Part 26 (2/2)

”h.e.l.lo Svenska!” bellowed Tierney. ”Who are you?”

Nels grinned as Marsh explained who he was.

”How did you get in? Where's the gang?” rapidly questioned Morgan.

”One wounded and tied downstairs, and two safely tied up by the gate,” explained Marsh. ”One of the two out there is your man Wagner. Now tell me how you got here.”

Morgan gave him a brief outline of their adventures.

”But how did the room get in this state?” questioned Marsh.

”Well, you know Tierney,” replied Morgan, with a laugh. ”He's a mighty restless individual when you try to shut him up. He demolished all the chairs on the door. We found the window frame and the shutters had been screwed tight to keep us in, so Tierney took the bed apart and used the sides to clean out the whole business.

When we discovered it was too far to drop from the window, we tried to make a rope with the ticking of the mattress, but when we tested it, the stuff proved to be too rotten to hold us.”

”And the worst of it is,” added Morgan, ”it was cold enough in here before Tierney broke out the window. Since then we've been freezing.

If there's a fire in the house, lead us to it.”

”I don't think there is,” replied Marsh. ”Now that you speak of it, I noticed a damp chill in the place the minute I came in. Nels,” he added, turning to the Swede; ”you're a good fellow. I saw a big, open fireplace in the library. Build a wood fire there and we'll warm my friends up.”

Nels nodded and started off.

”We haven't any time to lose,” announced Marsh, turning back to Morgan. ”I expect to find my final evidence in this house, and we've got to get back to town pretty soon. You fellows can warm up a bit and then we'll start a systematic search from the garret to the cellar.”

All three then went down to the library where Nels was building the fire. Tierney loudly voiced his approval as the red and yellow flames began to creep over the wood. A minute later, however, he was choking and swearing as the acrid wood smoke rolled out into the room instead of up the chimney.

”Aye fix him,” explained Nels. ”Chimney cover to keep out draft, mebbe.” He hurried out of the room.

A few minutes later he returned with a white face and staring eyes.

”You come,” he half-whispered, from the doorway. ”Aye see somet'ing.”

”What is it?” questioned Marsh.

”Aye don't know--Aye only tenk--come quick!”

”Go ahead,” said Marsh, ”we'll follow,” and with Nels leading the way they all climbed the stairs. Nels had turned on the electric lights in the halls. They could now see their way clearly as he guided them to the attic and across it to an open window which opened on a wide gutter. They crawled out after him and worked their way along a short distance to the big, old fas.h.i.+oned, outside stone chimney from the library fireplace.

”Yust put your hand in--so,” directed Nels, making a motion with his arm.

Marsh reached up and followed the suggestion. Just below the top of the chimney his fingers came into contact with a human head.

”My G.o.d!” he cried. ”Here's our man.”

”Holy Saints!” gasped Tierney.

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