The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-09-22
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LOST DOLLY.

said TO him. The man said
you wanted me. and | came
al once. but 10 the aulomo-
bile felt something was wrong. aud
you know he Is ouIsidef'
Does Pougeot know about this?"
She shook her head 'rhe man came
for NJ Pougeot first. They went OF
together I'm afraid II was a trick.
Then about twenty minutes later the
same man came back aud said NJ. Pou-
geot was with you and that he had
been sent 10 bring me TO you. He
showed me your ring and
Eyes. yes. understand" Interrupted
Coquenn MY poor child" he NUT
tered Taking the caudla GcIrruil
I went through the arched opening me-
| the larger chamber aud made Il bur-
/ ried inspection The room WIS about
! fifteen feet square and ten feet high.
/ with everything OF STONE walls, floor
| and archcd ceiling Save for the pas
sage into the smaller room there was
no sign OF IN opening anywhere eX-
cept two small square holes near the
ceiling. probably yentilating SHIFTS.
Around the four walls were sGs
piled evenly to the height of n-,rlY
six feet. aud at the archway the Iolc
ran straight through Into the smullef
room The logs were In two toor
lengths. and as the archway was about
four feet wide the passage between
the two rooms was half blocked with
wood.
al. nj o I,s
chamber. peering carefully into cracks
between the logs. as IL searching for
something As he went on he held the
candle lower and lower and presently
got down upon his hands and knees
and crept along the base of the pile.
what are you doinG?" asked Alice.
watching him in wonder from the arch
way.
Without replying. the detective rose
to his feet and, holding the candle high
above the wood pile Then he reached
up and scraped the stones with his
finger nails In several places and then
held his fingers close TO the candle
light and looked ut them and smelled
them His fingers were black with
SCOT.
M. Paul. won't you speak to me?"
begged the girl.
Just minute, just minute he
answered absently. Then he spoke
with quick decision. I'm going TO set
you to work" he said. by the way,
al xxsa a go
She looked at him in surprise. why,
don't you know
Il think we are on the Rue de Va
rennes-a big hotel back of the high
wall"
That's right" she said.
"Ah. he didn't take me away re-
flected NJ. Paul That is something.
Pougeot will scent danger aud will
move heaven and earth to save us.
He will get Tiguol. aud Tignol knows
] was here. But can they lind usy'
Suddenly he said TO the girl: Il may
as well tell you our lives are in dan
ger Hes going to set fire 10 this
wood and
"oh" she cried, her eyes starting
with terror.
"See here" he said sharply. You've
got TO help me We have n chance
yet. The fire will start in this big
chamber. and-l want TO cut 1t of 10y
blocking the pussageway. lets see!'
He searched through his pockets. Ike
has taken my knife All, this viii do
And. lifting plate FROM the liable.
he broke 1t against The wall. "Uhere. /
Take one OF these pieces and see II
you can saw through the rope, Use [
the Jagged edge like this, That cuts
it. Try over there"
Alice fell to work eagerly. and in
few moments they had freed section |.
OF the wood piled Ia the Smaller cham [
Der from the restraining ropes and
stakes.
Now. then" directed Coquenil. you /
carry the logs 10 me, and III make I
barricade In the passageway"
The word passageway is somewhat .
There was really a dis
lance of only three feet between the
two chambers this being the thickness (
Of the massive stone wall that sep
arated them. Half of this opening
was already filed by the wood pile. and
Coquenil proceeded TO ill up the other
half. laying logs on the floor length
wise in che open part of the passage
from chamber 10 chamber and then
laying other logs on top of these. and
so on as rapidly as the girl brought
wood.
They worked with all speed. Soon
the passageway was solidly walled
with closely fitted logs to the height of
six feet. Above this. in the arched
part. Coqueuil worked more slowly,
selecting logs of such shape and size
rs would ill the curve with the fewest
number Of cracks between them.
There was danger in cracks between
the obstructing logs, for cracks meant
a draft. and draft meant the spread
ing of the fire.
Now" said NJ. Paul. surveying the
blocked passageway, that is the best
we can do-with wood. We must stop
these cracks with something else.
What did you wear?" He glanced at
the chair where Alice bad thrown her