Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-05-31
rel part of hi, ho,,air cabinet, and ,.s

rel part Of his hot-air cabinet, and zen
Ing for doctor!
Bella came to dead stop on the
upper step. with her mouth open. She
looked at Jim, at the Inadequate bar
rel, and from them she looked at me
Then she began to laugh, one OF her
hysterical giggles. and she turned
and went down again. AS Jim and
stared at each other We could hear
her gurgling down the hall below.
She had violent Mysteries for an
hour, with Anne rubbing her forehead
and Aunt Selma burning a feather out
of the feather duster under her nose
Only Jim and l understood, and We
did not tell. Luckily, the next thing
that occurred drove Bella and her
nerves from everybody's mind.
AT seven o'clock, when Bella had
dropped asleep and everybody else
was dressed for dinner. Aunt Selma
discovered that the mousse was cold
and ordered Dial to the furnace.
1t was DaPs day at the furnace:
Flanagan had been relieved of that
part Of the work after twice setting
fire to chimney.
In five minutes Dial came back and
spoke few words to Max. who fol
lowed him to the basement and in ten
minutes more Flanagan pulled up the
steps and called Mr.. HARRISON.
l am not curious, but | knew that
something had happened. While
Aunt Selma was talking suffrage to
Anne-who said she had always been
tremendously interested In the sub
ject. and IL women got the suffrage
would they be allowed TO vote?-l
slipped back 20 the dining-room.
Tho table was laid for dinner. but
F1anni6an was not in sight l could
hear voices from somewhere, faint
voices that talked rapidly, and after
a while I iocSted the sounds under
my feet. The men were all in the
basement, and something must have
happened. / flew to the basement
stairs, to meet Mr.. HARRISON at the
foot. He was grimy and dusty, with
streaks OF coal dust over his face, and
he had been examining his revolver
was Just in time to see him slip II
into his pocket
What is the natter" I demanded
rs any one hurt?"
No one" he said coolly. We've
been cleaning out the furnace"
With a revolver! How interest
ing-and unusual" l said dryly. and
slipped past him as he barred tho
way. He was not pleased; I heard him
mutter something and come rapidly
IN hut HnI 81
guide. and l was not going to be turned
back like child. The men had gath
cred around a low stone arch in the
furnace room, and were looking down
short flight of steps, into a sort of
vault, under the pavement. A faint
light came from small grating
above. and there was a close, musty
smell in the air
Il tell you it must have been last
night" Dallas was saying. Wilson
and / were here before we went 20
bed, and I'll swear that hole was not
there then"
1T was not there this morning.
sir" Flanagan insisted. 1T has been
made during the day"
And it could not have been done
this afternoon" Mr.. HARRISON said.
quietly. Il was fussing with the tele-
phone wire down here. would have
heard the noise
Something in his voice made m.
look at him, and certainly his expires.
sion was unusual He was watching
us all intently while Dallas pointed
out to me the cause OF the excite
ment. From the main floor of the fur.
mace room, flight of stone steps sur
mounted by an arch led into the coal
cellar. beneath the street The coal
cellar was OF brick. with a cement
floor, and in the left wall there gaped
an opening about three feet by three,
leading into a cavernous void, perfect
ly black-evidently similar vault be
longing 20 the next house.
The whole place was gllostly. full Of
shadows, shivery with possibilities. II
was Mr.. HARRISON finally who took
Jims candle and crawled through tho
aperture. We waited In dead silence.
listening TO his feet crunching over
the coal beyond, watching the faint
yellow light that came through the
ragged opening in the wall. Then he
called through to US
Place is locked. over here he
said. Heavy oak door at the head
OF the steps. Whoever made that
opening has done a prodlglous amount
| of labor for nothing"
The weapon. a crowbar. lay on the
ground beside the bricks. and he
picked It up and balanced It on his
hand Dallas fiorid face was almos,
comIcal in his bewilderment, as fol
/ Jimmy-ho slammed a piece OF slaa
at the furnace and walked away. At
| The door he turned around
why don't you accuse me of it7'
| no ogLad bffterIy tHr,-t.a 49,. --.., q