Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-06-30
Continued from last week.


Continued from last week.
But my thoughts were not so occu-
pied with my guide as with the prob
lem of how was to escape from him.
dare not go on into the presence of
others, where discovery that | was not
Charlett would be immediate. AT any
cost must avoid such exposure-but
how? The place in which we were
gave me little inspiration. 1t was
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 strange chance had given
ne the clew. and only reckless per-
sistency had opened way before me.
Now my life was no longer my own; it
belonged to my country. must live
to expose these men. But how?
My heart failed me as l stared about
at the bare walls. and forward to
where heavy curtain draped the end
Of the passage. This wdened as we
advanced so as to form what evidently
aad been designed as a cloakroom.
Wine stopped and removed his coat.
ippropriating an unoccupied nail and
followed his example, rejoicing to OBJ
serve that he still remained so conf
lent Of my identity as to not once
glance around in my direction The
fellow seemed Obsessed with some spe-
,ial desire, for he swept his eyes over
The swinging garments, and exclaimed:
mot half of them here yet. want
word with Alva before the show
opens, Charlett. so you better go right
JH III. Otc you -idtcT.
He pressed something in the side
wall. sliding back panel, and disap-
oeared. the rough boards returning In
stantly into place. was left alone,
staring at the spot where he had dis
appeared. Beyond doubt the entrance
awaiting me lay straight ahead. con-
cealed by the hanging curtain. |
stepped cautiously forward, listening
for some guiding sound from beyond
that barrier. afraid to draw 1t aside
and take blind plunge into the I'M
known. could detect the murmur Of
voices, several of them speaking Span
ish. yet In such low tones could dis
tinguish Only an occasional empha-
sized word. There was no door be-
tween us: only that thick. hanging cur
tain. and ventured far enough to
draw this aside sufficient to peer
through with one eye. Beyond was a
reasonably large room, but so dimIy
lighted as to be scarcely visible from
end to end. could discern men pres
ent, number of them, Longing about
revealed, but the light was not suffi-
cient TO give me any impression of
their faces. II seemed quite possible
that ! might slip in unobserved, and
pass among them unrecognized except
through accident. But the risk Of dis
covery was too great. must find some
other point of entrance
The private doorway through which
Wine had disappeared gave me the
thought that there might also be 9th
ers. I dare not follow afts him, but
II there was another opening to be
found ! was perfectly willing TO ex-
plore into its mysteries. The search
was brief, yet the very nature of the
rough board wall made concealment
impossible. Behind the dangling coats
I uncovered what ! sought. and not
moment too soon. Even as my hand
touched the exposed latch. q murmur
OF voices In the outer entry reached
my ears-there were new arrivals be-
ing questioned. and admitted.
The panel slid back silently in its
grooves. and l peered through the re-
vealed opening into absolute darkness.
All could be sure Of. as exhibited by
the dim light of the passage, was a
single step downward, and then ap-
parently strip Of earth floor. | dare
not wait ard meet those entering;