The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-20

1t. Shall show it to you?"
On their instantly expressed desire
to see the hidden way, the colonel led
them to the patio. He walked to the
engaged coluiAn which once before
had interested him: he pressed con-
cealed spring under the boldly carved
eight.pointed flower; instantly, the en-
tire side of the columns swung as
door might swing. AS they peered
into the dusky space below, the colo.
mel, who had put down his arm.
pressed an electric button and the
white light flooded the shaft, revealing
an ingenious ladder Of cleats fitted into
steel uprights.
Here" said the colonel, rs secret
way from the patio to the cellar. The
cellar extends little beyond the patio
and there is a way down from the yard
to the cellar-I can quickly show you,
If you like"
"No, thank you," replied Warnebold.
who was man Of full habit and older
than the colonel, Il will take your per-
sonal experience instead"
"Then if you will go out into the
yard with me I will show you where
a charming pcrgola ends in a vine
wreathed sun-dial of stone that you
may tug at and not move; but press
your foot on certain stone, the whole
dial swings round on a concealed turn.
table such as they have In garages,
you know. You will have no difficulty
T. otto cfo~
inscription runs round the dial: Mas
vale tarde que nunca;' and the stone
is directly opposite 'nunca.' When you
have moved away your dial you will
see gently inclining tunnel, high
enough for man to walk in without
stopping, wide enough for two, and
much better ventilated than the New
York subway. That tunnel leads to a
secret door opening directly into the
cellar, so skillfully contrived that 1t
looks like an air-shaft. This door is
only few feet from the shaft to the
patio. We have found a bolt and put
1t on this entrance. but there wasn't
any before: nor did any one in the
house know of the secret passage"
The colonel went on to say that on
questioning the architect he averred
that he had never mentioned the
secret passage to his knowledge-ex-
cept that very recently, only few
days before, at a dinner, he had barely
alluded to It; and one of the gentle.
laen present, an easterner, had asked
linn where he got man to make such
contrivance-it must take skill. He
had mentioned the name of the work.
man. The colonel had hunted up the
artisan mentioned, only to find that
he had left town to take job some
where; no one seemed to know where.
OF course he had inquired of every
body. The name of the easterner was
Atkins.
atkins" cried Warnebold, at this
turn of the narrative, "Keatcham's
secretary? Why, he's the boldest and
slyest scoundrel in the United States!
He started a leak in Keatcham's office
that made him a couple of hundred
thousands and lost us million and
might have lost us more If Mercer
hadn't got on to him. Keatcham
wouldn't believe he had been done to
the extent he was at first-you know
the old man hates to own to any ones
getting the better of him; it's the one
streak of vanity I've ever been able to
discover in him. Otherwise, he's cold
and keen as razor on a frosty morn
Ing. He was convinced enough, how
ever, to discharge Atkins; the next
news had, he was trying to send him
to the pen. Gave us instructions how
to get the evidence. No allusion to his
past confidence in the fellow, simply
the orders.as IL we knew all the
preliminaries. Wonderful man, Mr..
Keatcham, Col. Winter"
very" agreed the colonel, dryly.
BY this time the warrior and the
man of finance were on easy terms.
Warnebold remained three days. Be.
fore he left the patient had been pro-
nounced out of danger and had re.
vived enough to give some succinct
business directions. Mercer had been
sent to look out for the cement deal;
and Keatcham appeared little re.
lieved and brighter when he was told
that Mercer was on his way.
"He will put 1t through II it can be
put" he said said weakly to Warne-
bold; "hes moderately smart and per-
fectly honest" Such words, Warne-
bold explained later to Mrs. Winter,
coming from Keatcham, might be re-
garded almost as extravagant COM
mendation. "Your cousins fortune is
made" he pronounced, solemnly; che
can get Atkins place, make no
doubt"
Mrs. Winter thought that Mercer
was very valuable man.
"Only always so melancholy; I've
been afraid he had something serious
the matter with his digestion. It's
these abominable quick lunches that
are running the health of all our steady
young men. I don't know but they
are almost as bad as chorus girls and
late suppers. Well, Mrs. Winter, I'm
afraid we shall not have another
chance at bridge until see you in