The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-29

I""-i N'tG III! Suiue as WIN the pfOD-
len cr bow I was to escape from him.
] dare nni 70 on into the presence of
others. where discovery that was not
Charle,l would be Immediate. At any
cost must avoid such exposure-but
how? The place In which we were
gave me little inspiration. l, was
low passnge-N ay. inclosed by rough
hoard walls. instantly driving home
upon me the Impression that It had
heen constructed for the very purpose
FOR which II 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 Lesola!c,
to any chance watcher without. THIS
was evidently no common, vulgar bant
Of schemers, but men with definite
purpose In view. which they were en-
vaged In carrying out with true secret
efficiency. They were plotting IevOlu-
tion. Only 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; 1t
belonged to my country. I must live
to expose these men. But how?
My heart failed the as l stared about
at the bare walls, and forward to
wferc henvy curtain draped the end
Of the passage. This widened as we
advanced. 40 as to form what evidently
had been designed AZ q cloakroum.
Wine stopped and removed his coat,
aprrop"iat.Rg an unoccupied NALL and
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
f"i'ow seemed obsessed with some spe-
cial desire. for he swept his eyes over
the swinging garments. and exclaimed !:
Not half Of them here yet l want
word with Alva before the show
opens. Chnrlett. so you better go right
on In. See you later"
He pressed something In the side.
wall. sliding back a panel. and oisap-
peared the rough boards returning IN.
sfantly' into place. I was left alone,
staring at the spot where he had dis.
appeared. Beyond doubt the entrance
awaiting me lay straight ahead. con.
ceaIed Dy the hanging curtain. I
stepped cautiously forward, listening
for some guiding sound from beyond
that barrier, afraid to draw II aside
and take blind plunge into the nm
known. ] could detect the murmur OF
voices, several Of them speaking Span.
ish, yat In such low tones I could dis.
tingnish Only an occasional empha.
sized word. There was no door he
tween us: only that thick. hanging our
tain. and ! ventured far enough to
dras this aside sufficient to peer
through with one eye. Beyond was a
reasonably large room, but so diin.y
lighted as to be scarcely visible from
end to end. l could discern men pyes-
ent. number Of them, lOunging about
on chairs. their outlines being fairly
revealed. but the light was not sufti-
cient to give me any impression of
their faces. 1t seemed quite possible
that I might slip In unobseryed. and
pass among them unrecognized except
through accident. But the risk Of dis.
covery was too great. I 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. ! dare not follow after him, but
II there was another opening to he
found was perfectly willing to ex-
plore into its mysteries. The search
was brief. vet the very nature Of the
rough board wall made concealment
Impossible. Behind the dangling coats
I uucov- ed what I sought. and not a
I moment too soon. Even as my hand
touched the exposed latch. q murmur
or voices In the outer entry reached
my ears-there were new arrivals be-
/ ing questioned. and admitted.
The panel slid back silently In it's
| grooves. and I peered through the re-
veaied opening into absolute darkness
All could be sure of, as exhibited by
I the dim light Of the passage. was a
/ single step downward, and then ap-
parently q strip Of earth floor. | dare
not wait and meet those entering !;
there was but one choice Of action.
pressed through the orifice, forced the
panel back into place, and stood erect
In the intense darkness and silence
listening for the slightest sound.
| ] was still mOtiOnless. my heart
beating fiercely. when several men en-.
tered the passage I had just left
Pressing my ear against the thin crack
/ ] distinguished words so as to piece
! together scraps Of conversation. II
seemed 70 me there were three voices
| -One speaking Spanish entirely. the
+; others using English. One Of the lat.