Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-12-16
CHAPTER III.
Within the Factory Walls.

one foot uplifted, a hand pressed
against the wall, unable to move.
There was nothing could do to avert
discovery, no place in which / could
crouch in hiding. The newcomer moved
swiftly, knowing his way through the
darkness, and 1 had scarcely oppor-
tunity to even glance backward when
he rounded the corner and bumped IN
to me.
"What the hill !" he exclaimed,
startled at the encounter. "Why, d-n
1t, Charlett, what are you slouching
here for? You're Charlett, amt you?"
Eyes" muttered, the assent actually
frightened out of me; then added
lamely, II couldn't remember the sig
nal"
The fellow laughed softly, releasing
his grip on my coat.
"If you attended more meetings
you'd be letter perfect" he said, his
English without an accent. "Where
have you been the last month-out Of
town.
SIN Washington" / ventured, pray
ing the swift answer might suffice.
"Oh, l see" more heartily $50 you
were the one Alva sent7 Did the wom-
an come back with you"
The woman! Who could he mean
but the same girl who had been wait
ing in the saloon7 1 had ventured al
ready too far to draw back; l must
take yet another chance, an answer
xyff hot
risky. She Is here, though"
"Good enough. That means money.
Let's go in
He pushed past, and I followed, to-
tally unable to determine In my own
mind what to do. The fellow in the
darkness evidently mistook me for
some one Of the gang. His confidence
in my identity as Charlett might win
me entrance-but what then? That
was not Charlett would certainly be re-
vealed by the first CLEAN of light, and
l would be helpless. l was alone, un-
armed, and these fellows, beyond ques-
ton, were engaged in a desperate
game. l am sure I should never have
ventured it had not my companion
suddenly turned and grasped my
sleeve.
"You saw Mendez, Of courseT'
Sure"
"And he vouched for her; he says she
is all right?"
"He chose her; that ought to be
enough"
"H-ll, / suppose so, but even Men
dez has made mistakes. Here's the
door"
He raped lightly, his fingers still
gripping my sleeve in grasp Of friend
ship could have broken away, and
ran for it, but something mysterious
+ held me, some odd fascination of dan
ger. / saw nothing, heard nothing, yet
! had an instructive feeling that mar
row wicket had opened in the door,
through which our dim outlines were
being scrutinized. l held my breath
expectantly.
"Who is there?" the voice was a
mere whisper, so close as to startle me.
"Gaspar Wine" was the answer, In
the same low tone, "168."
"What word?"
"Cervantes."
But there are two Of you"
ooh, this is one 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 one at
time. l felt Wine press past me, and
was aware 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 dim
ray Of light broke In upon US from
revealed passage beyond. 1t was so
faint as to scarcely render features Wis
ible, and, as my coat collar was still
upturned, I pressed forward close be-
hind Wine without discovery. l could
perceive something Of the fellow now.
a rather squat figure, concealed by
long. shapeless raincoat, wearing
closely trimmed beard, and horn spec
tacles. His features were clearly for
eign, yet failed to bespeak the fighting
type. / placed him as q theorist,
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 l 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 I 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
J been constructed for the very purpose