Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-09
|
~ OF A BRIDE |
lBIWWHHIHHHHHIHllIIHIHHHHllHHHHHHgIITTHIIIll
The secret chamber is
q source of ICOndeTnlent
to Gene Archer.

think that I never expected my hus-
band and Chrys and Jordan Spence to
come aboard the yacht that day, but l
talked as if 1 did while daddy walked
the deck with me. And I wondered why
human beings pretend so to each other
| in times of terrible anxiety Nobody is
ever much deceived by attempts to boil
ster up q bodys courage. Perhaps in
trying to blind others to great trouble,
one best comforts oneself; perhaps by
assuming that our friends would join us,
l stihed the secret foreboding that they
would not.
Gene Archer, wrapped in steamer rugs,
was brought on deck in a hooded chair.
He was well enough to talk, DR.. Travers
said, and so, at last, we had an OPP
portunity to discuss the curious events
of that terrible week we had spent at
the hacienda.
OF course I was wild to question
Archer and very naturally my first query
vrns about rho manner In which he and
the others had so suddenly disappeared
from the secret chamber.
l described my remarkable descent In
| the shaft and explained to Archer that
every one of the valiant blows he and
Spence had intended fer my rescue had
in reality driven me farther and farther
from it.
"Chance certainly worked In a fortu-
nate disguise that day I concluded.
You sent me straight down to rescue
BOb-to save my husband from death -
Then Archer had to have that long
story
May Bob's luck hold" he said sol
EMMY and then, as if his seriousness
| implied too much, he added carelessly
Some day I'm going back there and
/ find out how those architectural tricks
work I must hand it those old Spanish
masons-they were some extraordinary
chapsl"
Marvellous concrete they used, too,
said daddy. Just think how the walls
have stood severe earthquakes! There
must have been hundreds Of shakes since
the original buildings we're erected
I'm praying the secret chamber is
still in existnece even though the old
church has been destroyed as reported
want to get a look at the inside OF that
room and that shaft again." said Archer,
who always finds his profession the most
interesting of all subjects OF conversation.
MAY your prayer be answered"
murmured. My voice trembled as
thought of the three precious lives which
so recently had been ut stake in the
mysterious room.
Daddy Lorimer' doesn't like senti-
mentality. He put steadying hand on
mine, then turned to Archer with:
$50 on with your story, Gene. What
| became Of you after this little girl
dropped down the shaft? She says that
when she and Fob climbed out again,
the secret chamber was absolutely
empty
spence and I were vicious, Mrs. Lori
mer, when your cry awakened us and We
saw you vanishing behind the door in
the paneling. 1 suppose we acted like
crazy men, for we never stopped our
desperate hammering until the door fell
in. Then we leaned over the edge OF
the pit and looked into darkness-and
heard nothing"
That was true thought T. The place
was as still az a tomb, for Bob had
touched me and was running his fingers
over my face in the darkness-and
/ knew him-and was unafraid!
Then a big draft struck u.s." Archer
continued. lit indicated an open door
behind us Spence and 7 turned at the
same instant-turned to face an empty
Roomi Mr.. Lorimer, your daughter had
/ vanished She had disappeared without
making a sound OF course we rushed
to the opening in the wall but we reached