The Jasper news., 1920-09-09

ueuru tuppinH on ny WiuuQW Sill
Il must be Barbara. In my excite-
ment over the 6nd / had forgotten all
about the time. sprang from the
chair and rushed to the window. /
found her peerlng out. trying to aacerl
tain why had not answered her sig
nal.
rOh.T she brenthed with relief, as
my bead appeared. '.you were there.
Did you see the detectiver'
yes" replied. speaking as low az
my excited state would permit me,
''but just now / discovered something
vastly more important"
"What Is IT..
"A secret passageway leading into
my room. II seems to run along the
halL The wall there II at least -four
feet thick-room for man to walk.
There IL panel In the wall in my
room leading into It was Just pry.
ing 1t open when you slgnaled."
"Oh. how wish ! could see itIr
"Why can't youf Slip out Of your
front door. and I'll be at my door to
admit you"
II can't do that Mother and Claire
are In the front part Of the house
playing bridge with some guests. They
will be sure to hear me going out"
"Come In tomorrow morning. then."
suggested.
She did not answer, and before
realized what she was doing. Barbara
was out on the ledge making her
perIlous way across to my window.
IF Claire can do this, can," she
announced triumphantly. as I. trem.
bling all over at the thought OF the
peril she had been in, put my arms
about her and helped her in.
Darling" cried, still holding her
in my arms. "don't ever do that again.
It's too dangerous. Promise me, Bar
bara. dear. you'll never again try
that"
With her pretty face flushed at the
terms Of endearment that had unwit-
tingly escaped me, she laughingly re-
leased herself from my arms.
"That was nothing" she said in
tense whisper. where's the panel7''
Relieved to find that she was not
dukthCu ny uH1-
tened to turn up the light and pointed
at the hole in the wall. As had done,
she sprang up on the chair and en-
deavored to push the panel further
back, but was unable to bulge II.
Quicker wltted than !, she then tried
sliding II along. At the slightest
touch It slid back In a groove. reveal.
Ing the opening-leading into what7
Striking a match, we both Of 10
peered In. The space between the
walls was certainly high enough and
side enough for a man to walk there
in comfort. SO far as the hlckering
light Of the match enabled us to Judge.
1t ran the length OF the hall. and near
Its further end there appeared to be
some steps.
"Come." cried the intrepid Barbara,
Tets explore It."
"No," 1 said firmly. "we must
d, nothing until 1 have seen the de-
tective. We have put the case In his
hands"
But we must find out about IT,"
protested the girl.
AOnOEIOWt bdlu. We AuUW
where It Is. We know where the
voices and whispers come from now"
II WONDER" she said thoughtfully,
'lf there Is the same sort of q pas
sageway In our apartment"
Promise me that IL you ind there
is one, you viii not attempt to explore
II alone"
AS we argued about It we both
stopped short and with blanching
faces listened. From somewhere-it
sounded as II 1t was rig:.t below us.
we heard sounds as II two people were
struggling. Then came a woman's
shrlek. a Wild scream with the death
terror In It. The sound seemed close
at hand. It seemed to come right up
from the opening In the panel by which
W, were standing.
Once more there came an awful
slrean-a scream stopped on short as
If some brutal hand had throttIed the
woman's throat.
"what Is it7' cried Barbara.
Listen" I commanded. at seems
to come from the. floor below"
Holding our breaths we strained our
ears for further sounds. Suddenly a
shot rang out, and there was a thud
as II a body had fallen to the fioor.
Then all was silence.
! With terror In our faces we turned
to each other, seeking an explanation
| which neither could give.