Washington telegraph., 1920-05-14
"What is it?"

"a secret passageway leading into
my room. II seems to run along the
hall. The wall there Is at least four
feet thick-room for a man to walk.
There is a panel in the wall in my
room leading into It. l was just pry
Ing It open when you signaled-"
"Oh, how l wish could see ltw
"Why can't you? Slip out Of your
front door, and I'll be at my door to
admit you"
81 can't do that. Mother and Claire
are in the front part Of the house
playing bridge with some guests. They
will be sure toNlear me going out"
Come in tomorrow morning. then"
l 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, l can" she
announced trlumphantly, as l, 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 a
tense whisper. "Where's the panelT
Relieved to find that she was not
angered by my presumption, has
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 1t.
| Quicker witted than l. she then tried
| sliding 1t along. At the slightest
touch 1t slid back in a groove, reveal
ing the opening-leading into what?
Striking a match, we both Of us
| 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 Pickering
| light of the match enabled us TO judge,
it 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. ft."--------
"No," | said firmly. 1--WE must
do nothing until l have seen the de
tective. We have put the case in his
hands"
"But we must find out about II. "
protested the girl.
Tomorrow" / said. eve know
where 1t is. We know where the
voices and whispers come from now"
81 wonder" she said thoughtfully,
"if there is the same sort of a pas
sageway in our apartments"
promise me that if you find there
is one, you will not attempt to explore
it alone"
As we argued about it we both
stopped short and with blanching
faces listened. From somewhere-it
sounded as II 1t was right below US
we heard sounds as If two people were
struggling. Then came a woman's
shrek, a wild scream with the death
terror in it. The sound seemed close
at hand. 1t seemed to come right up
from the opening in the panel by which
we were standing.
Once more there came an awful
scream-a scream stopped of short as
If some brutal hand had throttled the
woman's throat.
"What is it?" cried Barbara.
Listen" l commanded. ut 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 If body had fallen TO the floor.
Then all was silence.
with terror in our faces we turned
to each other, seeking an explanation
which neither could give.
"Nother-Claire !" cried Barbara.
They'll be alarmed. / must go back
TO them at once"