Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-02

row shelves.
"Who inows?" he replied. coolly,
continuing his examination.
The detective bit his lip and looked
the unpleasant things he thought it
best not to say.
"Well, Jim and l will take look
upstairs while you are busy here"
And the two men went up the dark
stairway, Sprague remaining behind
with the reporter.
"None so blind as those that won't
see," said the latter, sententiously.
At the same time he placed his hand
upon one of the shelves and gave it
lateral push. 1t responded slightly,
and the entire shelving, with the door
which it concealed, opened outward.
81 thought So" continued the re-
porter; this looks as if it might lead
somewhere. Will you come, Sprague9"
"How did you find the combination
so quickly?" asked the artist, prepar-
ing to follow his friend.
cit is not a combination-only
concealed bolt. Our friends of the de-
tective force might have discovered it
themselves if they had taken the trou-
BILE. The first thing noticed was that
| truck had recently been wheeled
through the cellar in the direction of
this door, from under the grating on
the street side. And this truck was
| not here; neither was large case
which we know was delivered here to-
day. The trail extended clear up to
the wall below the shelving; and yet
no truck, even unloaded, could pass
elowthatlowest shelf. The conclusion
was evident sounded the back of the
shelving and found that it covered an
opening of some kind. After that, all
that remained was to notice that one
of the shelves was slightly soiled in
Just one spot, as though by the re-
peated contact of hand From this, l
urgued that the bolt must be attached
to this board. And it was. That is all"
J AS he spoke, the reporter entered
dark and narrow passage.
"Don't shut the door," said he to his
companion, who followed him.
AT that moment, however, the artist
stumbled; and, instinctively holding
out his hands to save himself from fall
! ing, he released his hold of the door
which closed with slam.
''rhat is unfortunate" said Sturgis'
tive may have to lose some time il
! learning how to work the bolt from
q this side. Hold on; it will be pruden
to. keep open a line of retreat, in cas-
of unforeseen emergencies. Hello! w
are in luck. Nothing concealed on thi
side; the bolt in plain sight; work
e easily. Ais we'll Then let us go on
e unless am greatly mistaken, we sha
find another exit on the other side"
\ After following the undergroun
!. passage for some distance the me
d climbed some steps and reached
s square chamber, on one side OF whlc
E rose stairway leading to a doc
above. The room was surmounted by
e. skylight, which was wide open, admi
ting a draught of cold air from Il
outside.
y Sturgis set down his lighted cand
" and proceeded to examine his su
:. roundings. In the middle of the roo
stood q truck, upon which lay lol
l
Do tuted the only furniture of the pla'
At one side there was n long, 10
le- lead-lined tank, filed to the depth
20 about two feet with dark visco
NE NE Liquid. Near it lay few empty G.
A. seemed to be hot-air register, of lar
size and of peculiar construction. T
:. walls were bare, unbroken, save by t
"a projection of the mouthpiece of
~ speaking tube, and by set of shelly
- and the other paraphernalia of che
lists laboratory.
IN After the reporter had finished
connoitering he sat down upon t
wv long box in deep thought. Sprague c
t,- served him with silent curiosity f
Z, awhile, and then, with growing imI
- tience:
~ II say, old man." he ventured at la
"a to ask, did you bring me here, arm
" to the teeth, to see you go off into
" trance?'
Sturgis started like man sudden
awakened from deep sleep.
"Eh? What? Oh, yes-those con
dences. Well, you start in with you
am trying to find the denouement
my story. | feel that it is just with
or my grasp; and yet l cannot seem
he see it yet. But can listen to you VIII
ed amthinking. Go on"
Il have not any story to TELL" so
ct Sprague, somewhat offended at |
friends apparent Indifference to VIII
a he had to say.
"Oh, yes, you have" retorted St1
i'd gis, with conciliatory smile; ~
said you had news to tell me. Well, t
a away. am listening most respectfl
w ~, in spite of my apparent abso1
OF tion."
What a strange fellow you are, ST,
IS gis," laughed Sprague, good-natured
IT "All wanted to tell you-and you a
n the first to hear of it's the, to Il
er rather important fact that am G
gagged to be married"
te You are?" exclaimed Sturgis, wi
ne genuine pleasure. 81 congratulate yc
dis old fellow, from the bottom of L
IS heart
J! ne He seized the artists hand and sho
~ 1t in his hearty grasp.
"To the original of the picture Y
IN !, wanted to show me yesterday"
Il. asked.
us "Yes."
NJ "Then she was not betrothed to t
rs other fellow, after ALP"
~. NO; that seems to have been m
is, fal,a0