Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-07-22
Copyright By Randall rHr1iah

| 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 Chariett would certainly be re-
vealed by the first CLEAN of light. and
| i would be helpless. / was alone, un-
armed. and these fellows. beyond ques-
ton, were engaged in desperate
| game. | am sure l should never have
| ventured H. had not my companion
suddenly turned and grasped my
sleeve
You saw Mendez, of coursef"
Sure"
"And he vouched for her; he says she
is all right?"
HE chose her; that ought to be
enough
I'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 II, 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. | held my breath
expectantly.
"Wno is there?" the voice wns
mere whisper, so close as to startle me.
| ha In
the same low tone, ''163."
what wordf"
"Cervantes."
But there are two of you
'Oh, this is one of us. It's all right,
Juan; I'll vouch for him"
The felloTy inside grumbed some
thing in indistinguishable Spanish, but
opened the door silently. just far
enough for us TO slip through one at a
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.
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, | pressed forward close be-
hind Wine without discovery / could
perceive something of the fellow now.
a rather squat figure. concealed by Il
long. 'apeless raincoat, wearing n
closely trimmed beard. and horn spec
tacles. His features were clearly for
eign, yet failed TO bespeak the fighting
type. | placed him as a 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 ] 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 ! 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 IL had
been 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 desolate.
to any chance watcher without. This
was evidently no common, vulgar band
of schemers. but men with definite
purpose In view, which they We're en-
gagged in carrying out with true secret
efficiency. They were plotting revoIu-
ton. Only strange chance had given
me the clew. and only reckless per-
slstency had opened 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 me as stared about
at the bare walls, and forward to
where Il heavy curtain draped the end
of the passage. This widened as we
advanced. so as to form what evidently
had been designed as a cloakroom.
Wine stopped and removed his coat
appropriating an unoccupied nail. and
I 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
fellow seemed obsessed with some spe-
cial desire, for he swept his eyes over
the swinging garments, and exclaimed :
Not half of them here yet | want
word with Alva before the show
opens. Charlett. so you better go right
on in. See you later"