Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-03-22
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. CHAPTER XII.
] Explore a Passaue.

III seemed to me that he was always
poking about with an armful of can
dles,-"there are a good many queer
things in this world, but | guess you're
one OF the queerest. ! don't mind tell
ing you that there are times when |
think you a thoroughly bad lot, and
then again | question my Judgment
and don't give you credit for being
much more than doddering fool"
He was standing under a ladder be-
meath the great crystal chandelier and
looked down upon me with that pa
tient inquiry that is SO appealing in a
dog-in, say, the eyes of an Irish set
ter, when you accidentally step on his
tail.
yes. Mr. Glenarm," he replied hum.
bly,.
SNow, l want you to grasp this idea
that I'm going to dig into this old shell
top and bottom; I'm going to blow it
up with dynamite, if | please; and If
] catch. you spying on me or reporting
my dOings to my enemies, or engaging
In any questionable performances
whatever, I'll hang you between the
posts out there in the school Waldo
you understand?-so that the sweet
Sisters of ST Agatha and the dear lit
tie school girls and the chaplain and
all the rest will shudder through all
their lives at the very thought of YOU"
Certainly, Mr. Glenarm,"- his
tone was the same h. would have used
II ! had asked him to pass me the
Q matches, and under my breath | con-
signed him to the hardest tortures of
the fiery pit.
. Nov, as to Morgan"
Eyes, sir"
% SWhat possible business do you sup
pose he has with Mr.. Pickering?" / de-
manded.
Why, sir, that's clear enough. Mr..
Pickering owns house up the lake.
ne got it through YOUR grandfather.
eMorgan has the care of it, sir"
"Very plausible, indeed!"-and
sent him off to his work.
After luncheon | went to the end Of
the corridor, and began to sound the
walls. They were as solid as rock
and responded duly to the strokes Of
the hammer. lssOunded them on both
sides, retracing my steps to the stair
way, becoming more and more impa
: tient at my ill-luck or stupidity. There
was every reason why | should know
my own house, and yet stranger and
an outlaw ran through it with amazing
daring.
After an hours idle search l re
turned to the end of the corridor, re
peated all my previous soundings, and
/ fear, INDUCED in language unbecom
ing gentleman Then, in my blinC
anger, found what patient search haC
not disclosed.
| threw the hammer from me in ;
Mt Of temper and it struck one of thu
square blocks in the cement foo
which gave forth a hollow sound.
was on my knees in an instant, m,
fingers searching the cracks, and draw
ing down close | could feel curren
OF air, slight but unmiStakable, agains
my face
The cement square, though eyactl,
like the others in the cellar floor, wa
evidently only an imitation, with a.
opening beneath.
The block was fitted into its plac
with nicely that certified to the ski
of the hand that had adjusted it.
broke blade of my pocket-knife try
ing to pry it up, but, in a moment,
succeeded, and found it to be in realit
a. trap door hinged to the subStantia
part of the floor.
A current of cool, fresh air, tn
same that had surprised me in tn
night, struck my face as lay fiat an
peered into the opening. The lowe
passage was as black as pitch, and
lighted a lantern l had brought wit
me, found that wooden steps gave sal
conduct below and went down.
stood erect in the passage and ha
several inches to spare. It eXtende
both ways, running back under tn
foundations of the house, and c,
squarely under the, park before ii
house and toward the school wall. tt
air grew steadily fresher, until, aft
! had gone about two hundred yards,
reached point where the wind SCENE
to beat down on me from above. p1
up my hands and found two openin!
about three yards apart, through whiC
the air sucked steadily. l moved o.
of the current with a chuckle in n
throat and grin on my face. l h;
passed under the gate in the scho
wall, and l knew now why the pie
that held 1t had been built so high,
they we're hollow and were the meal
of sending fresh air into the tunnel.
When l had travelled about TWEEN
yaSds more felt slight vibration 8
companied by a mufled roar, and
mest Immediately came to a roui
wooden stair that. marked the end
the passage. had no means of JUG
ing directions, but l assumed that
was well within the school park.
rcllmbed the steps and in nome
stood blinking, my lantern in hand,
small, foored room. Overhead
tuBnlt and thunder of an organ 4,