The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-06-10
The Mystery Of
the ilverDagge
BY Randall
Parrish
Author Of
"The Strange Case
Of CavendiSh"

tally unable to determine in my own
mind what to do. The fellow in the
darkness evidently mistook me for
some II of the gang. His confidence
In my identity as Charlert might win
me entrance-but what then? That I
was not Charlett would certainly be re-
vealed by the first CLEAN of light, and
l would be helpless. / was alone. I'M
armed, and these fellows, beyond ques-
ton, were engaged In q desperate
game. l am sure l should never have
ventured it 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?"
HE chose her; that ought to be
enough"
Hi, l suppose so, but ever Men,
dez has made mistakes. Here's the
door,
He raped lightly, his fingers still
gripping my sleeve in a grasp of friend
ship. l could have broken away, and
ran for it, but something mysterious
held me. some odd fascination of dan
ger. l saw nothing, heard nothing, yet
had an instructive feeling that a mar
row wicket had opened in the door.
through which our dim outlines were
being scrutinized. l held my breath,
expectantly.
"Wno is there?" the voice was A
mere whisper, so close as to startle me.
"Gaspar Wine." was the answer, in
the same low tone, 1853"
"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, but
opened the door silently, just far
enough for US to slip through n at q
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 a din
ray Of light broke in upon us from &
revealed passage beyond. 1t was 50
faint as to scarcely render features WIS.,
ible, and, as my coat collar was still
upturned, | pressed forward close be
hind Wine without discovery. l 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 were clearly for
eign, yet failed to bespeak the fighting
type. l 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 l was to escape from him.
l dare not go on into the presence of
others, where discovery that l was not
Charlett would be immediate. At any
cost l must avoid such exposure-but
how? The place in which we were
gave me little inspiration. 1t was q
low passage-way. inclosed by rough
board walls, instantly driving home
upon me the impression that it 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
p~recaution, coupled with the tightly
boarded passage. left the whole build
ing apparently deserted and des0late.
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 reyolu-
ton. Only a strange chance had given
me the clew. and only q reckless per.
sistency had opened a way before me.
Now my life was no longer my own II
belonged to my country. must live
to expose these But how?
My fieaSt failed me as | stared about
at the bare walls. and forward to
where a heavy curtain draped the end
Of the passage. This widened as w.
advanced, so as to form what evidently
had been designed as a cloakroom.
Wine stopped and removed his coat.
appropriattng an ~unoccupied nail. and
l 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:
mot half Of them here yet. l want
q word with Alva before the show
opens. Charlett. 30 you better 60 right
or In. See you later"