Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-19
By FRANK [. PACKARD

guard. The last place one would
expect to :inc. or look f.'r max
million dollars would he behind AN
unlocked door!
His fiashlight threw an inquisitiys
circle of light around the interior:
Whatever the place had been used
for at one time. Il was decloeoiy
neglected and In disuse nows Fne
flooring was in an advanced state OF
decay. His eyes followed the ray OF
the fiashlight as it held on q spot
on the flooring near the door. Yes,
knowing beforehand that some
pieces Of the flooring there had been
lifted, he could see that such was
the case In spite Of the fact that
the pieces had been very neatly re-
placed.
The fiashlight continued its tour
Of inspection. There was q pile or
rubbish and some old barrels over IN
the far corner. He stepped quickly
across to these and nodded his head
sharply in satisfaction as. tucked
in behind the barrels he found what.
he mad been looking for. Mr.. Mar
lin had been digging. Exactly!
Here was the spade. He lifted 1t
up and examined it. Particles OF
fresh earth still chung to 1t.
Captain Francis Newcombe stood
still now for an instant to listen.
And as he listened. his brows
gathered in a savage frown Of an
noyance. Why this exaggerated
rrecaution? What did he expect to
hear? What sound could there be?
The old fool was finished for the
night. There wasn't the slightest
chance that he would return. Why
should he, Captain Francis New
combe, waste time now. when with
a moments work he could satisfy
himself that the half million dollars
that had brought him to Manwa
Island was definitely within his
reach? Was that it? Was it
psychological? Was it that voice
he was listening for again?
He swore fiercely under his breath
in a sudden flood of blind rage at
himself; and, crossing the hut.
stood the spade UP against the wall
within reach, and knelt down on the
floor with the flashlight playing on
the two or three sections of board
that the old man had removed.
Yes, they were quite loose. Ills
fingers worked their way into a
crack between two Of them. The
old maniac's half million. Hidden
under the flooring. 1t was chEd's
What was that?
He was on his feet. the fashlight
out, every muscle tense, his re-
Nolver outfiung before him.
In Gods name what was that?
1t seemed to crash and thunder
through the stiffness.
Only knock upon the door:
Again!
Once more-sharp, Imperative!
He stood motiorless-his Jaws
clamped like from What was he to
do? If he answered the su1anons--
what then? How explain tie
presence here Of Captain Francis
Newcombe, the guest, who at this
hour should be peacefully asleep in
his bed? Who was 1t out there who
the old fool himself who might have
come back. Old Marlin wouldn't
have knocked. Vino. then?
Strange! A full minute must
have passed. Why were the knocks
.. not repeated? There was no sound
from without. He had heard no one
approach-he had heard no one go
away. Only the knocks upon the
door.
He was listening now, every
faculty alert. Was some one
standing outside there, as tense, as
silent, waiting-as he stood tense
and silent. waiting. here within? II
SO, then, that was another angie to
the situation. 1t must be so.
There was not a sound out there
there had not been a sound. He had
heard no one go away. Well, two
could play at game like that!
And 1t would be the other who
would show his hand,
lie moved softly toward the door.
In the darkness he felt out with
his hand. II touched the panel of
the door, crept down until 1t clasped
the knob and then suddenly, even as
he moved swiftly to one side cut
OF the direct line. he flung the door
wide upon it's hinges.
And where the door Lad stood.
there showed now but an oDlong Of
nlmy. hazy murk, scarcely more
penetrabie to the eye than the
black interior OF the hut. Nothing
more! No, that was not true.
There was something else-some-
thing white. small. white fiutter-
ing thing that seemed to drift and
Hutter downward to the ground. No
SOUND from without-saye the night
sounds of the woods: The leaves
taxing TO one another; the stir IN
the grasses; the low. faint, never.
! ending chatter Of insects.
The watch ticking on Captain
francis Newcombe's wrist became n
loud discordant thing. It tick. d
away the minutes before he moved
again.
His eyes became accustomed IN
the murk outside the open door.
There was no one there.
That white thing lying by tbs
threshold was an envelope. it Id
been stuck in the door. He reach, d
out now. and picked II up. AID
now he closed the door again. and
with the fiashlight on, be tore the
envelope open.
He stared at the sheet of paper
II contained. The angle line NJ
crude. printed letters seened IN
leap out at him from the whit o
sheet, scorching. burning. searin,-
ITS message into his consciousness
He raised his hand and drew II
across his forehead. 1t came away
wet with sweat. He looked around
MIN. snarling like a beast at bay.
A thousand minions of he'll here IN
the hut were screeching an his cars
the words he had just -ead:
WHO nanrdarA1