The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-09-03

Rise a
when ! heard the telephone ring. It
was Craig. Without a word OF apology
for his rudeness, which | knew had
been purely absent-minded. heard
him say Walter, meet me In half
an hour outside that Florence Leigh
house"
Half an hour later | was waiting
near the house In the suburbs to
which | had been directed by the
strange telephone call the day before.
noticed that 1t was apparently de-
serted. The blinds were closed and a
ITO Let" sign was on the side OF the
house.
Hello, Walter" cried Craig at last,
busting along.
He led the way around the side OF
the house to window, and, with a
powerful grasp, wrenched open the
closed shutters. He had Just smashed
the window when a policeman ap-
peared.
Hey, you fellows-what are you
doing there?" he shouted.
Craig paused a second, then pulled
his card from his pocket
Just the man | want" he parted,
much to the policeman's surprise.
There's something crooked going on
here. Follow us in.'
We climbed into the window. There
was the same living room we had
seen the day before. But it was now
bare and deserted.
Come on" cried Kennedy, beckon-
ing us on.
Quickly he rushed through the
house There was not thing in it to
char the deserted appearance OF
the A5et floor. At last it occurred to
Craig to grope his way down cellar
There was nothing there
Kennedy had been carefully going
over the place, and was at the other
side OF the cellar from ourselves
when | saw him stop and gaze at the
floor.
HIDE" he -hispered suddenly to
US.
We waited a moment. Nothing hap
pened. Had he been seeing things or
hearing things, l wondered?
From our hidden vantage we could
now see q square piece in the floor
perhaps FIVE feet In diameter slowly
open up as though on q pivot
man appeared. Over his head he wore
peculiar helmet with hideous glass
pieces over the eyes and tubes that
connected with a tank which he car
RED buckled to his back.
Quickly he closed down the cover OF
the tube, but not before vile effluvi
UNI seemed to escape, and penetrate
even to us In our hiding places. AS
ne moved forward, Kennedy gave a
ny1ng leap at him, and we followed
with a regular football interference.
1t was the work Of only moment
for us to subdue and hold him. while
Craig ripped on the helmet
1t was Dan the Dude.
What's that thing?" | pulled, as
helped Craig with the headgear.
An oxygen helmet he replied
There must be air down the tube that
cannot be breathed."
He went over to the tube Carefully
he opened the top and gazed down,
starting back second later, with his
face puckered up at the noxious odor
Sewer gas" he calculated, as he
slammed the cover down. Then he
added to the policemen: Where do
you suppose 1t comes FROM"
Why replied the officer, "the st.
James viaduct-an old sewers some
where about these parts"
Kennedy puckered his face as he
gazed at our prisoner He reached
down quickly and lifted something on
the mans coat.
Golden hair" he muttered.
"Elaine's!"
A moment later he seized the man
and shook him roughly
Where Is she--tell me?" he de-
manded
Inc man snarled some kind of a re-
ply, refusing to say a word about her.
Tell me-" repeated Kennedy.
"Humph!" snorted the prisoner, more
close-mouthed than ever.
Kennedy was furious AS he sent
the man Keeling away from him he
seized the oxygen helmet and began
putting 1t on. There was only one
thing to do-to follow the clue OF the
golden strands OF hair.
Down into the pest hole he went. his
mead protected by the oxygen helmet.
AS ne cautiously took one step after
another down a series OF iron rungs
inside the hole. he found that the wa
ter was up to his chest At the bot
tom OF the perpendicular pit was a
narrow. low pAssageway leading OF
q