The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-09-06

other sound or jar to it.
Then, so suddenly that it startled
him, the room in which they stood
was flooded with light, and Belknap
discovered that he was facing Kath-
crime across a huge, square-cornered
table of solid oak, in a great room
that might have been 'the dreams
come true" of any artist, musician,
priter pr pronounced sybarite.
Long accustomed as he was to
manifest no surprise in anything,
Belknap could not conceal his amaze
ment.
"Aladdin's Iamp!" he exclaimed.
"Where do you keep it concealed, dear
lady? And where is the jinee?"
1.-The Jlnee," she replied, smiling a
proof of it? Look behind YOU"
He turned slowly.
AS he did so the lights went out
all save one which glowed family
by comparison with the recent illum-
nation in the ceiling over their
heads.
Even Belknap's stole self could
barely repress a startled exclama-
SAOAA 6AAO Oil 4AANOAAllaalY OLluuuCI
when he discovered that he had been
standing within a few inches of a
floorless space in the black depths of
which a spiral staircase descended;
and as he turned again to question
Katherine, the light was shut off.
"Oh, / say!" he exclaimed with a
half laugh, and yet with a touch of
petulance; but before he could add
tn fhof ,.oroorlr oil fho Is~L%. 1870
turned on again, and he saw that
Katherine stood near the center of
the other half of the room beyond
the table. The trap in the floor be-
hind him had closed itself without a
j. sound.
"Be seated, Mr.. Belknap." she said
; to him formally. ''That is not a tran
in which to catch the unwary, that I
!, showed you. 1t is my cellar-my
storehouse, carved out of the solid
rock. 1t is one-only one-of a
t thousand secrets of this place."
: "Why did you show me that
! much >?"he asked, Struggling his
! shoulders "Was it to warn me, per-
haps?"
Il did it as a reply to your former
: question-to prove to you that the
Jinee of my eonjuring is constantly
= at my hand, in this house, prepared
: for instant obedience"
Il understand" Belknap replied So
beruy. THAT is at once a warning
t and a threat. Have no fear Of me,
d Mrs. Harvard. While / am here l will
S be a slave of the lamp"
t Katherine, in the coldly formal
t tone in which she had last spoken
e instructed Belknap concerning hi:
e surroundings.
t. "Over against the wall behind vol
y there is a wide and soft couch wherC
you may rest and Sleep" she said
such ~conveniences as you require
a you will readily discover, if you seel
r, them. Before l go l will switch of
the major part of the lights, leaving
,e n others burning, which you MAJ
p turn on and off at will.
r such doors as you find fastenet
re against you may not be opened b,
n any skill of burglary. l mention tina
fact merely to spare you useless eff
Il, fort IN case you have brought you
tie tools of the craft with you in you
" bag"
n. Il assure you" he began.
a Don't. 1t is unnecessary"
as I'VE are inside of the Swiss cha
r let, on the bluff, are we not?" Be
in KNAPP asked.
eyes"
or What about this brilliant illun
nation, In case somebody outsiO
lg should look in this direction ?"
he mot a hay of light within tt
ey house can be discovered from the on
Ir- side" she answered. "You will fir
reading matter here, if you want it
*, she went On. "There are cards f,
solitaire in the table drawer; al:
N chess, for working lout problems.
I'd. chat pastlme entertains you. If yC
can cook, there are electrical co,
lly venIenceS, and material for anvthir
Ter thing which / have thought w
MT might require, only while you rema
you Will have to forego fresh mea
IN n vegetables. You will find suf1
clent canned goods, however. II
ed water which constantly flows in a,
AZ out OF the porcelain tank in the ele
ers trio ktchenette is from a neve
nth failing spring, and is as nearly CO
as Ice water. That, with tea. &C
'ay fee, and perhaps chocolate, will 81
sed flee you as beverage.
tn When occasion makes it necessa
did that l should come here to see VI
the you will hear the humming of
a electric buzzer, and will invariah
the announces my approach at least
ort minutes before I appear"
to she stopped a moment. and
enigmatical smile softened her {
the preston. Then:
tide Il will suggest that. you had b.
ted not stand too near the door VIII
she you are expecting me to arrive. T
Jnee is always there on guard"
.rk- vii you tell me what you me
Ter by that remark, Mrs. Harvard
of Beiknap inquired, impressed bv
manner.
mol I mean that in case you should