The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-10-14
CHAPTER xl-continved.

Yet what house was this that she
should be heref How did II happen
that we were at the same placer Had
abe come voluntarily; or prisonerf
Had she been tricked into cOningf or
brought By forcei and was she held
here helpless 10 escaped / tried the
door softly-it was locked. This.
coupled with the fact that the key was
upon the outside. served 10 answer
the main question. However she
came. she was now being held a
prisoner. We must both be In the
same hands, In the interruptions
grasp Of this desperate gang Of Grim
linals, determined to gain from US AT
any cost the secret We were supposed
TO share. hesitated. but for only
moment, debating with myself the best
course to pursue. Should ! endeavor
10 escape from the house alone. and
then return to her rescue with helpf
or face the greater danger Of attempt
ing to take her with me? The former
move involved exposure Of her whole
connection with the affair, and ! was
afraid to take upon myself the re-
isponsibility. / knew not who she was.
or why she had become involved In
this mesh Of crime. ! feared Harris
knowledge, the evidence he might dis
close. and what his passion for revenge
might drive him to do, II he once
found his game decisively blocked 1t
would be better for me to tell her all
first and then act at her direction.
I reinserted the key In the lock
noiselessly. shot back the bolt and
opened the door, stepping quickly
within to instantly shut out the glare
accomplished In utter silence. but, as
the door latched behind me, she was
upon her feet. plainly startled by the
intrusion.
who are your What does this
meanf-why, Mr.. Severn"
yes" responded quickly. yet
making no effort to advance, you
have nothing to fear; only do not
speak loudly"
But please explain. IL am not
8lEdiu VI yOu, Va COuisS, oht No" 49,
you happen to be herer
Perhaps you will permit me to
ask a question first, which may sound
ridiculous enough-where am II"
"You do not know that event
can at least answer with certainty
her composure returning; "you are al
PAT lie Compile street"
"Waldron's house; that possibilit!
never occurred to me. Sounds strange
doesn't IT. But the truth il wa
brought here unconscious"
"You were attackedr
"Slugged In Costgan's saloon"
explained shortly. 1T took three {
them to do 1t, but they did goo
Job. That must have been aboy
midnight. What time Is 1t nowr
ut Is after four; who are theyf"
Harris, Waldron and Costigan-
some combination"
"But why should they slug 20
Mr.. Severn
simply because Of my connecti'
with the mysterious Miss Gessler."
explained. "Harris had chosen to ass
ciate us together, believing We knG
who murdered and robbed Alva, Al
where the spells are hidden. Tn
endeavored first to put me through
third degree. and when refused
squeal-as you know simply because
possessed no knowledge to commu
cate-they resorted to force. and HI
4 am"
Her eyes, wide open, question:
were upon my face.
'"They-they asked you about n
why should they suppose you KIN
anythingr'
Largely because we were togetl
ut Perond's. I presume. Har
claims to know you-who you are.
that truef"
ut may be-" she admitted. "Wl
has happened tonight almost convin
me. came here willingly. only to (
myself a prisoner. Sarah VALID
talephoned me that she was Ill. {
needed me. have known her e
since was a girl; we were from
same town, so really thought moth
unusual Of her call. have seen
one here since came-no men
mean-and did not remove my clotl
In anticipation Of being called"
"She claimed to be here aloner'
There are roomers on the q
below, but I met none"
"But found your door locked,
insisted.
'That Is very strange ! he
nothing. Perhaps II you will exp
what they asked you, we may come
some understanding Of what this
means. Does Harris accuse me Of
robbery
Eyes and Of the murder. The ,
he tells II the thing does sound rat
ugly" confessed regretfully.
believing the time had arrived
plain speech between az. AT Leaf
was in NO position to eontravert
ranimn"