The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-14
By RANDALL PARRISH
A Tietieeh Anniversary

A. C MeCLURC & co
 l mortared, and the iron lire screen was
 bolted down securely in place. A brass rail extended out foot or so and ran
 across the front, and two iron and irons were let in through slight cut l ting of the screen. I moved one of
 these. finding it loose, and then placed
 cause knew not what else to do. To my surprise 1t was immovable,
 seemingly as solid as the stones be-
 meath. I endeavored to pull 1t forth, but without result
 Here's a queer thing, O'Brien," exclaimed; 'that other andiron is loose, but this one is fastened solidly." He leaned over and stared at it, his gun ready under one arm.
 "Thry pullin' up on 1t, scr." he sug- gested. Maybe it's just caught on
 something"
 got up from my knees and bent
 down. both hands gripping the iron. AS I strengthened my arms without
 the slightest resistance or noise the bar uplifted a bare inch and then caught again with a dull metallic
 click. There was low whir as of
 some hidden machinery, and stepped back, gripping the revolver at my
 belt, uncertain whether my pull had operated the strange contrivance or
 whether some happening was respon- sible. Slowly, utterly silent but for that soft whirring. the mantel swung as on a central pivot halfway round and then stopped with a click. leaving before us black opening large enough :. to admit easily the passage of mans
 body and about four feet high. I seemed to see this and O'Brien's face at the same instant. His limbs shook
 under him. s "Uncock your carbine." I ordered.
 t1There Is nothing there to shoot at.
 See," and I caught up the lamp and held 1t where the light streamed
 through the opening. It was simply
 the interior of a huge chimney built
 of stones, carefully mortared and so
 clean as to be proof positive no smoke | had ever passed that way. The open ing downward was square, three feet l across l judged, but as I held the
 lamp lower the passage appeared to widen out considerably below the floor level, and caught glimpse of a ladder
 with wide steps tilted to such an an gle as to make climbing scarcely more
 difficult than would pair of stairs.
 In a niche of the wall on a wooden shelf was a lantern and metallic box of matches. I handed O'Brien the
 lamp. bidding him place 1t on the chair, and then stepped inside the opening upon the narrow stone rim encircling the shaft My extended hand touched the roof, seemingly proving that the form of a chimney above was a mere sham, intended to
 bear out the deception of the fireplace,
 cated for steps were bolted to the side wall. making me suspicious that the space above might be utilized as a
 small room. shook the lantern, found it half filled with oil and ap- piled a match to the wick. The yell low flame gave a good view of the. narrow quarters, but, although I held l it above my head, scanning the close ly matched boards of the ceiling, l
 could discover no signs of a trapdoor. There was sufficient dust collected on
 the iron bars to convince me no one
 had lately climbed them, and I de termined to explore below.
 "You see what this is, O'Brien, secret passage" said. glancing back at him. 'That is human enough: the | devil doesn't need such things to help him get about. Whomsoever we saw peering out of here came up these steps, and, whether it was woman or man, we can travel the same route. Pm going down. and want you to follow me. but don't touch that andiron as you come in." He moved briskly enough. evidently
 convinced at last that merely flesh and blood fronted us, and ashamed
 of hls first terror.
 tangled the lantern down the
 we'll, leaning forward and pcering
 endously at what the yellow glare
 revealed. could see to the bottom.
 bus the shadows there might have
 concealed a dozen men. Evidently
 the shaft did not go to the basement.
 and there was a black opening at the
 ladders foot, which would likely
 prove the entrance to a tunnel
 went down swiftly.
 I was at the bottom, finding myself
 in a small, rock walled room some six
 feet square. tunnel leading of from
 1t of barely sufficient height to per
 init me to enter its mouth without
 stopping, before O'Brien ventured
 upon the ladder. I hardly knew what
 te Axnint what danger to guard