The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-07
(Continued.)

might try. But should probably
kill you. AS it is" he shrugged
his shoulders as he led the way
down the ridge--"as it is, there is
small chance of Jean Croisset an
swering the call"
MAY those saints of yours pre-
serve me, Jean, but this is all very
cheerful" grunted Rowland, half
believelaughing in spite of himself.
"Now that I'm tied up again, who
the devil is there to debut me?"
THAT a hard question,
M'seur," replied the half-breed
with grim seriousness. Perhaps it
is your turn. half believe that
It is
Scarcely were the words out of
his omuth when there came again
the moaning howl from the top OF
the ridge.
You're getting on my nerves,
Jean--you and that accursed dog!"
silence, M'seur!"
Out of the grim loneliness at the
foot of the mountain there doomed
q shadow which at first Rowland
took to be huge mass Of rock. A
few steps farther and he say that
1t was a building. Croisset gripped
him firmly by the arm.
"Stay here" he commanded. Il
will return soon."
For a quarter of an hour How
land waited. Twice in that interval
the dog howled above him. He was
glad when Croisset appeared out of
the gloom.
ut Is as I thought, M'seur. There
Is death down here. Come with
mel"
The shadow of the big building
shrouded them as they approached.
Rowland could make out that 1t
was built of massive logs and that
there seemed to be neither door
nor window on their side. And
yet when Jean hesitated for an In
slant before blotch of gloom that
was deeper than the others. he
knew that they had come to an en-
trance. Croisset advanced softly,
shifting the air suspiciously with
his thin nostrils, and listening.
with Rowland so close to him that
their shoulders touched. From the
top of the mountain there came the
mournful death-song of old Woon-
ga, and Jean shivered. Rowland
stared into the blctch of gloom, and
still staring he followed Croisset--
enteMd--and disappeared in 1t.
ADD them was the stiffness and
the damp smell OF desertion. There
was no visible sign of life, no
breathing, no movement but their
own, and yet Rowland could feel
the half-breed's hand clutch him
nervously by the arm as they went
step by step into the black silent
mystery of the place. Soon there
came fumbling of Croisset's hand
at a latch and they passed thraugh
a secon ddoor. Then Jean struck
a match.
Half a dozen steps away was a
table and on tho table q lamp.
Croisset lighted 1t. and with a
quiet laugh faced the engineer.
They were In a low. dungeonlike
chamber, without window and
with but ON door through which
they had entered The table, two
chairs, stove and bunk built
against one--of the log walls were
all Ii EHowland could see. But 1t
was 4 the barrenness Of what he
imagined was to be his new prison
that held his eyes in staring in
quiry on Croisset. 1t was the look
in his companions face. the yellow
pallor of fear--a horror-that had
taken possession, OF 1t. The half
breed closed and bolted the door,
and then sat down beside the table.
his thin face peering up through
the sickly lampglow at the en-
gineer. 49,
"Mseur, 1t would be hard for you
to guess where you are"
Rowland waited.
IF you had lived in this coun.
try long. M'seur, you would have
heard of la Maison de Mort Rouge
the House of the Red Death. as
you would call 1t, That Is where
we are-in the dungeon room. 1t