Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-08-22
The Web of
Destiny
By J.'U. GIESY and J. B. SMITH
Copyrights-.The Frank A. Munsey Co.

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The walls seemed to me to be OF
brick, covered with a thin coating Of
whitewash, now smeared and streaked
and stained with the underground
seepage. There was no sound save
our stifled breathing and the drip,
drip of water from the roof
The ground grew more soggy, even
muddy at times, beneath our feet.
The wavering points of light from
the flashes showed side passages lead.
ing off from the one we followed on
either hand at every conceivable de-
gree and angle.
Save for the line of footprints we
would have been utterly confused as
to direction, for so far as l could see
there was no way to distinguish one
tunnel from another. One not ac-
quainted with the anglings and turn
ings of that place would have been
hopelessly lost inside of five minutes.
1t was a labyrinth, maze, literal
web in the bowels of the hill.
Dual and McKabe paused and
brought us to halt. The passage
angled now and split into three new
tunnels, more narrow and not quite SO
high, and close by the right-hand pas
sage our companions were bending
above some new object of interest.
Pressing forward we saw that it was
another print, smaller and but family
pressed into the earth, save at the
back where the heel had cut and torn
the surface of the floor.
Il guess Annie must have made
that" said McKabe quickly. Its
fresh if you notice. She turned here
an threw her weight on this foot as
she went around. It's right shoe,
you can see. Well, they're ahead Of
us all right. Reich must have spotted
this mark for he's followed-that is,
if he made these other tracks, which
j think he did"
But, great cats!" rumbled Shell
don. "How could he see anything
a-tall in this place? How'd he follow
her this far?"
Speak softly, colonel" warned
Semi Dual. "Mr. Reich or some man
did follow. We must go on
Just beyond the turning of the right
hand passage was door set into the
wall. McKabe's light fell upon it's
boards and he paused to try it. 1t
swung open and showed a tiny room
not bigger than closet, which held
filthy cot covered by a moldy
blanket, on which lay a bamboo pipe.
After glance McKabe swung the
door shut, and we went on.
/ heard Sheldon breathing at my
elbow, like one seeking to suppress
his feelings. Then he broke into
whispers as we walked.
my Lord, Glace, do you reckon
anybody lives down in this here eel
lar? Why, what would be the use of
livin' at all in a place like this? A
man might as well be buried alive"
''Yet some of them do" replied.
"My Lord!" he repeated softly and
1apsed silent, padding along at my
side.
Presently he spoke again.
AN McKabe thinks they've brung
Lilly down here. Poor leetle gal"
We went on. More doors appeared
in the wall, loosely built barriers be-
fore the cell-like cubicles they closed.
But McKabe gave them no further at
tention.
Bent forward like a hound strain.
ing on leash he followed the foot
prints in the damp earth as they led
us on through the branching alleys.
Abruptly the roof of the passage we
followed came down till we stopped as
we walked and ended at little arch
like the door of kennel.
We went to our knees before it,
and found the marks of other knees
before us. Crawling on hands and
knees we advanced. AS we passed,
the spotlights of the flashes showed
the Clipped surface of watersoaked
concrete. Plainly we were passing
through the foundation of some build
ing to gain the other side.
Beyond it the passage widened and
lifted again, and We rose once more
to our feet. To each hand and ahead
the tunnels continued. Duals light
picked up the steps turning to the left.
The floor sloped sharply and led us
down hill. We ran forward now and
came to a blind end, beyond which
there was nothing but solid earth.
/ heard McKabe eXclaim softly. He
swung around and began searching
the floor more closely. The footsteps
led quite to the end wall and stop
ped. turned back and stopped again
in front of little door not over three
feet high.
"Huh!" growled McKabe and fell
upon it.
1t swung outward, and without
hesitation he ducked through, with his
light swinging before him.
Come on" he called deeply. and
waited while we followed.
We stood in little room, floored
with rotting boards. On one side a
steep wooden stairway ran up. and be-
yond us was yet another door. The
detective hooded to the stairs.