The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-03-07

Nbulu nave spent tie ilSut airing Ills
grievance. But I sent him off!
Now. as between the two, Black
Humbert furnished evil and strength,
but 1t was the pallid clerk who fur
nished the cunning. And now he made
suggestion.
ut Is possible" he said. that he
upstairs-could help"
"Adelbert? Are you mad?"
1.-The other He knows codes. It
was by means of one we caught him.
have heard that all these things have
one basis. and simple one"
The concierge considered Then he
rose. ut is worth trying" he OBJ
served.
He thrust the letter into his pocket,
and the two conspirators went out into
the gloomy hall. There. on ledge,
lny white tapers. and one he lighted.
shielding II from the draft in the hol-
low Of his great hand Then he led
the way To the top of the house.
Here were three rooms. One, the
best. was Herman Spler's. II poor
thing ut that. Next to IL was old Adcl-
hert,s. At the extreme end of the mar
row corridor. in n passage almost
blocked by old furniture, was another
room, II sort of attic, with slanting
roof
Making sure that old Adelhert= did
not hear them, they went back 10 this
door. which the concierge unlocked.
Inside the room was dark. The taper
4 81 ,.
accustomed 10 the darkness. the out
lines OF the attic stood revealed. junk
room. piled high with old trunks, and
III one corner bed.
Black ilumbert. taper in hand. APP
proachcd the bed. Herman remained
near the door. Now, with the candle
near. the bed revealed man lying
Oh it, and tied with knotted ropes; Il
young man. with suuken checks and
weary, desperate eyes. Beside him,
on chair were the fragments of n
meal, bit of troken bread, some cold
soup, on which grease had formed Il
firm coating.
Lying there, sleeping and waking
and sleeping again. young Haeckel.
one time of his majesty's secret serv-
ice and student In the university, had
lost track of the days. He knew not
how long he had been n prisoner. eN-
cept that IL had been eternitieS. Twice
n day, morning and evening, came his
.iailer and looSened his bonds. brought
food, OF sort and allowed him, not
out of mercy, but because 1t was the
committees pleasure that for a time
he should live, TO move about the room
and bring blood again to his numbed
limbs.
The concierge united him, and stood
back. "Now," he said.
But the boy-he was no more--lay
still. He made one effor. TO rise, and
fell back.
Up with you!" said the concierge.
and jerked him To his feet. He caught
the rail of the bed or he would have
fallen. "Now-stand like man."
He stood then. facing his captors
without defiance. He had worn all
that out In the first days of his I'M
prisonment.
"Wellf" he said at last. Il thought
you've been here once tonight"
Right my cuckoo. But tonight i
do You double honor"
But seeing that Haeckel was sway
ing, he turned TO Herman Spier Go
down." he said. land bring up some
brandy. He can do nothing for us in
this state"
He drank the brandy eagerly when
ii came. aud the concierge poured him
Il second quantity. What with weak
ness and slow starvation. II did what
no threat of personal danger would
have done. 1t broke down his resist
ance. Not Immediately. lie fought
hard. when the matter was first
preached To him. But In the end he
took the letter and. holding II close to
the candle, he examined IT closely. |
His hands shook. his eyes burned. |
The two terrorists watched him.
Brandy or no brandy. however. he
had not lost his wits. He glanced up
suddenly. Tell me something about
this" he said. And what II you do
for me II decode itf"
The concierge would promise any |
thing. and did. Haeckel listened, and |
knew the offer of liberty was a lie.