The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-07-01
BY Randall
Parrish
Author of
~The Strange Case
of Cavendish"
Copyright By Randall Parrish
copyright By Randall Parrish

tally unable 10 determine In my own
mind what 10 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 ehtrnnce-but what then? That ]
was not Charlett would certainly be re-
vealed ny the first CLEAN of light, and
| would be helpless. l was alone, I'M
armed, and these fellows, beyond ques-
ton, were engaged In a desperate
game. I am sure I should never have
ventured II had not my companion
suddenly turned and grasped my
sleeve.
"You saw Mendez, of course?"
Sure"
"And he vouched for her; he says she
Is all right?"
"IIe chose her; that ought to be
enough"
It'll, l suppose so, but even Men.
deg 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 1t, but something mysterious
held me, some odd fascination of dan
ger. I 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 serutinized. held my breath
expectantly.
"Wfo is there?" the voice was
mere whisper, so close as to startle me.
"Gaspar Wine" was the answer, In
the same low tone. "163."
"What word?" -
"Cervantes."
"But there are two of you"
"Oh, this is one of us. It's all right,
Juan; I'll vouch for him."
The fellow inside grumbled some
thing in indistinguishable Spanish. hut
opened the door silently, just far
enough for us to slip through one at
time. 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 a
revealed passage beyond. 1t was so
faint asto scarcely render features WIS.,
| ible, and as my coat collar was still
upturned, l pressed forward close be-
hind Wine without discovery. could
| perceive something of the fellow now,
a rather squat figure, concealed by a
long. apeless raincoat, wearing a
closely trimmed beard, and horn spec
tacles. His features We're clearly for
eign, yet failed to bespeak the fighting
| type. l placed him as theorist, a
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.
l dare not go on into the presence Of
others, where discovery that was not
Charlett would be immediate. At any
cost l must avoid such exposure
how? The place in which we were
gave noe little inspiration. II was a
low passage-way, inclosed by rough
board walls, Instantly driving home
upon me the impression that 1t had
been constructed for the very purpose
for which 1t was now being utilized
a secret entrance to prevent any CLEAN
of light from being seen without. This
precaution, coupled with the Tight,
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
me the clew, and only a reckless per.
sistency had opened a way before me-
Now my life was no longer my own; II
belonged &c my country. I must live
to expose these men. But how?
My heart failed me as stared about
at the bare walls, and forward tC
where heavy curtain draped the END
Of the passage. This widened as We
advanced, so as to form what evidently
had been designed as q cloakrOOm
Wine stopped and removed his coat
appropriating an unoccupied naN. ant
I followed his example, rejoicing to OBJ
serve that he still remained so conf
; dent Of my identity as to not enc
glance around in my direction. yh,
fellow seemed o'sessed with some spe
cial desire, for lie swept his eyes owe
the swinging garments, and exclaimed
"Not half Of them here yet VISA
: word with Alva before the shov
opens, Charlett. so you better go RICH
on In. See you later"