Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-26

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1t was not toward the Secret House
that he directed his steps; he made
a detour thru q little plantation to
the power house.
A man stood at the door, a grimy
faced foreign workman who Scowled
at the intruders. He tried to pull the
| sliding doors to their place, but Ella
caught the blue coated man under
the jaw and sent him sprawling into
the interior.
In an instant the detective was in
side. confronting more scowlins
workmen. a tail. good-looking man
of middle age, evidently a decent ar
| tisan. was in control, and he came
forward. a spanner in his hand, tc
repel the intruders.
But the pistol Ella carried was elo-
quent of his earnestneSs.
Stand back" he said. Are you
| in charger
The detective spoke Italian fluent
| ly.
What does this mean. signor?'
| asked the foreman.
1T means that l give, YOU three
minutes to stop the dynamo"
| But that is impossible" said the
other. II can not stop the dynamo
| it is against all orders"
"Stop that dynamo" Kissed Ella be.
| tween his teeth. "Stop it at ONCE OF
you are dead man.
The man hesitated, then walked tc
| the great switchboard, brilliant with
a score of lights
II will not do it, he said sullsily
1 There is the signal; give 1t yourself.
A little red lamp suddenly giowee
| on the marble switchboard.
What is that?" asked Ella.
| That is the signal from the lower
rooms" said the man sullenly; "they
want more power
| Ella turned on the man with snarl
raised, his pistol and there was Inur.
der in his eye,
Mercy" gasped the Italian, ant
putting out his hand he grasped 6
| long red switch marked Danger ant
pulled IL over. Instantly all the lights
| in the power house went dim. and the
great whirling wheels slowed dowr
and stopped. Only the light OF da!
Illuminated the power house. Ella
standing on the controlling platform
wiped his perspiring face with the
back of hand which was shaking
as tho with ague.
II wonder If I was in time" he
muttered.
The big machinery hall was now
alive with detectives.
take charge of every man." Ella
ordered: "see that nobody touches
any of these switches. Arrest stokers
and keep them apart. Now you," he
said, addressing the foreman in tia
liam, you seem decent fellow and
am going to give you a chance OF
earning not only your freedom, but g
! substantial reward. l am a police
officer and l have come to make ar
inspection of this house. You spoke
OF the lowetsrooms-do you know the
/ way there?''
The man hesitated.
"The lift can not work. signor." he
said, with shrug of his shoulders
now that the electric current Is
stopped.
rs there no other wayY'
| Again the man hesitated.
| There are the stairs, isignor," hi
stammered after8a while, then con-
tinued rapidly: eff this is a crime
AMI Signor Moole is an anarchist
know nothing of it, swear to yo,
by the Virgin. l am an honest mar
from Padua, and have no knowledge
Of such things as your Excellenc,
speaks about"
Ella nodded,
II am willing to believe that" hi
said in a milder tone. Now m,
friend you shall undo great deal O.
mischief that has been done by show.
ing me the way to the underground
rooms"
Il am at your service" said tn,
man helplessly. II call all 'rnen t
witness that have done my best t.
carry out the instructions which thu
!, padrone has given me-
| He led the way out of the power
house thru door which led to {
large stretch of private garden behind
the main building, across a we'll
. kept lawn to an area basement
which ran the whole length of tn,
4 house.
In this, at the far end, was door
and the man opened it with a key up
on a bunch which he took from hi
pocket. They had to pass thru twt
more doors before they came to tn,
! spiral staircase which led down int
the gloomy depths beneath the Sc
i cret House.
To Elias surprise they were illu
minated and he feared that agains
his orders the. dynamo had been re
/ started, but the man treasured him.
''They are from the storage bat
teries." he said. There is sllfficien
to afford light all over the house
but rot enough to give power" ~
The steps seemed never ending