The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-06-16

easily, ana tnen, 20 my surprise, the
footprints turned abruptly to the left,
and disappeared entirely.
To all appearances the two had pro-
ceeded down the alley. Black, unin-
viting, as that gloomy passage ap-
peared, they must have turned into 1T
and CROPPED their way forward. Where?
For what purpose? I could think Of
but one Ohiect-the Alva iron factory,
the mysterious meeting place at S76
Cans street. Beyond all question this
alley would skirt along the back of
that building, and there would be an
entrance at the rear.
Dare l 90 on alone, unarmed as l
was, knowing nothing of what might
encounter? I hesitated, my heart
beating like a trip-hammer, yet, after
all the danger seemed more of the I'M
agination than reality. Besides. was
still young. and venturesome; the stu
alton appealed to me, and-well, the
memory of that girls face remained
strangely insistent. Odd as it may
seem, her predicament yielded me
reckless desire to have an immediate
hand in the game.
l found two imprints Of her narrow
shoe in the mud after the turn had
been made. then all trace vanished. I
crept forward, enveloped in gloom,
keeping as closely as possible to the
high board fence at the left. The way
was rough underfoot, and my progress
consequently slow, being anxious to
make as little noise as possible. The
passage was 50 black, I lost all kn0wl-
edge as to how far had gone, and was
only aroused to my position by finally
coming up against a pile Of lumber
which completely blocked the further
end Of the alley. recalled dimly that
the passage swerved here, running
along the side of the Alva factory, un-
til it reached Cans street. Then the
place I sought was to my left, behind
the protection Of this high fence, along
which I had been so cautiously feeling
my way.
The silence was profound, stupefy-
ing, uncanny. Against the lighter lead
Of the upper sky I was barely able to
trace the upper story of the building,
but it was all black, a gloomy, desert
ed hole. Any faith I might have had
that the two I had attempted to follow
had come there vanished as I strained
my eyes for some gleam Of light, or
any other sign to denote their presence
within. I still believed they had
turned down the alley, but this was not
their goal; beyond doubt they had en-
tered some gate along the way, and
thus escaped me entirely.
I hardly know what impelled me to
grope my way back along the fence,
blindly feeling for a. gate. Curiosity,
no doubt, and a lingering desire to
make certain of what was inside the
barrier. The entrance was easily
found, a mere wooden door, held by an
iron clasp, which opened instantly to
my touch. I stepped inside, closing it
quietly behind me, and stared uneasily
about through the enshrouding black
ness.
My eyes, grown accustomed to the
gloom, made out dim outlines, encour-
aging further exploration. Discover
ing ample space, and what felt to my
feet like a walk, I turned the corner in
search. At that moment the gate latch
clicked sharply, and 1 sank down into
the black ground shadow, every nerve
tingling with alarm. The gate oper-
ated almost noiselessly, yet my strain
ed ears could detect it's stealthy move
ment, and hear the crunch Of heavy
footstep on the cinder path within.
The fellow evidently knew his way
even in that darkness, for there was no
hesitancy in his movements, no uncer-
tainty. He faded away along the rear
wall, and l became aware that he had
turned about.t the further corner. That
would naturally mean there was a
door there. I had evidently been
searching the wrong Slde.
Assured the man had vanished, and
that he sought entrance to the build
ing through some passage we'll known
to him, I crept forth along the end
wall, crouched low in the shadow,
using every precaution against dis
covery. All that was venturesome in
me held high carnival and nothing of
danger now could have held me back.
1 reached the corner around which the
fellow had disappeared, but, in the in
tense blackness, could perceive no
movement beyond, no sign of any pres
ence. listened eagerly, scarcely ven
turing to breathe, and in another mo-
ment was rewarded by hearing the gen.
tie tap of knuckles on wood a few feet
away; there could be no doubt Of the
number-two raps, pause, three
raps; the very signal mentioned in the
letter. I waited, still breathless, un-
certain what had occurred, yet con-
vinced the man ahead had been given
entrance.
Unable longer to withstand the
strain I took step forward into the
+ hot tho lot ~