Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-30

| GuIAb5ALy hM0 sGACit6IuSuI. Ou6 LEU LAAt she was on the track of the mystery. 1 As soon as the figures had disappeared 1 from sight she relighted the lantern and sought the cellar. The door was par italy open and faint streak of light shone out. She looked in. Lying on 8 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. Tn an instant she had removed the gag from his mouth and the bandage from nis eyes
 Isn't this Miss White?" he asked. "You'1l pardon my not rising. I am -" "Mr Lane" she replied. "But how can cut these cords. cannot unite them"
 There's knife in my pocket" Helen. soon severed the stout cords that bound him and he was on his feet. "Quick!" he exclaimed. Let's 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.
 ''I 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-"
 "Oh, what 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. We'll make way with the 'eats.'"s
 Indeed I wilt" 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 a search warrant. Won't they come here ?'.@t.a4s scs N
 "Oh, mol 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. 9T1asss ntss afSh rss 8s As they were enjoying a cozy little. meal they heard the outer door open,
 'Fred!" cried Wendell. in consterna- ton.
 NO" said Helen, listening. tits rom. 7,
 Come up here, dears" she called s.This is MT. Lane, Tom. You can sit down and have lunckeon with us, if you like.'' ~
 "oh, zelehs ? cried the lad in a tone of wild excitement. "I've got more to tell you You see belong to secret so- ciety and we were going to meet at the root cellar. I got there first and I saw some men carrying another man in there and he was tied and gagged The men went away and left him and ran and got. our fellows all together, and we thought it was q murder, so we went and told the men in the grocery and they got B pol liceman and all went to the root cell fsf,, bHYY th9 mah s1wasn't- there. They 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's close gave vent~to laughter.
 Well. 'taint no laughing matter" said Tom, indignantly.
 You'll think 1t Is when we tell you" assured Helen. rom never tells any, thing" she explained to Wendell
 .T'd never tell anything Helen told me not to; she's ,a brick. declared Tom
 T think, so, too. agreed Wendell, and 1 he proceeded to reiats efcircumstances of the initiation to Tom, who highly appreciated the situation.
 "I really think you had better go. now" advised Helen to Wendell Fred may be coming any minute now"
 And may come soon-to-morrow . night?'a he asked, earnestly, as he was taking leave sgss$ rtsts4s N. s~,4 Later, Helen. locked in her room, laughed softly to hear her brother and his companions go into the den and give exclamation of regret and consterna- ton.
 sFred," she said, languidly, at break fast the next morning, rom and got hungry last night and we found such lots of delicacies in your den!" s.t35nliaA <. But Fred was cross and irresponsive That evening when he came home he was dumbfounded to find Wendell there chatting away and on friendly terms with Helen.
 Where did you two meet?" he asked. bluntly.
 "Oh. MT. Lane introduced himself to me one time when we we're thrown into each others society, 2 she said ,demurely, and Tom didn't even smile.
 Fine Dish.