Putnam patriot., 1915-02-12

" as 1 dared in the dense blackness crept forward. feeling the smooth wall with eager fingers. my right hand still nervously gripping the pistol butt Then came to the door similar to the other. although Do groping about would reveal the catch or enable me to force 1t open.
 Again 1 struck match. guarding the infant flame with both hands against a slight draft which threatened it's ex- tinction. caught a glimpse of a shadow on the wall and made one swift. automatic effort to leap aside. dropping the fatal match. The move ment was too late. Something de scended crashing upon my head. and l pitched forward into uneonsciousness.
 It must he lay there practically dead for some time 1 had no knowl- edge of being approached or handled and yet every pocket was riied. the pistol ierked from my hand and my cOat ripped from my nody Like so much carriou the fellows had flung me back againSr the wall SD as to make room for the swinging open of fhe door Little by Httle. silently. compre- hending now what had occurred and warned by the sonud of voices not far away. changed posture slightly. strengthening out cramped ana aching limbs and so turning my head as to en able me to see along the passage where ray of light streamed
 lau to this habitation underground. thrust into the black shadow behind the door, which stood partially aiar. My posi- ton precluded any possibility of learn ing what was beyond that wooden bar rier. but 1 could plainly view the entire north portion of the interior. although The only light radiated from a flicker ing candle One edge of the table came within my vision a man sitting beside it. his back turned toward me He was smoking q short stemmed pipe and rpntented himself with growing, indistinct utterance when addressed Opposite. however. was a man of different type. slender and active his hair very dark and in lined to curl. a rather long face. slightly olive hued with q small mustache waNed at the ends. His black. spar king eyes attracted me first. and then his long. shapeiY hands These grasped sheet of paper. and 1 no- ticed others, including several unopen- ed envelopes. lying before him on the table tie laughed a bit unpieasantly, a TOW of white teeth visible beneath the dark mustache.
 "lt's Just as 1 thought. Herman" he said geniaiy. The fellow K a mere adventurer There will be no one to take his disappearance seriously
 But some one knows be come here"
 Only the two who sent him, and they'll never dare tell. and the woman. She is safe enough. Nigger Pete drove them out here. and we can close his mouth easily enough. It's been easy Herman, and now with these two settled it leaves me a clear field"
 Maybe so-yes. But vat you think it all mean? 1 would know how eet vas dey come"
 The younger man shuffied the pa- perS restlessly, his eyes on the face of the other.
 ''l confess there are some details missing Herman. he said slowly, but. i'll the main. it Is clear enough | take II this man Neale is q rascal He went north to find the heir. dis covered that he was either dead or r.,l gi.a,,, ,,,,., r,,, ra1 ipf. soma sfa n, n, of the same kidney as himself and between them determined tQ cop the coin. That's my guess Then they picked up this penniless soldier, who by the way, resembles the missing son a bit. and sent him down here to play the part.
 ~ eli. maybe so. But vat about the girl. heyY
 Some one they picked off the streets. He's told to do it in this letter. They thought it best to prove their mar mar ried and so had to procure woman. We won't have any trouble with her.
 Vat yon do 10 be sure?
 Turn her loose in New Orleans with a few dollars carelessly. All she knows about the affair can't hurt us if she does squeal. There are plenty of ways to shut her mouth. I'll know better how to handle her case right when see her. Broussard is long time at his job.
 Perhaps she fight heem-heyT
 '''rhe worse for her-that creole is a wildcat. But l wish he would hurry, so we can get through the Gut on the flood time; that boat draws more wa ter than is comfortable in this la gOon.
 "YOu need not worry said the Ger man, placidly looking at his watch. "l take eet through safe. She good sea boat. an where l come in can go out Ach. tis the fellow come nowP
 CHAPTER X.