The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-16
: You mean that you hate me-" he
6Op1TtsAt. 1904. ~ DOA
Msal sad 6oupsHy


minute. have key to the gate al
the other end of the passage. and
know where the secret panel is lOcat
ed. Hush! 1t doesn't matter where
got the key See! See how easy ii is
He felt her tense little fingers in the
darkness searching for his. Their hands
were icy cold when the clasp came. To
Rether they stood In a niche of the wall
near the chancel rail. 1t was dark. and
a cold draft OF air blew across their
faces. lie could not see, but there was
proof enough that she had opened the
secret panel IN the wall and that the
lamp, chill air came from the under
ground passage which led to a point
outside the city walls.
You go first" she whispered nerv-
ously. I'm afraid. There Is a lantern
on the steps, and have some matches.
Wen light it as soon as Oh. what
was thatT'
Don't be frightened" he said. II
think 1t was a rat
Good graciousr' she gasped. 81
wouldn't go in there for the world"
"Do you mean to say that you intend
Cd to do soT he asked eagerly.
Certainly. Some one has to return
the key to the outer gate. Oh, l sup
pose I'll have to go in. You'll keep
them OF. won't you?" plaintively. He
was smiling In the darkness, thinking
what dear, whimsical thing she was.
with M life" he said softly.
They're ten times worse than lions, -
she announced.
you must not forget that you. re-
turn alone" he said triumphantly.
but I'll have the lantern going full
blast" she said and then allowed him
to lead her into the narrow passage
way. She closed the panel and then
felt about with her foot until it located
the lantern. In a minute they had a
light Now, don't be afraid" she said
encouragingly. He laughed in pure de-
light. She misunderstood his mirth and
was conscious OF a new and an almost
uncomfortable pang. He was filed with
exhilaration over the prospect Of es-
cape! Somehow she felt an impulse to
throw her arms about him and drag
him back into the chapel in spite of the
ghost of the game warden's daughter.
What is to prevent me from taking
you with mel" he said intensely, a
mighty longing in his breast She
laughed, but drew back uneasily.
And live unhappily ever after
wardT' said she. "Oh, dear me. Isn't
this funny proceeding? Just think
of me. Beverly Calhoun, being mixed
up in schemes and plots and intrigues
and all that! 1t seems like great
big dream. And that reminds me
you will find rain coat at the foot of
the steps. l couldn't get other clothes
for you, so you'll have to wear the
uniform. There's a stiff hat of Mr..
Lorry's also. You've no idea how diff
ficult 1t is for girl to collect clothes
for a man. There doesn't seem to be
any real excuse for 1t, you know.
Goodness, 1t looks black ahead there,
doesn't it? l hate underground things.
They're so damp and all that How
far is 1t, do you suppose, to the door
In the wallY She was chattering on,
simply to keep up her courage and to
make her fairest show of composure.
I. TITS a little more than 800 yards"
he replied. They were advancing
through, the low, narrow stone lined
passage. She steadfastly ignored the
hand he held back for support. 1t was
not a pleasant place, this underground
way to the outside world The walls
were damp and moldy; the odor Of the
rank earth assailed the nostrils; the
air was chill and deathlike. -
How do you known she demanded
quickly.
II have traversed the passage be-
fore, Miss Calhoun" he replied. She
stopped like one paralyzed, her eyes
wide and incredulous. Franz was my
guide from the outer gate into the
chapel. 1t is easy enough to get out
side the walls, but extremely difficult
to return" he went on easily.
you mean to say that you have
been in and out by way of this pas
DuSe! ucu, Wudl was your OBJECT,
sir ?" she demanded sternly.
my desire to communicate with
friends who could not enter the city.
Will It interest you If say that the
particular object of my concern was
\ young woman
She gasped and was stubbornly ST.
lent for long time. Bitter resentment
filed her soul, bitter disappointment In
this young man. "a young womanr
be had said, oh, so insolently. There
could be but one inference one conclu-
sion. The realization Of 1t settled one
point in her mind forever
"It wouldn't interest me In the least. |
don't even care who she was. Per-
NIT me to wish you much joy with her
Why don't you go ONT" irritably. for
getting that 1t was she who delayed !
progress. His smile was invisible in |
the blackness above the lantern. There
were no words spoken until after they |
had reached the little door in the wall. !
Here the passage was wider. There /
were casks and chests on the floor, evil |