The Washington times., 1911-12-21
CHAPTER VII.
The Silent Room.

A 8 BURROUGHS stood In the
N room tn his back to the door,
n the empty revolver in his hand,
men waiting for him outside,
and an unknown presence within. he
was not conscious of fear, but Of q
growing sense of exhilaration.
He had been astonished at his treat
ment by the Frenchmen; in his tight on
the roof he had for one moment felt
theusSs be fs %as At sh h hea alone for sn
now that he had, wiiiy-nilly, cast his
lot on the size of the woman, he began
to have an interest in the game. For It
the woman s tn BE- ee p sns
ing 1t against half Morocco.
He could feel her quick breathing
presence at his side, and once her hand
Of comradeship in her warm clasp. He
wanted to ask questions, but he was
afraid even to whisper. II 1t slept to
waken 1t meant discovery; If it was
Yet he was ready to be attacked. His
muscles were tense with anticipation,
and his fingers moved comforta bly,
along the barrel Of the pistol he held.
Nothing happened. Then the young
man shifted his position to relieve his
cramped leg, and the movement star
tied the woman.
He felt her lean toward him. Her
hair brushed his cheek and he caught
its faint perfume.
See II there is fastening on your
side of the door, she breathed in his
He moved his fingers up and down
the jamb. A hasp ratified. He turned
and found that he could fasten 1t, not
securely, but as a makeshift, against an
Intruder. AS he accomplished 1t the
womans fingers closed tighter on his
hand.
I'VE must find another way OUT" she
muttered, drawing him away to the
He answered her lead. his feet CROP
ing carefully in front Of him. in order
to sense any obstruction before he came
In contact with It. He knew that her
Every two or three PAGES they paused
to wait and listen. Would the presence
move, or speak. or suddenly leap at
them In the darkness?
5 PaHss dsa1 sass' ana 81 tG
felt around the obstruction; it was
square and coverless. Now their fin
gers moved cautiously over its surface
"a metal dish. rude oil lamp. a plate.
Then Burroughs hand encountered an
object that made him Jingle 1t was a
steel blade, thin and narrow, and the
edg, was sharp. When his fingers closed
over a round bone handle that fitted
and thrust the dagger into the pocket
"s'st." breathed the woman. and
slipped into his hand a small PASTE
BY the size he knew 1t for a box Of
Swedish matches. He slid 1t open and
drew out one of the sticks. Surely the
presence was asleep.
Shall II" he questioned.
"What?' she whispered back.
They circled the table and their feet
came in contact with a rug. The wom-
an, feeling along the wall. found a cur
door; 1t might be the curtain of a bed.
She hestiated for a second; then she
found the edge and she pushed back the
drapery. On the other side was moth
Ing but darkness. 1t seemed shallow
They CROPPED on. but they could find
no door. The susurrus grew nearer; 1t
was the low. regular breathing of a
"The light" she whispered.
L Burroughs drew the match head along
the side Of the box. 1t famed without
a crackle, famed yellow, and for ten
There was table. single chair, the
curtained alcove. These were within
the circle of the flames radiance. At
the periphery they discerned other things
and almost directly opposite It another:
there was a second table; and In far
corner on the floor mattress spread
with rug and form lying under it.
But whether 1t was a man, woman, or
child they could not see, for as they
looked the yellow flame narrowed and
died. Burrows crushed out the spark
with his fingers and dropped the charred
stick.
They started now to feel their way to
the other door which the match had re-
Vealed. Burroughs was leading; he was
cropping in front of him. but he felt
sure Of the way, and he was careless