The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-17
No l1s

No. l16
 For the space of possibly thirty seconds Banin hesitated on the brink of that dark hole which gave down into the mys- terious cellar. His feelings were more in- tense than were those of his companions. He had already experienced one adven- ture with the underground room when he had hung suspended above those nov ing belts and he realized better than did the others the vicious character of the mind against which they were fight ing. If the woman whom he had seen leap itno the blue chest was indeed his sister Jane, Ballin did not doubt for a moment that she would go to the last limit to wreck his life if it lay within her power to do so. Already possessed with the idea that he had been doing his best to bring her to justice for the crimes she had committed, he had little hope of con- vincing her now that he had been an innocent bystander in the matter of the counterfeiter' plates that he had found in the bedroom of his home
 All right he said at last, putting one foot downward in the dark, here goes" Wait, Haggerty exclaimed in a whis- per Just minute. I'll close this door from the storeroom, and that will cut out any light shining through the trap door. At present we are making fine mark for anyont who happens to be down there"
 l As he spoke he moved quickly to the , door and closed it noiselessly. They 1 found themselves in darkness relieved | only by the faint light that came in through the door, giving out to the street. 1 Haven't you got flash lamp?' Bal lin asked. turning to Haggerty, as he | rejoined the others.
 Yes" the detective answered, and reaching in his pocket he produced a small flash light that he passed into Bal | lins hand. i've got another for myself, he said Now don't light that thing un- less you have to. Remember that 1t makes a fine mark for someone to shoot at the light Understand?' ! Judge Crane smiled grimly In the dark ness, and felt his way down the stairs after Ballin.
 The damp, musty smell of cellar | greeted their nostrils as they left the steps and found themselves standing on the dirt floor. There was another odor' stronger than the others, that caught at | their threats, and 1t was all Ballln could | do to keep from coughing.
 | Reaching out he found Judge Cranes arm and drew him closer Gas, he whispered, with his lips against the other mans ear Do you smell it2"
 "Yes?" the judge answered. Be care ful of that well Red Larkin spoke Of. If you make a misstep and go down into lit, we'll never be able to get you up lagain You realize that don't your? 1 'I do" Balin returned, and added, this Iconfounded darkness has me all turned around. Which way did those belts runT'
 That's a fact" the judge unused.
 With start Ballin felt hand rest on his shoulder, and he wheeled, ready upon the instant with his light and the gun.
 "Its me-" Haggertys voice said. "Be careful."
 oh" Ballin sighed in relief. "Whicf way did those belts run, Haggerty. We've got to be mighty careful not to go dowr the well. "Never mind those" Hagserty returned What we want to do is to get Into tn
 corner of this place and then turn ou
 lights on. I'm going to follow tha along to my left. You go in the opposite
 direction, MT. Bailin, which ought t
 bring you up in the corner opposite t' where I'll be. Judge. suppose you guarc these stairs. It's the post of danger, bu lup young fellows can slip around easier good Lord What's that?"
 As he spoke Haggerty reached out be hind him apd threw his arm around woman who had touched him In the