South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-15

7
ven with amazement
The girl never climbed that lad |
Ger OF her own free will. said Daddy I
NLOrimer.
started I'D the vertical ladder. |
Bob pulled me back.
Jane. dear" he rem onstrated. |
stay here with Dad and Kath |
Come on, Spence"
But Spence had mounted dozen
rungs while Bob was talking 90 me. |
waited until Bob had followed him
10 the level OF the floor above then
turned 20 Katherine with.
MP"
Daddy Lorlmer had been lame Tor
months. But he protested:
can make it,
He supposed that there was but
the height o. the basement TO as
cend, but I explained that the shaft
had no opening except into tho floor
OF closet ia the second story OF
Certeis' house. Daddy gave UP the
Idea with groan Of Impotence.
Why are you going o" demand
ed Katherine
Because I know the plan Of the
rooms up there" ] called down 20
her. Then 20 Spence who was near
ing the top: "YouIl bump your
head. II you 90 too fast"
II did"
Push upward. hard. It's trap
door. Step out-youu find yourself
IN a closet-very dark-a bulb
hangs from the ceiling; pull the.
chain"
BY the time I had finished speak
ing. a square OF light cleaned above
my head I made the rest Of the
strenuous climb I'm silence. Bob
reached down a helping hand and
pulled me out OF the shaft
We three stood in the closet where
months before I had hidden through
3 long. hot night. in the uncomfort-
able folds OF a diving suit
Bob turned the knob OF the closet
door. I placed a warning finger on
his arm.
GO slow! Don't walk into a
, 1rap."
Cautiously. slowly. he pushed the
door open.
We had been wandering i'm the
cellars for more than an hour. and
81 was already dusk when we had
fled through the panel IN the alley
wall. Blackness engulfed the cor
ners Of the great room we We're
about 10 enter. bur rays from the
\ small closet light showed me that
she wonderful Chinese rugs were
III stretched on the floor.
And on the. table by the bed was
Kthe oval silver frame which once
4 NIB
given Certeis before Bob and ] were
engaged. The frame was empty.
WomanHke, even in that time or
y suspense. I couldn't help wondering
whether or not Certeis had destroy
ed my picture.
We Crept like burglars across the
splendid chamber and into the great
hall The cIoseness of the place was
n sitting. We dared not turn on the
4 lights. Spence produced the flash
he had brought with him. We eX-
pIored several Of the luxurious
rooms and were surprised because
neither guard. caretaker nor mousse
keeper stopped us.
The place was as still as a burial
j vault. AT last we entered the eN-
ouisite suite which once had been
my Owr.
The first circle OF the flash in
Spence-s hand revealed Chrystooel
Iorimer bound hand and foot. and
stretched upon the bed. And she
was "a eyed! Her great eyes stared
Nus
Nv heart stopped beating
Jordan Spence handed the flash
me and rushed 20 Chrys' side.
"She is not dead," he cried an
bo chaffed her hands while Bob cut
tbe strips Of pillow casing which TIED
his sister.
Chrys sat up. tried to talk. made
helpless gestures.
She was dumb.
Boo and I perceived immediately
4 whct had happened. One before
Chrvs had fallen into that Qucc
! etate. and had remained I'm it To-
}weeks. D., -,
planned: -
been terribly frightened.
Cbrvs nodded, then by gesture
,ada n clear that we must get on
- the place as soon as possible
Taob thrust a pencil and notehoo'
&C. her hands-but she flung then
SIMON the bed. I understood.
..ET,irry-hurry! That's what SIN
s-s1ts," I explained. And led th
T. hack 10 the ladder under tn
Arap door in the closet
At the foot or the ladder Rather
t,,a and Daddy Lorimer awaited us.
paddy had improved even a YER
81 hour. He and Katherine ha
ferreted out the genuine "Moet
T-hsndon." 1t was worth us weigh
a. voId Daddy's pockets were cram
j., med with bottles. Katherine ma
tea half a dozen I'm her motor Nel
-. end was carrying them as tenderi
n "a one would carry a child
A. SIGHT OF Chrys. SAFE and soun'
Daasv Knocked of the head Of on
OF the precious bottles thrys dash
n IL 20 the ground and pushed ne
,sther before her toward the er
lance 10 the cellars
.1gurryp' I said. for her.
We moved cautiously back 20 tf
slcove below the fountain. Noooo
,,ssAed 20 warn another 90 be quie
W. all realized that a danger meI
- Rced Us
ITovw C,brvs had reached the upp'
.too- OF the old house we could n
s--,egine. and she could not tel
eomebody had bound her and tn.
a Derson could imprison US all ln VI
~ .aaze OF cellars
led the way through me ian.