The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-08-27

Il
net nnturo Of what was befefs me.
There we're no stairs, nor oih ny
sb.fta OF N Inddef protfnds above tbe
floor level Only ns lay Gnt ana islt
cautiously across from wall W VIM
could I determine what led below, NJ
WINS blnck M n we'll. ms noirelsss hs .
ernye. vet there was ladder snhcut
0,tlnp the space spiked solidiy Into inc
flooring. My cropping myers cou'"
rcacb two Of the fungs. ana tbey feil
souud and strong. with face outward
1 trusted myself to their support an"
bcRan the descent slowly, pnusinH De
tween cnch step 10 listen and gripping
the aide bars tightly The blnckness
and silence, combined with what an
ticIputcd discovering somewhere IN
those depths below. set my nerves
tingllng. yet | felt cool ana determiheo
TO press on. Especially did yearn u
learn something definite about fhihp
Henley. This to me was now the one
matter Of imp0rtance-t0 DC assufeo
that he was living or dead.
! counted twelve rungs going DOWN
and then felt stone flags beneath my
feet, although the walls on either SIDE
as explored them with my hands.
were still Of closely matched WOOL.
The passage, now high enough to per.
nit Of my standing erect. led toward
the rear OF the house, presenting no
obstacle other than darkness, until
came up suddenly against heavy
wooden door, completely barring FUR
Their progress. As near as could ng-
ure must be already directly beneath
the kitchen and close In against the
| south wall. No sound reached me,
however. from above, nor could l. with
ear against the slight crack, distin-
guish any movement beyond the bar
rier. Cautious lingering revealed close
ly matched hard wood. studded thick
ly with nail heads. but no keyhole or
| latch. Secure In the feeling that no
one else could be In this outer passage
and completely baffied. ventured to
strike a match. The tiny yellow flame
| ere it quickly fickered out In some
mysterious draft. revealed an iron band
to the left Of the door. with slight pro-
tnberance. resembling the button OF
an electric bell.
Almost convinced that the pressure
of my finger would ring an electric
| bell pressed the metal button. To
my surprise and relief the only thing
to occur was the slow opening OF the
door inward, dim CLEAN Of light be
coming visible through the widening
crack. peered anxiously into the
dimly revealed interior. 1t was a base
mant room. half the width Of the kitch
en- overhead, should judge; the walls
Of crude masonry. the floor OF brick.
the ceiling, festooned by cobwebs. Of
rough hewn beams. The light. flicker
ing and dim. came from a half burned
candle In an iron holder screwed
against the wall. revealing small ta-
BILE, two chairs. one without u back.
and four narrow sleeping berths made
Of rough boards. This was all. except
a coat dangling from beam and
small hand Ratchet lying ON the door.
There was. in the instant ! had TO
view these things. no semblance Of
movement or suggestion OF human
presence. Assured of this. although
holding myself alert and ready. l slip
ped through the opening. Even as
stood there, uncertain and staring
about. sharp draft of air extinguish-
ed the candle, and | heard the snap
Of the lock as the door behind blew
back into position. About me was the
black silence OF a grave.
backed against the wall. crouching
low, weapon in hand. scarcely ventur-
ing to breathe. listening intently for
the slightest sound to break the in
tense silence. There must be another
opening into this underground den
one leading TO the outer air-judging
from that sudden and powerful sue
| ton. The very atmosphere breathed
had freshness to il. inconceivable in
such a place otherwise. That sudden
sweep of air could only have original
ed in the opening of some other bar
rier-a door. no doubt. leading directly
to the outside. l had seen no oceu-
pant of the room. Without question il
was deserted at my entrance. Yet
some one had been there and not long
before, as was evidenced by the burn
Ing candle. Nor. by that same token.
did this same mysterious party expect
TO be absent for any length OF time.
Apparently | had intruded at the very
moment of his departure. Wherever
that second passage might be- the for,
mer occupant of this underground den
had evidently entered 1t previous to
my opening the inner door. Still un-
aware Of my presence. he had unfast-
ened some other barrier. aud the re-
sultant draft had extinguished the can,
die and blown shut the door ut my
back. This seemed so clearly the truth
that 1 laughed grimly behind clinched
teeth. The solution was easy. l had
but to discover the extinguished can.
die, relight 1t. search out the second
passage and waylay the fellow when
be returned unsuspicious OF danger.
My cropping search for the candle
was finally rewarded by touch of the
iron brace. / could clearly trace the