The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-06-17
CHAPTER IlI-Continued.

lie pressed something In the side
wall, sliding back a panel, and disap-
peared, the rough boards returning in
stantly into place. l 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 it aside
and take a blind plunge into the un-
known. l could detect the murmur of
voices, several of them speaking Span
ish, yet in such low tones l could dis
tinguish Only an occasional empha-
sized word. There was no door be-
tween us only that thick, hanging cur
tain, and I ventured far enough to
draw this aside sufficient to peer
through with Il eye. Beyond was a
reasonably large room, but so dimly
lighted as to be scarcely visible from
end to end. l could discern men pres
ent, a number Of them, lOuhging about
on chairs. their outlines Being fairly
revealed, but the light was not suffi-
cient to give me any impression of
their faces. 1t seemed quite possible
that l might slip in unObserved, and
pass among them un%recOgnized except
through accident. But the risk OF dis
cover was O. great. l must find some
other point Of entrance.
The private doorway through which
Wine haa disappeared gave me the
thought that there might also be 9TH
ers. l dare not follow after hir, but
If there vas another opening to be
found | was perfectly willing to e
plore into It's mysteries, The search
was brief, yet the very nature of the
rough board wall marie concealment
impossible. Behind the dangling coats
I uncovered what l sought, and not a
moment too Even as my hand
touched the exposed latch, a murmur
If 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 a strip of earth floor. l dare
not wait and meet those entering;
there was but one choice of action. I
pressed through the o%riice, 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-
Pressing my ear against the thin crack
! distinguished words so as to piece
together scraps Of conversation. It
seemed to me there were three voices
one speaking Spanish entirely, the
others using English. One Of the lat
ter spoke first,
"'Tis a dirt. night out, but good for
our purpose. You came by motor,
Alonzo?"
mo. Wine said that was o risky.
/ walked from the car line. What's
up? Do you know, Captain"
The fellow addressed exploded in
Spanish.
".Why you call me that? / tell you
my name!"
tits safe enough iE here. but Til be
careful outside. What was this meet
ing called fory"
ut was a message from Washing
ron, orders maybe, that WI act soon.
/ hope it," IA
From Washington? Is Mendez
here?'
"Saprista, no! Can he move with
out a dozen spies at his heels? He find
a messenger no one Eve suspect. She
bring the word"
.She? A womany's
"Sure! that was better. No ore
know her no one ever see her with
our people. It was a good trick, and
1t fool the pigs" 7
"But who is the woman"
The other uttered a grun exclama-
ton Of disgust.
If ! know, you suppose 1 tell Not