The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-06-09
CHAPTER lu-continued.


CHAPTER lu-continusd.
He pressed something in the side
wall, sliding back a parel. and disap-
peared. the rough boards returning in
stantay into place. I was left alone.
staring at the spot where he had dis
appeared. Beyond doubt the entrance
awaiting me lay straight ahead. con-
cealed by the hanging curtain. I
stepped cautiously forward, listening
for some guiding sound from beyond
that barrier, afraid to draw 1t aside
and take a blind plunge into the un-
known. I could detect the murmur of
voices, several of them speaking Span
ish. yet In such low tones I could dis
tinguish Only an occasional empha-
sized word. There was no door be-
tween us: only that thick. hanging cur
tain, and I ventured far enough to
draw this aside sufficient to peer
through with one eye. Beyond was a
reasonably large room, but SO dimly
lighted as to be scarcely visible from
end to end. I could discern men pres
ent. q number of them, lounging about
IN chairs, their outlines being fairly
revealed. but the light was not sufii-
client to- give me any impression Of
their faces. 1t seemed quite possible
that 1 might slip in unobserved. and
pass among them I~lnrecognized except
through accident. But the risk of dis
,covery was too great. I must find some
other point Of entrance.
The private doorway through which
Wine ha0 disappeared gave me the
thought that there might also be 9TH
ers. I dare not follow after him, but
ii there was another opening to be
found I was perfectly willing to e..
plore into Its mysteries. The search
was brief, yet the very nature of the
rough board wall made concealment
impossible. Behind the dangling coats
L uncovered what I sought. and not a
moment too Even as my hand
touched the exposed latch, q murmur
OF voices in the outer entry reached
my ears-there were new arrivals be-
ing questioned, and admitted.
The panel slid back silently in it's
grooves. and I peered through the re-
vealed opening into absolute darkness.
All I could be sure of, as exhibited by
the dim light OF the passage, was a
single step downward, and then ap-
.parently a strip Of earth floor. I dare
not wait and meet those entering:
there was but one choice Of action, /
pressed through the orifce, forced the
panel back into place, and stood erect
In the intense darkness and silence.
listening for the slightest sound.
I was still motionless, my heart
beating fercely, when several men en-
tered the passage I had just left,
Pressing my ear against the thin crack
/ distinguished words so as to piece
together scraps Of conversation. It
seemed to me there were three voices
-one speaking Spanish entirely, the
others using English. One Of the lat
ter spoke first.
"'Tis Q dirty night out. but good for
our purpose. You came by motor.
Alonzof'
mo. Wine said that, was too risky.
+ walked from the a line. What's
,up7 Do you know, CaptainY
The fellow addressed exploded IN
Spanish.
why you call me that? l tell o
my namer
SITS safe enough In here, but I'll he
careful outside. What was this meet.
Ing called fort"
IT was a message from Washing.
ton. orders maybe. that we act soon
/ hope 1t"
From Washington? Is Mendez
here2r
csaprista. moi Can he move with.
out 4 dozen spies at his heels7 He And
! messenger no one ever suspect. Size
bring The word"
s.She7 A woman"
s.Surei that was better. No ORC
know her; no one ever see her xith
aar pepnla Il was q good trick. and
Il TOOL the pigs"
tsBat who ID the woman
me other uttered ! gruf -excl.r...
s(leR % disgnst.
ssIf ( know. ron suppose i tell1 M
1Isch1 butt do not know. Thev tr1nst
hg1sS-sis Il not 'en0ugh1 tn 50 eu1u