American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-11-14
'ence. and Wen search Them

renee, and we'll search them"
we went out hurriedly, leaving the
wounded man lying helplessly on he
bed, and stepped ~carelessly across the
dead sentinel lying in the hallway.
Inc memory of Peter required to me.
lie was not the kind to desert his mis-.
tress at such a time. Stopping Far
reil, l stepped back to inquire. The
Colonel opened his eyes YEARLY at
sound of my voice.
II is not here" he explained slow.
ly. Both Peter and Tonepah were
sent away to find a geo and have
not returned. We anticipated no dan
ger here with Captain Grant present"
ground my teeth sayagely togeth-
er, recalling the treachery of the lat.
ter, his insults to Claire, his deceiv-
ing OF Eric, his stealing of papers,
hoping thus to ruin his own Colonel
his alliance with Fagin, his selling of
British secrets. Here was a villain
through and through ard | hoped he
mad already paid the penalty. If not,
| vowed the man should never escape.
But the thought of the missing girl
came back, driving all else from nv
mind. She was in none of those rooms
we searched, nor did we discover the
slightest evidence of her having been
there. AS l stood in the door of the
deserted mushroom staring helpless
ly about, a sudden possibility occurred
TO me. Ay! that must be the truth.
the full explanation OF her vanishing.
She had come flying up the stairs.
frightened, desperate-so far as she
knew, alone against Fagin's unscrupu-
lous band. She had not returned to
her father, or escaped by way of the
hall. Where then could she have
gone? The secret staircase, down
which che had hurried me, and which
vas known only to herself, Eric and
Peter. gripped Farrell's arm eagerly.
You know this house well-did you
ever hear of secret passages in it,"
i have heard 1t whispered in Cos
SIP" he answered, that such We're
here in the old Indian days. Why?"
Because it Is true. The girl hid
ne here from Grant. And that is
we will find her. The opening
Is there by the false chimney, out
no conception of how it works;
she made me turn nay back while she
operated the mechanism"
He stopped down, and began search
along the fireplace, and I joined him.
Together our hands felt over every
inch of surface. There was no re-
spouse, not even a crack to guide us.
At last he glanced aside, and our eyes
who knew Of this beside Claire?"
he asked.
Erie and the servant Swanson. She
told me she and her brother discov-
cred it by accident through reading an
old memoranda"
"And the colonel is not aware Of
It's existence?"
Il understand not. Do you know if
the boy lives?"
lie left the room, and l heard his
voice calling down the stairs, but did
not distinguish the words of reply. /
was still on my knees when he re-
He is alive, but unconscious, Law.
'ence. Do you consider it impossible
.or her to escape from here alone, pro-
5iding she took refuge in this placer"
Il could find no opening, except I'M
foreground, and that is blocked now"
~shuddered at the thought. Besides,
must be in utter darkness, for l
lsed all the candles"
Then We must get axes, and cut
'ur way in. Wait here, and l will
'ring up some Of the men"
| Strengthened up as he left the
room, and my eyes looked into a
mall mirror above the open CRATE.
food Heavens! Could that be my re-
Bareheaded, my face streaked
With blood and dirt, my coat rags, my
hirt ripped to the waist. l scarcely
cooked human. In sudden burst of
niger l reached u and gripped the
mirror, Jerking it ~savagely. Then l
iprang back. Slowly, with a faint
lick of the mechanism, the mantel-
e was swinging open. I