Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-19
THE CLOSED
DOOR
Its Secret Is Finally
Revealed
By CLARISSA MACKIE


drew aside the heavy curtain and look
ed out into the gathering dusk. He
dropped the drapery and turned back
into the pleasant, fire lit smoking
room, where frank Lands was enjoy
Ing an after dinner pipe of tobacco.
II advise you not to set out tonight,
Mr.. Landis," warned the landlord as
he went back to his chair.
Its only ten miles to Riverbank.
can make 1t in half an hour" protest
ed Lands. knocking the ashes from
his pipe and placing 1t in his pocket.
"You don't understand this clay soil.
Mr.. Lands. I'm apparently trying to
retain very popular guest here over
night but, on the contrary, I'm ac-
tually worried about you"
Thanks, Smith; believe YOU" said
the other heartily, but I've promised
to be In Rlverbank tonight, and I'm
going to try for 1t II have to walk
part of the way"
Every well, then. I'll try to make
you as comfortable as possible. Do
you want Joe to bring your car
aroundW
"If you please" Lands was shrug
cling himself into a heavy motorcoat
and tying leather cap over his ears.
The storm was plainly audible now.
The wind howled dismally, and the
rain poured against the windowpanes
In a drumming accompaniment.
81 may be making a mistake" he
hesitated, soto voce, "but | promised
Robinson I'd get that money to him to-
night. No one could have suspected
that ] started forth with ten thou
sand In cash in my pockets to help my
old friend out Of tight squeeze, so
why should | be afraid Of holdup?
Brace up, Frank, my lad! believe
this confOundedly comfortable room
has softened you against Drawing the
storm. If my reaching there tonight
will save Robinson few hours wor-
ry I'll do It,"
Ten minutes later his little runabout
moved swiftly down the bluestone
driveway from the Foxboro inn.
The lamplights cut the darkness like
a knife The directions were simple
enough. straight ahead" Smith had
said. and straight ahead the road led
between high wooded banks. The trees
groaned and creaked as the Ayind and
rain dashed Mt them; the heavy rain
swished against the protecting hood
and drowned the noise of the motor.
For short distance the road was
comparatively smooth and hard. Then
1t grew softer, and the machine labor
ed heavily. Beyond the triangular
points Of light on the sticky soil ahead
of the car all was midnight blackness
"1f I've got to stick fast l hope 1t
will be In front OF the halfway house."
muttered Lands as the little machine
bumped and tottered over the rutty
road.
For awhile the way lay smoother, and
then again 1t became impossible. All
at once the runabout seemed to sink
up to the hubs in mud. grunted help
lessly and at last was silent and mo-
tionless as lands shut off the power.
1.-The devilw quoth Lands, thrusting
his head from beneath the apron and
surveying the blackness all about him.
what am to DOR
He climbed out OF the machine and
stepped down into the oozy mud. 1t
was over his shoe tops, He detached
one OF the lamps and threw its white
glare into the blackness.
What he saw was far from reassur-
Ing. On either side OF him tall trees
bent their heads to wild gray sky
and downpour OF rain. A little be-
You'd him there seemed break in the
trees. and after turning the light stead
lily upon 1t for few minutes he could
discern the ruins OF an old house.
There We're Il broken backed roof and
a sagging porch across the front, gap
ing windows and from somewhere the
rushing roar OF river
1.-THE halfway house" calculated
lands In dsmay. "Well, guess
better tramp back to the Foxboro inn
or else spend the night In the car
He turned swiftly, suddenly aware
that something was happening to the
car There was a strong smell OF gas
oline and then roar and upward rush
of flames from the stalled machine
The heavy rain partly extinguished the
flames rs fast rs they found new foot
hold, but there were plenty OF protect
ed parts that furnished fuel for the
flames,
The glare lighted up the dark road
way, and as lands stared for the
moment stunned by the unexplained
happening, dark figure appeared on
the other side OF the car, scrambled
and slipped up the embankment and
melted into the darkness beyond the
circle OF flame.
Then was lands aroused to action
He was about to climb the embank-
ment In pursuit of that mysterious flee
Ing form when he saw that 1t had
dropped down to the road once more
hundred feet beyond and was crossing
rapidly over to the ruined halfway
house
AS he looked the flames that envel.
oped the car We're extingulshed by the