Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-14
CHAPTER XXI.
TaE LOST DOLLY.

TIE LOST DOLLY.
$" y We been so frightened" Alice
said 10 him. The man said
you wanted me, and came
at once, but in the automo-
bile. felt something was wrong. and
you know he is outsider"
Does Pougeot know about this?"
She shook her head. The man came
for NJ Pougeot first. They went off
together I'm afraid it was a trick.
Then about twenty minutes later the
same man came back and said M. Pou-
geot was with you and that he had
been sent to bring me to you. He
showed me your ring and
"Yes. yes, | understand" interrupted
Coquenil. My poor child" he NUT
tered Taking the candle. Coquenil
went through the arched opening into
the larger chamber and made d hur-
ried inspection. The room was about
fifteen feet square and ten feet high,
with everything of stone walls, floor
and arched ceiling. Save for the pas
sage into the smaller room there was
no sign of an opening anywhere ex-
cept two small square holes near the
ceiling. probably ventilating shafts
Around the four walls were logs
piled evenly to the height of nearly
six feet. and ct the archway the pile
ran straight through into the smaller
room. The logs we're in two foot
lengths, and as the archway was about
four feet wide the passage between
the two rooms was half blocked with
wood
Coqueni walked slowly around the
chamber. peering carefully into cracks
between the logs. as If 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 doingY' asked Aliea
watching him in wonder from the arch
way.
Without replying. the detective rose
to his feet and, holding the candle high
above his head. examined the walls
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 at them and smelled
them. His fingers were black with
SCOT.
m. Paul won't you speak to me?"
begged the girl
Just a 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,
have you any idea where we areT
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-
hected NJ. Paul THAT is something
Pougeot will scent danger and will
move heaven aud earth to save us
He will get Tignol, and Tignol knows
/ was here. But can they find usY'
Suddenly he said to the girl: Il may
as well tell you our lives are in dan
ger Hes going to set fire to this
wood and
"ohg she cried, her eyes starting
with terror.
"see here" he said sharply. you've
got TO help me- We have a chance
yet The fire will start in this big
chamber. and-I want 10 cut it OFF by
blocking tue passageway. Let's see"
He searched through his pockets. HE
has taken my knife All. this Will do
And, lifting plate from the table.
he broke II aganst the wall. There.
Take one of these pieces and see II
You can saw through the rope. Csc
the Jagged edge like This, That cuts
It. Try over there"
Alice fell 10 work eagerly. and In a
few moments they had freed "A section
Of the wood piled IN the smaller cham
ber from the restraining ropes and
stakes
Now. then" directed Coquenil. 'you
carry the logs 10 me, and IN make a
barricade in the passageway."
The word passageway Is somewhat
misleading. There was really a dis
tance 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 on up the other
half. laying logs on the iOOr length
wise IN the open part Of the passese