Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-18

were engaged in carrying OUT Win
rue secret efficiency. They were
plotting revolution. Only a strange
chance had given nc the clue, and
cned q way before me. Now my life
was no longer my own; it belonged
to my country. | must live to expose
these Tel But how?
My heart failed mo as I stared
about at the bare wallis. and forward
to where a heavy curtain draped the
end Of the passage. This widened as
we advanced. so as to form what evil
IDENTIFY had been designed as Il cloak
room. Wine stopped and removed
his coat, approprialing an unoccupied
joicing to observe that he still re-
manned so confident OF my identity as
to not once glance around in my di-
rection. The fellow seemed obsessed
with some special desire for he swept
| his eyes owe the swinging garments
III exclaimed: u
mot half Of them here yet. l want
a word with Alva before the show
opens, Charlett, so you better 60 right
on in. See you later"
He pressed something in the side
wall, sliding back a panel, and disap:
peared. the rough boards returning in
!stantly 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. Il
stepped cautiously forward. listening
for some guiding sound from beyond
that barrier. afraid to draw it aside
and take u blind plunge into the un-
known. l could detect the murmur OF
voices, several OF them speaking Spar
ish, Yet in such low tones I could dis
tinguish only an occasional cppha-
sized word. There was no door be-
tween US: only that thick, hanging
draw this aside su. ycient 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 cohld discern men
present, a number of them, %loungins
about on chairs, their outlines being
fairly revealed. but the light was not
sufficient to give me any impression OF
their faces. 1T seemed quite possible
that l might slip in unobserved, and
pass among them un~recognized except
through accident But the risk of
discovery was too great. l must find
some other point of entrance.
h private doorway through which
Wine had disappeared gaze me the
thought that there might also be 9TH
If there was another opening to be
found I was perfectly willing to Eek
plorc into 18th mysteries. The search
was brief, yet the YER nature of the
rough board wall made concealment
impossible. Behind the dangling coats
l uncovered what I sought, and not a
ono too soon. Even as my hand
touched the exposed latch. a. murmur
Of voices in the outer entry reached
my cars--there were new arrivals be-
ing questioned. and admitted.
The panel slid back silently in It's
grooves, and l pcered through the re-
vealcd, opening into absolute darkness.
All I could be sure OF, as exhibited by
the dim light Of the passage, was q
single. step downward. and then APP
parently a. strip of earth floor. l dare
not wait and peet those entering:
there was but one choice Of action.
pressed through the %orifice, forced the
pan back into place. and stood erect
in the intense darkness and silence.
Ilstcpins for the slightest sound.
1 was still m%otionless. my hear.
beating fiercely. 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. II
seemed to me~there were three voices
one speaking spanish entirely. the
others using English. One OF the lat
ter spoke first.
'''Tis a dirty night out, but goodgfor
our PURPOSE. You came by motor
Alonzo ?"
s.sNo. Wine said that was too risky,
! walked from the car line Whats
up?. Do you know. C%aptain?""
The fellow addressed exploded in
Spanish.
my name"
sIt's safe enough In here, but III be
careful outside. What was this meet
ing called for 2"
.It, was a. message from Washing
ton. orders maybe that We act soon
!I hope 1T"
here?"
"saprista, no! esn he rnoy. With
out a dozen spies a hts heels? lHe
find a messenger no one ever suspect,
She bring. the word
"sirei that wAs better. No ona
know her; no one ever see heF WITH
our people. twas q good trick; and
g"Bat wiss is the woman I"
THE OTHER Uttered 9 Eruft exclama
ssss' s ass I /. :s lsss' | 4s IS *, Il,
Il! s;g1 Il &, . sS,e Afa ssEsi s'a n az sns'.
1sshs Il ehiieas them. -
"Maype:5 mazpssAsnstie4n. 'eplnish.
j6sg They know whit l1heis; ,Fonishi