Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-12-16
SYNOPSIS.

Sular agent, nOllceS small pOA WHICH
attracts him. He purchases it. Later he
discovers in a secret compartment writ
ing giving clew to a revolutionary move
ment in this country seeking to over
throw the Chilean government. The writ
ing mentions a rendezvous, and Severn
decides to investigate.
CHAPTER II.-Finding the place men
toned in the writing apparently deserted
Severn visits a saloon in the vicinity
woman in the place Is met by a man,
seemingly by appointment, and Severn,
his suspicious aroused, follows them
They go to the designated meeting place,
an abandoned iron foundry.
CHAPTER III.-At the rendezvous Sc
vern is accepted as one of the conspira-
tors and admitted. He meets a stranger
who appears to recognize him.
Dare l go on alone, unarmed as l
was, knowing nothing Of what might
encounter? I hesitated, my heart
beating like trip-hammer, yet, after
all the danger seemed more of the i'm
agination than reality. Besides, was
still young, and venturesome the stu
alton appealed to me, and-well the
memory Of that girls face remained
strangely insistent. Odd as 1t may
seem, her predicament yielded me
reckless desire to have an immediate
hand in the game.
I found two imprints Of her narrow
shoe In the mud after the turn had
been made, then all trace vanished.
Co. or.1 t. oil
keeping as closely as possible to the
high board fence at the left. The way
was rough underfoot, and my progress
consequently slow, being anxious to
make as little noise as possible. The
passage was so black, lost all knowl-
edge as to how far had gone, and was
only aroused to my position by finally
coming up against a pile of lumber
which completely blocked the further
end Of the alley. l recalled dimly that
the passage swerved here, running
along the side Of the Alva factory, IN
til 1t reached Cans street. Then the
place l sought was to my left, behind
the protection Of this high fence, along
which had been so cautiously feeling
my way.
The silence was profound, Stupefy-
ing, uncanny. Against the lighter lead
of the upper sky / was barely able to
trace the upper story Of the building,
but IT was all black, a gloomy, desert
ed hole. Any faith / might have had
that the two / had attempted to follow
had come there vanished as strained
my eyes for some gleam of light, or
any other sign to denote their presence
within. l still believed they had
turned down the alley, but this was not
= their goal; beyond doubt they had en-
tered some gate along the way, and
thus escaped me entirely.
l hardly know what impelled me to
grope my way back along the fence
blindly feeling for a gate. Curiosity,
no doubt, and a lingering desire to
make certain Of what was inside the
barrier The entrance was easily
found, a mere wooden door, held by an
iron clasp, which opened instantly to
my touch. / stepped inside, closing 1t
quietly behind me, and stared uneasily
about through the enshrouding black
ness.
My eyes, grown accustomed to the
gloom, made out dim outlines, encour-
aging further exploration. Discover
ing ample space, and what felt to my
feet like a walk, turned the corner in
search. At that moment the gate latch
clicked sharply, and l sank down into
the black ground shadow, every nerve
tingling with alarm. The gate oper-
ated almost noiselessly, yet my strain
ed ears could detect its stealthy move
ment, and hear the crunch Of a heavy
footstep on the cinder path within.
The fellow evidently knew his way
even in that darkness, for there was no
hesitancy in his movements, no uncer-
tainty. He faded away along the rear
wall, and became aware that he had
turned about the further corner. That
would naturally mean there was a
door there. had evidently been
searching the wrong side.
Assured the man had vanished, and
that he sought entrance to the build
ing through some passage well known
to him, crept forth along the end
wall, crouched low in the shadow,
using every precaution against dis
covery. All that was venturesome In
me held high carnival and nothing of
danger now could have held me back
reached the corner around which the
fellow had disappeared, but, in the in
tense blackness, could perceive no
movement beyond, no sign Of any pres
ence. / listened eagerly, scarcely ven-
turing to breathe, and in another mo-
ment was rewarded by hearing the gen
tie tap Of knuckles on wood few feet
away; there could be no doubt Of the
number-two raps, pause, three
raps; the very signal mentioned in the
letter. waited, still breathless, un.
certain what had occurred, yet con-
vinced the man ahead had been given
entrance.