Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-18
THE OF /
ETF1E v
+ BY PARRISH i

BY PARRISH

moved swiftly. knowing his way
through the darkness, and L hdu
scarcely opportunity to even glance
backward when he rounded the cor
ner and bumped into me.
What the hill" he exclaimed,
sta rtlAd at the encounter. why, dvn
it., Charlett, what are you s%louchinfg
here for? You're Charlett, amt
1"Yes,".1 muttered. the assen, actu.
ally frightened out of me; then add
ed iamely, Il couldn't remember the
signal"
The fellow laughed softly, releasing
his grip on my coat.
If you attended more meetings
English without an accent. Where
have you been the last month-out of
town ?"
I'm, Washington" 1 ventured, pray
; ing the swift answer might suffice.
"Oh, I see more heartily. $50 you
were the one Alva sent? Did the
woman come back with you?".
The woman! Who could he NEAR
but the same girl who had been wait
ing in the saloon? l had ventured all
ready toe far to draw back; ! must
mot with me; that would be too
risky. She is here, though" q.
Good enough. That means money.
Let's go in"
He pushed past, and l followed, to-
tally unable to determine in my own
mind what to do. The fellow in the
darkness evidently mistook me for
some of the gang. His confidence
in my identity as Charlett might win
me entrance-but what then? That l
was not -Charlett would certainly be
revealed by the first CLEAN of. light,
n 1 would be helpless. l was alone,
unarmed, and these fellows, beyond
question. were engaged in a desperate
game. l am sure should never have
ventured it had not my Mon
suddenly turned and grasped my
sleeve.
You saw Mendez, of course?"
Sure"
and he vouched for her; he says
I she is all right?' "a
He. chose her; that ought to be
enough.
Hi, I suppose so, but even Men,
DEE has made mistakes. Here's the
door"
Nile raped lightly, his fingers still
gripping my sleeve in a grasp Of
Friendship. ! could ve'broken away
and ran for 1t, but something mysteri-
GUS held me. some odd fascination Of
danger. ] saw nothing. heard Moth
ing, yet had an instructive feeling
that a narrow wicket had opened in
the door through which u dim out
lines were being scrutinized. ] held
my breath expectantly.
who is there? ;" the voice was a
mere whisper, so close as to startle
me.
"Gaspar Wine" was the answer in
the sane low tone, 1853"
What word?" !
"Cervantes."
But there are two of you"
oh. this is one of us. It's all
right, Juan; I'll vouch for him."
The fellow inside grulnblcd some
thing in indisting Unstable Spanish, hut
opened the door silently. just far
enough for us to slip through one at a
time. l felt Wine press me, and
was aware that the guard closed and
barred the door, but could see Moth
ing; not even my own hand before my
eyes.
A latch clicked softly, and a dim
revealed passage beyond. 1t was go
faint, as to scarcely render features
visible, and, as my coat collar was slill
upturned, I pressed forward close be-
hind Wine without discovery. I could
perceive something or the fellow now.
a rather squat figure, concealed by a
long. shapeless raincoat. wearing a
closely. trimmed beard. and horn spec
tacles. His features were clearly for
eign. yet failed to bespeak the fighting
type. I placed him as q theortst, u
professor, perhaps, in some small cot
lege.
Hut my thoughts were not go occu-
pied With my guide ~ With the prob
lem OF how I was to escape from him.