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But all at once, as he watched, Barnabas saw the rigid figure grow

suddenly alert, saw the right arleam as it was levelled across the sill; for now, upon the

quiet rose a sound faint and far, yet that grew and ever grew, the

on-co rustle of leaves

Then, even as Barnabas stared doide-eyed, the rigid figure

started, the deadly pistol-hand wavered, was snatched back, and

Mr Chichester leapt to his feet He stood ato the unconscious form of

Barrymaine, he set the pistol under his lax hand, turned, and

vanished into the shadow

Thereafter, from the rear of the barn, cae, quickly followed by a rustle of leaves

that grew fainter and fainter, and so was presently gone Then

Barnabas rose, and co to the , peered cautiously out, and

there, standing before the barn surveying its dilapidation with round,

approving eyes, his nobbly stick beneath his arh-crowned,

broad-bri