The Washington times., 1912-06-13


- her mother was within these
walls, and the shock she had
received, Annabel drew close to
her as they went through the house,
apd she lived over in her mind each
moment of the time from the discovery
of her grandmother In the deserted
house until they laid her to. rest in
the cemetery.
Again and again the thoughts of the
girl went back to her last moments; to
those mumbled, inarticulate words. Sud-
denly she dropped her mothers arm and
stood still.
"B-a-back room!" she almost shouted
oh. stupid, stupid owls! Back room:
That was what she was trying to say
all the time! Oh! come, hurry. There
is-there must be-some clue there thai
grandmother was trying to tell us
about" And, dartlng away before the
others. she ran through the kitchen and
threw open the door Of the little back
bedroom.
1t was just as they had seen it last
from it; it's dirty, tumbled bed: .ts
rickety bureau in the corner. its faded
carpet, its few decrepit chairs.
AS the others Joined her, they looked
about the place doubtfully.
There is nothing here" said Lord
Baramore mot even a closet"
But there is something here" cried
Annabel II feel it, know 1t! 1t was
through that door that I saw little Liz
zie pass in my dream; 1t was this room
this back room-that grandmother
tried so hard to tell us about. 1t sound
ed like barn. but it comes to me now
that those were only the sounds she
did bring out, not the ones she tried
there must be something here that will
help U.S. We must search 1t thoroughly
this time, every inch of its walls. fioo'
and space!'
Her conviction. her excitement, hat
by this time communicated itself to hel
companions. While Lord Baramore and
his nephew set about moving the fur
niture and sounding the walls, Anna
bel, bent almost double, went slowl!
about the room examining the floor.
All at once she dropped on her knees
with a smothered exclamation.
In the wall at the back of the room
about two and a half feet from thu
floor, her sensitive finger-ups had de
tscted a slight uneVenness In the sur
face. AS she pushed against 1t the sur
face yielded to the pressure and slowl!
swung in, disclosing a small, aimos
square. opening. Scarcely breathing
feeling of bitter disappointment,
What is it?" cried Clifford. who
with his uncle and Mrs. .Chisleigh, ha'
rushed to her at her exclamation.
Nothing" replied Annabel disguised
ly, getting up and brushing off he
dress, nothing but a measly littl
cubby- hole, like those you keep boot
and shoes in in so many old-fashione
houses! And ! thought 7 had mad
such a discovery
Clifford was still peering into tn
"cubby."
Il am rather of the opinion that 20
have" he said quietly. and crawled In
side. The space was about five fee
in height and four or five feet square
He drew his electric torch from hi
pocket, and, switching on its full pow
er cast its light swiftly about the In
closure.
"Ah-haw he exclaimed triumphantly
and STOPPING quickly, pounced upon
small, fiat ring in the floor; and, t
the amaZement of the others, who wer
now all peering In, began to pull u
a trap-door, which was fitted so neatl
into the flooring as to be scarcely pei
ceptible,
With his hand on the door he paused
and glanced back uncertainty.
There Is no telling what we may tin
at the other side of this door" h
whispered: perhaps you ladies had bel
ter keep back. You have done enoug
in finding 1t for us, Miss Annabel, yo
had better let us do the rest"
IT never ran away from danger yet,
whispered Annabel quickly, and ! al
not going to begin now. Go on, 60 Of
we are losing time hsrev' -