The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-06-02
The Mystery Of
theSillverDagge
BY Randall
Parrish
Author Of
sThe Strange Case
Of Cavendish"
0onyriRhk BY Randall Pnrriah
Copyright, BY Randall Parrish

had DIN Instructive feeling that q
row wicket had opened in the door,
through which our dim outlines were
being scrutinized. I held my breath
expectantly.
VINO is theref" the voice was a
mere whisper, SO close as to startle me.
"Gaspar Wine,' was the answer, in
the same low tone, 1853"
what wordg'
Ceramics" # p
"But there are two of YOU"
"Oh, this Is n Of us. It's all right.
Juan; I'll vouch for him."
The fellow inside grumbled some
thing in indistinguishable Spanish. but
opened the door silently. just far
enough for us to slip through n at a
time. ! felt Wine press past me, and
was a that the guard closed and
barred the door, but could see nothing;
not even my own hand before my eyes.
"A latch clicked softly, and a dim
ray Of light broke in upon us from a
revealed passage. beyond. 1t was SO
faint as to scarcely render features Wis
fble, and, as my coat collar was still
upturned, ! pressed forward close be-
hind Wine without discovery. l could
perceive something of the fellow now,
a rather squat figure, concealed by a
long, shapeless r%aincoat, wearing q
closely trimmed beard, and horn spec
tacles. His features were clearly for
eign. yet failed to bespeak the fighting
type. l placed him as a theOrfst, q
professor, perhaps, in some small COL
lege.
But my thoughts were not SO occu-
pied with my guide as with the prob.
lem Of how / was to escape from him.
l dare not go on into the presence OF
others, where discovery that l was not
| Charlett would be immediate. At any
cost I must avoid such exposure-but
how? The place in which we were
gave me little inspiration. 1t was a
low passage-way, inclosed by rough
board walls, instantly driving home
upon me the impression that it had
been constructed for the very purpose
for which it was now being utilized
a secret entrance to prevent any CLEAN
of light from being seen without. This
precautiOn, coupled with the tightly
boarded passage, left the whole build
ing apparently deserted and desolate,
to any chance watcher without. This
was evidently no common, vulgar band
Of schemers, but men with a definite
purpose in view, which they were en-
gagged in carrying out with true secret
efficiency. They were plotting revolu'
ton. Only a strange chance had given
me the clew, and only q reckless per
sistency had opened a way before me
Now my life was no longer my own !; II
belonged to my country. / must live
to expose these men. But how2
My heart failed me as / stared about
st the bare walls, and forward tc
where a heavy curtain draped the END
Of the passage. This widened as We
advanced, so as to form what evidently
had been designed as a cloakroom
Wine stopped and removed his coat
appropriating an u~noccupied nail, and
I followed his example, rejoicing to OBJ
serve that he still remained so conf
dent of my identity as to not once
glance around in my direction. The
fellow seemed obsessed with some spe
cial desire, for he swept his eyes ovel
the swinging garments, and exclaimed
mot half Of them here yet. I want
q word with Alva before the show
opens, Charlett, so you better go righ1
on In. See you later" n