The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-06

tHt, " w dangerous ue5t. We " u
quietly. answering her question. -As
econ al sslim bars tina, door UPON the
inside we'll go. was q fool 10 bring
yon here"
How could you know what the dan.
grrs would beT' she asked
'i1l confess didn't expect Won
Blliz." he Aaid dryly
But you did cHpect"- she began
With n start. biting her lips.
"The~e's n vast difference between
expectation and hope. princess" Nee
hah had Joined Selm at the door when
the men reentercd the cha amber Now
she was approaching with her bus
band.
May Allah bless you and profit for
himself excellencies." said the good
Sellm. Neenah plainly had advanced
her suspicious TO the brown body serv.
ant Geneva blushed, and then her
eyes blazed She gave the girl
scornful look. Neenah smiled happily,
lnreservedly, In return.
Allah help us. you should say, II
Won Blitz returns" interposed Chase
hastily is the door barred"
mo. excellency. The bars have
sprung. cannot drop them In place.
AS you know. the lock has been blown
away. The charge sprung the bolts.
We must go at once"
Then there is no way to keep them
out of the chateauT cried Geneyra
anxiously.
They can go no farther than this
ROOM" explained Selim. I'VE lock the
double iron doors from the other side
the door through which you came,
most glorious excellency-and they
cannot enter the cellars above. This
Is the chamber which opens into the
underground passage to the coast. The
passage was made for escape from the
chateau In case of trouble and was
known to but few. My father was the
servant of Sahib Wyckholme, and
used to live In the chateau.
"Once there was a boat, a launcia,
which lay hidden below the cliffs on
the north coast. The passage led to
this boat. 1t was always ready to put
out to sea. But one night 1t was de-
stroyed by the great rocks which fell
from the cliffs In an earthquake.
When | came here l at once thought
Of the passage. You Will see that the
doors into the cellar cannot be opened
from this chamber. The locks and
bolts are on the other side | knew
where the keys were hidden. 1t was
easy to unlock the doors and come into
this room. found that some one
had been here before me. The door to
the passage had been forced open from
without, cracked by dynamite. Many
Of the treasure boxes have been re-
moved. Won BlitZ was here not an
hour ago. He wears boots. | saw the
footprints among the naked ones In
| the passage, They will come back for
4 the other chests. Then they will blow
up the passageway with powder, and
escape from the chateau through II
/ will be cut Off | have found the kegs.
of powder in the passage and have de-
stroyed the fuses. 1t will be of no
avail, sahib They will blow 1t up at
the other end, which will be just the
same"
"Theres no time to be lost" cried
/ Chase 1--WE must bring enough man
down here to capture them when they
return shoot EN- If necessary. Come
on! We can surprise them, IL we
hurry"
They were starting across the cham,
Der toward the door when a gruff, Sc
pulchra oath came rolling up to the
chamber through the secret passage.
Quick MS a fash Sellm, who realized
that they could not reach and open the
door leading to the stairs, turned In
among the huge wine casks, first
binding his lantern. He whispered
for the others to follow In mo-
ment they were squeezing themselves
through the narrow spaces between
the dark, strong smelling casks. back
into darkness so opaque that It,
seemed lifeless
"Thcy won't suspect that we are
here" whispered Selim as the door to
| the passage creaked. Keep quiet!
Z Don't breathe!'
The single electric light was still
burning rs Selim had found 1t when
he first came The door swung open
slowly. heavily. and Jacob Won Blitz,
mud covered. reeking with perspira-
ton and painting savagely. stepped
into the light Behind him came a
man with lantern and behind him
two others.
They were white men, all. Won Blitz
turned suddenly and cursed the man
with the lantern. The fellow was
ready to drop with exhaustion, Evil
IDENTITY 1t had been no easy task to
remove the chests.