloud. Everything was as clear as day to him now. Bolting Into his own room, he closed the door and stood stockstill for many minutes, trying to picture the scene in the cottage. • He found a letter In his box when he went downstairs, after stufltag the tin box deep -into his pocket Before he slit the envelope he knew that Bprouse was the writer. The message was brief: “After due consideration, I feel that it would be a mistake for you to abandon your present duties at this time. It might be misunderstood. Stick to the company until something better turns up. With this thought in view I withdraw the two days’ limit mentioned recently to you, and extend the time to one week. Yours very truly, “J. H. WILSON.” “Gad, the fellow thinks of everything,” said Barnes to himself. “He is positively uncanny.” He read between the lines, and saw there a distinct warning. It had not occurred to him that his plan to leave for New York that day with Miss Cameron might be attended by disastrous results* But the jewels? What of them? He could not go gallivanting about the country with a half million dollars worth of precious stones In his possession. He spent the early part of the forenoon In wandering nervously about the hotel —upstairs and down. The jewels were locked In his pack upstairs. He went up to his room half a dozen times and almost instantly walked down again, after satisfying himself that the pack had not been rifled. For the next three days and nights rehearsals were in full swing, with scarcely a moment's let-up. And so the time crept by, up to the night of the performance. Miss Cameron remained In ignorance of the close proximity of the jewels, and the police of Crowndale remained In even denser Ignorance as to the whereabouts of the man who robbed Mr. Hasselwein of all his spare cash and an excellent gold watch. No time was lost by the countess in getting word to her compatriots in New York. Barnes posted a dozen letters for her; each contained .the tidings of her safety and the assurance that she would soon follow in person. Those three days and nights were full of joy and enchantment for Barnes. He actually debased himself by wishing that the Rushcroft company might find it imperative to go on rehearsing for weeks in that dim, enchanted temple. He sat for hours in one of the most uncomfortable seats he had ever known, devouring with hungry eyes the shadowy, Interested face so close to his own —and never tired. On the afternoon of the dress rehearsal he led her, after an hour of almost Insupportable repression, to the rear of the auditorium. Dropping into the seat beside her he blurted out, almost in anguish: “I can’t stand It any Inger. I cannot be near you without —why, I—l—well. It Is more than I can struggle against, that’s all. You’ve either got to send me away altogether or—or — let me love you without restraint. I tell you I can’t go on as I am now. You know I love you, don’t you? You know I worship you. Don’t be frightened. I just had to tell you today. I should have gone mad if I had tried to keep it up any longer.” He waited breathlessly for her to speak. She sat silent and rigid, looking straight before her. “Is it hopeless?” he went on at last, huskily. “Must I ask your forgiveness for my presumption and — and go away from you?" She turned to him and laid her hand upon his arm. “Am I not like other women? Why should I forgive you for loving me? Doesn’t every woman want to be loved? No, no, my friend! Wait! A moment ago I was so weak and trembly that I thought I—oh, I was afraid for myself. Now I am quite calm and sensible. See how well I have myself In hand? I do not tremble, I am strong. We may now discuss odrselves calmly, sensibly. Oh! What are you doing?” “I too am strong,” he whispered. “I am sure of my ground now, and I am not afraid.” He had clasped the hand that rested on his sleeve and, as he pressed it to his heart, his other arm stole over her shoulders and drew her close to his triumphant body. For an instant she resisted, and then relaxed into complete submission. Her head sank upon his shoulder. “Oh!" she sighed, and tjiere was wonder, joy—even perplexity, in the tremulous sigh of capitulation. “Oh," came softly from her parted lips again at the end of the first long, passionate kiss. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

"Some Robbery Last Night"