The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-12

<APP4GGO1A &% GOs watching him in wonder from the arch way.
 Without replying, the detective ros, to his feet aud, holding the candle h1gl above bis head, examined the walli above the wood pile. Then he reached up and scraped the stones with hi finger nails in several places and theI held his fingers close to the candle light and looked at them and smelle6 them. His fingers were black witt soot.
 s'M. Paul, won't you speak to meY begged the girl.
 Just a minute, just minute" he answered. absently. Then he spoke with quick decision, '1'm going to se1 you to work" he said. ''By the way, have you any idea where we are?"
 She looked at him in surprise. "Why don't you know?"
 'I think we are on the Rue de Va rennes-a big hotel back of the high walI.''
 That's right" she said.
 sAh, he didn't take me awayp' re nected M Paul. That is something. Pougeot will scent danger and will lAOtC ASdfGu dA0 CAAIA tO saw o1 He will get Tlgncl, and Tignol knows I was here. But can they find us?"
 Suddenly he said to the girl: stI may as well tell you our lives are in dan ger. He's going to set fire to this
 "OhH' she cried, her eyes starting with terror
 '-See here,'' he said sharply. 'sYou've got to help me. We have a chance yet The fire will start in this big chamber, and-I want to cut it off by blocking the passageway. Let's seer' He searched through his pockets. 'sHe has taken my knife, An, this will do?' And, lifting a plate from the table, he broke it against the wall. ''There! Take one of these pieces and see if you can saw through the rope. Use the jagged edge-like this. That cuts 1t. Try over there."
 Alice fell to work eagerly, and in a few moments they had freed section of the wood piled in the. smaller cham Der from the restraining ropes and stakes. Ae
 ttNow, tIen,'' directed Coquenil, e'you carry the logs to me, and I'll 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 filled by the wood pile, and Coquenn proceeded to fill up the other half, laying logs on the floor length wise in the open part of the passage from chamber to chamber and theE laying other logs on top of these, ana 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, Coquenil worked more slowly, selecting logs of such shape and size as would fill the curve with the fewest number of cracks between them. There was danger in cracks between the obstructing logs, for cracks meant draft, and draft meant the spread ing of the fire.
 ssNow,' said M. Paul, surveying the blocked passageway, 'sthat 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 had thrown her things. GA white cloak and straw hat with white veil and a black vel vet ribbon. Tear off the ribbon and we can't stand on ceremony. Here are my coat and vest. Rip them into strips and Great God! There's the smoke now!'
 As he spoke a thin grayish feather logs and doated away; another came below it. Somewhere De Heidelmann- Bruck had pressed an electric button. and under the logs deadly sparks had jumped in the waiting finder. They were prisoners in huge, slowly heat. ing oven stacked with tons of dry wood.
 'sWe must stop thfs,'' he cried, and. tearing the shirt from his shoulders, he ripped it into fragments and wedg. ed these tight between the logs.
 we must have more cloth,' he said graveIy. ''It's our only chance, little friend. I'll put out the candle! Therei Let me have-whatever you can and be quicki'
 Again he worked with frantic haste, stuffing in the last shreds and rags that could be spared from their bodies whenever a dull glow from the other side revealed crock in the barricade.
 'aThere," he panted; that's the bess we can do! Now it's up to God! l be lieve we have stopped the draft" hI said after a moment.
 Suddenly a faint sound broke the stiffness, and the detective started vio- lentIy It was a low, humming sound that presently grew stronger and then sang on steadily like a buzzing wheel.
 He moved about in perpiexfty. Il seemed to him that he felt g. curren' of air.
 Cro be coiItinued)