Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-12-08

She locked the door and eXtingulshed
the lantern. When she came out she was
startled to see three or four men come
out of the old root cellar. She drew back
into the shadows with palpitating heart
and felt quite faint from fear until, as
the men passed, she recognized Freds
voice. Then her fear was superseded by
| curiosity and excitement. She felt that
she was on the track of the mystery.
AS soon as the figures had disappeared
from sight she relighted the lantern and
| sought the cellar. The door was par
| TALLY open and a faint streak of light
shone out. She looked in. Lying on a
| pile of lumber was a man, bound hand
and foot, gagged and blindfolded.
Again terror seized her and she was
about to flee when she recognized the
| form as that of Wendell Lane. In an
instant she had removed the gag from
his mouth and the bandage from his
| eyes.
isn't this Miss White?" he asked.
you'll pardon my not rising. | am -"
MIR. Lane" she replied. But how
can l cut these cords. l cannot unite
them"
There's a knife in my pocket"
Helen soon severed the stout cords
that bound him and he was on his feet
quick" he exclaimed. Lets get
away before they come back!"
Leaving the lantern they sped away in
the darkness, not pausing until out OF
range of the cellar.
do tell me why you were in there and
bound so cruelty"
He laughed.
81 have recently joined the club of
which your brother is a member, and
they were initiating me tonight. They
took me in that place, telling me it was
the vault of the cemetery, and almost
believed them. This was only the pre-
liminary to several pleasant things they
had in store for me-"
ooh, what a good one on them!" cried
Helen. ecstatically. Fred thinks he is
so foxy He has banquet spread out
in his den for you all Won't you come
up to the house. Well make way with
the eats"
Indeed | will" was his hearty re-
joinder When they reached the house
and enjoyed friendly chat, he sudden
ly exclaimed:
when they come back and find me
missing they'll get out search warrant.
Won't they come here?"
"Oh, no. Fred will never look for you
here!" declared Helen, confidently.
"Why not?"
She blushed a little but frankly told
him how she had tried in vain to prevail
upon her brother to bring him to the
house. Presently they adjourned to the
den and Wendell made caviar sand
wiches and opened olives while Helen
made the coffee
As they were enjoying cozy little
meal they heard the outer door open.
Fred" cried Wendell, in consterna'
tion.
mo" said Helen, listening, Its Tom!'
Come up here, dear!" she called
This is Mr. Lane, Tom. You can si
down and have luncheon with us, if yoI
like"
ooh, Helen!" cried the lad in tone O.
wild excitement I've got more to tel
you. You see | belong to secret so
|
root cellar. | got there first and | saw
some men carrying another man in ther'
and he was tied and gagged. The meI
went away and left him and l ran ant
, got our fellows all together, and w
thought it was a'murder, so we went ant
, told the men in the grocery and they go
policeman and all went to the root eel
; Ter, but the man wasn't there. The,
found the rope and the gags, though
They are going to find out all about it.
Wendell and Helen listened to this re
cital with delighted interest and at it
close gave vent to laughter.
well, 'taint no laughing matter, sal
> Tom. Indignantly.
You'll think it is when we tell you,
assured Helen. Tom never tells any
" thing" she explained to Wendell.
"Td never tell anything Helen told m
not to; she's a brick" declared Tom.
n n 81 think so, too" agreed Wendell, an
i he proceeded to relate the circumstance
of the initiation to Tom, who hfghl
> appreciated the situation.
, 81 really think you had better gC
: now" advised Helen to Wendell. Ere
: may be coming any minute now"
And may l come soon-tomorro'
L night?" he asked, earnestly, as he wa
taking leave.
, Later, Helen, locked in her room
;, laughed softly to hear her brother ali
his companions go into the den and Civ
:. exclamation of regret and consterns
" ton.
:, Fred" she said, languidly, at break
fast the next morning, Tom and l &C
hungry last night and we found such lot
e of delicacies in your den!"
But Fred was cross and irresponsiv,
II That evening when he came home
was dumbfounded to find Wendell ther