The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-30
~ CHAPTER TX.
The Chamber of Horrors.

The Chamber Of Horrors.
TT all seemed so pleasant. 10 COM
fortably normal. when DR.. Paysor
Alden paid an early afternoon cal
at the MAYNARD home
He could hardly believe that only 2
few short hours before the beautiful
heiress drifted helplessly between life
ed sne o evil tSere %S
the window through which he had made
his forcible entry for the fortunate rec
onnoiterine expedition:
He felt TRIUMPHANT. In a sense.
But n foreboding chill. q vague fesr
for another than himself forced itself
upon him. as he walked thoughtfullv UT
the long drive. through the grounds Of
the estate.
'.If she would only get awav from
this place she might escape the clutches
OF these assasslns." he thought. II
must suggest H. to her mother without
fhenn viii sSt it o. out h Alone 0 GGni tS;
battle r. won. That is the best plan,
But the best laid plans have the worst
manners In the world: In this case thew
followed their usual obstinate habit and
proceeded to go wrong.
Myra greeted him with lust enough
suggestion of intimate interest TO send
n thrill through his once impcrvious
heart. The scientific coldness NJ the
physician was not proof against the
mellow glow OF those surprising blue
"Oh. Dr. Alden! 1t seems ages since
saw YOU last" she began. as she led
him into the drawing room. Mother
has been so nervous this morning that
she could not bear to tell me all about
Myra smiled and dimpled. as she con-
"And poor Willis. the butler has been
spluttering pompouslv. and with what
N m n
anything else. When / ask him dues-
lions he turns turkev red and STAN
mers. Five times TODAY. doctor. / have
e eSpoat n beds and %taa
broom handle. Here is the. way he looks
at the R2oks and 1S sIaInie ro,,ea Nor ewes
puffing out her cheeks and then staring
in droll way, as she used the doctors
walking stick, to initiate the suspicious
willis.
swell. he Is not to be blamed. Miss
Maynard" responded Alden, rather seri.
about investigating your cellar ana the
panels on the walls he might have saved
you from all this"
He paused in thought for an instant.
"Why. what do you meass? Saved
From death. And something be-
sides that. something more intangible
! must tell you what happened TO you
Miss Maynard. for this Is not the enc
OF the affair"
Myra regarded him with an incredu.
lous look on her girlish face. but the In
tense sincerity of his manner made her
realize after a few words that here was
no testing matter. The physician ex.
was able. of the two dramatic nights
before. lie told of his clandestine visit
10 her room, where he placed the black
stain upon the door knob. so that wher
she repeated her sleep-walking she
nigh leave the traces along whatever
He told OF his later discovery, while
she was playing the piano for her
mother and Arthur Vsrney. OF the finger
prints upon the panel and the discovery
OF the secret panel.
Myra's eyes dilated with horror as
Alden described her descent into the
chamber of horrors below.
When he narrated his own third bur.
slarious" entry. rolled in the rug. ny
which he surprised the drowsY. watch
man and followed her barely m time tc
save her from suicide in the black cham
Der. the girl trembled and covered heI
eyes with her delicate fingers.
"oh. can remember some of It now!'
she exclaimed, family. THE candle. the
knife which dropped from my hand
and your face In that dim light. Their
over me-"
She sprang to he'd feet and approached
hin, with an appealing gesture OF the
Doctor. doctor, what does it mean,
What have hS ,h ! done pat is wrong tc
mother? do not mind for myself, but
she Is so thoughtful. SO. generous-anu
after the death of father. and then OF
my two sisters. she has had such a
buroeD OF sorrow to bear in her heart
] can hardly believe that such a grue-
some thing could happen-where Is the
panel?"
Alden went to the library. as she fol.
lowed eagerly.
"There he said "And here is the Sc.
cret spring which opens it,
He. rubbed around with his fingers for
a moment. and suddenly the door slid
noiselcssly back, leaving threatening
NAV of darkness which caused her 10
clutch hts arm tmidly.
What surprising glow of strength
that trusting touch diffused through the
physician's veins! He was continually
surprising himself, and yet his calm
face did not 6et BET, his so feelings; ,,,,
show It TO you, Just as I saw II. I have
my pocket light. which is better than
q candle"
Ne drew a small storage battery lamr
from his coat. and directed its concen.
trated rnys on the Dashboard of the
panel.
"Ah. see this!" he stopped down. and
kneeling. examined the groove with in
terest.
what is it2"
"Oil. Nice. smelly machine oil! And
Il r. fresh The occult may deal with
spirits, but II does not overlook such
matter Of fact materialistic things %
raueaky panels. Some malevolent shirt
has been here. within the last few days
20 grease up this little runway. so that
Il could be opened without a sound II
might he well to set trap for that
same astral force"
astral? Msterialistic? Malevolent7'
the girl looked at him With look o.
comical bewilderment, as her smooth
brow wrinkled over the strange words.