Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-25

|
painted steel door in one Of the walls.
He pressed 1t gently. but it did not
yield. He made u further eXamina-
ton, but there was no keyhole visible.
"This Is either worked by a hid
den spring or 1t does not work at
ALI" he said In n low voice.
IF 1t Is a spring." said Ella, II will
find it,"
His sensitive hands went UP and
down the surface of the door and
presently they stopped.
"There is something which is little
larger than a pin hole" he said. He
took from his pocket n general utility
knife and slipped out thin steel
needle. Pipe cleaners may be very
useful" no said, and pressed the long
slender bodlxin into the aperture. In
stantly, and without sound, the door
opened
T. b. was the first to go In. re-
volver In hand. He found himself in
room which, even If it We're Il pris-
on, was a well-disguised prison. The
walls were hung with costly tapestry.
the carpet under foot was thick and
velvety and the furniture which gar
nished the room was Of a most costly
and luxurious description.
LADY Constance!" gasped T. b. in
surprise.
| A woman who was sitting In n
chair near the reading lamp rose
quickly and turned her startled gaze
to the detective.
| oh 90
| wards him. ooh, thank God you
have come!"
She grasped him by his two arms;
she was half hysterical in that mo-
ment OF her release. and was babbling
an incoherent string Of words: a de-
scription of her capture--her fear
her gratitude--all in an inextricably
confused rush Of half completed
phrases.
"Sit down. Lady Constance" said
T. 3. gently; collect yourself and tr.,s
vo?"
"Poltavo?" she said. startled into
conference. mo, Is he here?"
HE is somewhere here" said T. b.
IT am seeking for him now. VIII you
stay here or will you come with us?"
IT would rather come with you,"
she said with n shiver.
They passed thru the door together.
do all these doors open upon
rooms similar to this?" asked T. b.
II believe there are a number Of
underground cells" she answered In a
whisper, but the principal one Is that
which is near" She pointed to "a
red painted door some twenty PAGES
away from the one from which they
were emerging. There was another
pause whilst Ella repeated his exam
nation OF the door.
Apparently they all worked on the
pick system. n method which medi-
eval conspirators favored. and which
the italian workmen probably I'M
ported from the land of their birth;
land which has given the world the
Borgias and the Medicis and the Wis
cont.
stay here" said T. B. in low
voice, and Lady Constance shrank
back against the wall.
Ella pressed In his little needle and
again the result was satisfactory.
The door opened slowly and T. B.
stepped in.
| He stood for moment trying to
understnd all that the terrible scene
signified. The limp body on the floor;
the two remorseless men standing
close by: Harrington with folded arms
and his oyo glowering down upon the
dead man at his feet. Fall at the
switchboard.
Then T. BIS revolver rose swiftly.
HANDS up!" he said.
! The words were hardly out OF his
mouth when the room was plunged
in darkness, his companion was flung
violently backward as the electrical
control came into operation and the
door was slammed in Elias face. He
pressed 1t without avail. He brought
to his aid the little needle but this
time the lock would not move.
Elias face went chalk white.
my God!" he gasped, they've got
T. b."
| He stood for a moment in inde-
cision. lie had visualized the scene
I and knew what fate would befall his
chief.
Rack to the gallery" he said
wonan's arm in support. He found
his way without difficulty to the lift,
sprang into It, after Lady Constance,
and pressed the button. >. Now they
were speeding along the sparkling rail
now they were in the lift rising
swiftly to the room in Moor Cot
tage. T, B.'s car was outside.
"You had better come with me-
said Ella quickly,
Lady Constance jumped into the
car after him.
ITO the Secret House." said Ella to
the chauffeur, and as the car drove
forward he turned to the woman at
his SIDE,
II will put you amongst your
friends in a few moments" he said;
'at present dare not risk the loss Of
a second"
"But what will they doW
II pretty well know what they will
do" said Ella grimly. harrington is
playing his last hand, and T. B.
Smith is to be his last victim"
In the darkness of the underground
chamber T. B. faced his enemies,
striving to pierce the gloom, his fin
ger in position upon the delicate trig-
ger Of his automatic pistol.
DO not move," he said softly. II
will shoot without any hesitation
There is no need to shoot" said
the suave voice of the doctor; 1.-The