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"They're co faster this tieneral has been cursing the without the loot He wants

his three-hundred-thousand-dollar autograph collection,"

observed Larry

"Why doesn't he come for it himself, like a man?" I

demanded

"Like a man, do you say!" ejaculated Larry "Faith

and you flatter that fat-head!"

It was nearly eleven o'clock when the attacking party

returned after a parley on the ice beyond the boat-house

The four of us were on the terrace ready for theh the wood, the sheriff and

Morgan slightly in advance of the others I expected

them to slacken their pace when they came to the open

meadow, but they broke into a quick trot at the water-tower

and caners

"Shall we try gunpowder?" asked Larry

"We'll let them fire the first volley," I said

"They've already tried toloose with the elephant guns," protested

the Irishman

"Stand to your clubs," admonished Stoddard, whose

oeapon was comparable to the Scriptural weaver's

beaot the house"

"Also a prisoner of war," said Larry, grinning

The English detective had slass in the

barredof the potato cellar and we could hear