The Washington times., 1907-06-02

EUCEDLN still here. Penrose
whispered at length ~. a voice
that suggested something very
near akin TO awe.
The tomb couldn't be any quiete-,'
Fayles replied briefly. How long has
he been gomez"
1T seems an hour
well. IT'S" FayIes managed 70 see
the face o; his watch. ITS just eight
minutes since he entered"
.Humph!''
I'm going to sneak over there and
see what's TO be heardT'
Penrose nodded, and Fayles left ali
ruptly. He crossed TO the gate and
put an ear against IT. After a little
while he returned 10 his companion
We'll. il didn't open that time" he
muttered. II listened 20 see II there
was any chance OF getting track OF
things. Penrose. III swear that
heard Sellers talking quite calmly with
some one,"
''EhT'
YES. sir, couldn't catch the
words. but there were two voices, and
one OF them belonged TO him AS /
listened. they seemed 10 go farther and
farther away. and at last they died out
altogether
And does that mean" said Penrose,
after a little pause. that whatever in
fernaI game is being worked in there is
so plausible mat even Sellers has fallen
into the trap?"
The same idea occurred 10 me-"
Fayles said gloOmily. We'll the ff-
teen minutes IS more than up. I'm go
ing over boldly 10 try my luck. Good
by. Penrose. Perhaps I'll see you in
side there
They shook hands, and Fayles walked
straight at the gaIe, taking pains this
time to tramp along heavily.
He stopped squarely before the oaken
barrier and waited.
Nothing happened! Despite Maltby's
tale Of the possibilities Of entrance for
a solitary man. despite what they had
since heard. despite the fact that the
gates had opened to Sellers Just before.
they remained as tightly closed as
ever!
Five minutes. and FayIes advanced
and knocked with his closed fist AS
well might ne have knocked upon the
granite wall. From the mysterious
depths Of the ground came no sign of
a sound. no suggestion Of a football or
90 other human manifestation!
Another long wait, and he returned
70 PenrOse.
"she won't work. he announced
tersely.
II saw it. Not a sign Of opening?''
mot a signi'
but there is somebody there; Sellers
was talking to some one" Penrose
cried. in bewilderment.
81 know that. too. Try It for your
self There-there may be better luck
waiting for you"
Without replying. Penrose left him
Directly ts the gate he went. and
stood there. The silence OF the grave
still reigned. On either side Of the gate
Penrose seemed to have a monopoly OF
all the noise that was to be made
He tried the knocker. too. but IL was
quite as vain as Fayles' futile pound
ing on the gates The thing was simply
shut. hard and fast, and II had become
very plain that the mysterious being
behind the wall had no intention OF ad-
hitting further visitors that evening
Breathing hard. Penrose rejoined his
companion.
You see just what it means?'' he
asked.
Il see all too clearly mat we We al
lowed poor Sellers to walk into the
same trap that took the others
Fayles replied bitterly. Its as plain
as day nOW.'
And why, in the name OF common
sense. couldn't we have figured that
out before Il occurred2'
Because more mccarthy situation
never existed! Who under the sun
could have thought
He ended with an angry snap Of the
fingers, and for A little while stood
staring through the gloom at the gate.