Evening star., 1922-02-12

the bottom, as il for the purpose of
admitting air.
He bent his ear to the opening and
listened intently: there was not a
sound Within. Cautiously he swept
his fash lamp over the interior. What
he saw was small, square hall,
empty except for the rug upon the
floor and a couple OF straight-back
chairs.
He knew that he might be walking
into a trap. but he had not gone this
far TO turn back now. So raising
the sash. he flung one leg over the
sill and stepped inside. Pistol in
hand he waited a breathless moment:
but treasured by the absolute silence,
he again ventured to use his flash
lamp.
GUIDED by it's ray. he swung wider
~ half-open door at the right
and entered large living room which
in every detail gave indication Of
Achison's occupancy charming
room furnished in a light, summery
fashion with bright chintzes and
many wicker chairs. piano stood
open. There were cool water colors
on the walls, and many books. In
the center Of the room was . large
table. and beside it, with a chair
conveniently placed. stood the dicta-
phone all ready for use. The air was
full Of the fragrance Of fresh roses.
AS Ramsey came through the door
a gray Persian cat uncurled itself
and jumping down from its cushion.
yawned and stretched and sided to-
ward him purrins, obviously glad Of
some human companionship. He de-
voutly thanked his lucky stars that
Achison preferred cats to dogs.
With the Persian at his heels,
Ramsey made a brief inspection Of
Achison's bedroom and bath, and then
passed through a buffers pantry in
to the kitchen. The latter vas large
and thoroughly equipped; Aehison
was sure to demand = generous
kitchen.
There were four doors here. the
one through which Ramsey had just
entered, one leading outside. and two
others. One of these, he reasoned,
must lead to the cellar; and the eel
lar was naturally the part of the
house on which his supicions focused.
Noiselessly he turned the handle OF
the door nearest him; behind it was a
shallow pantry filled with cooking
utensils. The other was unquestion-
ably the door to the cellar.
He opened it softly and silently,
ready for any emergency; but not a
sound, not the supicion OF q move
ment. came from the darkness below.
! There fioated up to him merely the
mingled odors Of fruit and vegetables,
hams, bacon. pine boxes. and that
earthly smell which even the best
ventilated and concreted cellars give
forth.
Coming down step or two' ne
sent his searchlight flashing here and
! there over it's assembled stores. 1t
was as comfortably virtuous as the
remainder Of the house-no place in
! it for concealment, nothing which
could point to 1t in any way as the
headquarters Of q gang Of counter
feiters. There was no need Of further
| exploration: II was obviously AID in.
nocently what it appeared, the we'll
stocked cellar of prosperous house
holder.
Ramsey felt all the chagrin Of the
man who has proudly backed an un-
founded hypothesis only to ride II
to- fail. He had arrogantly forced
his way into another mans house,
confident Of justifying himself by the
results: and the only results were
that he stood convicted to himself
as sneaking fool His one desire
now was to get away as quickly AZ
| possible and without detection; %
tdiscarding the caution he had hith.