Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-24
By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON

on The pool when they beSans Oa9oh
would. have missed them-they were
Enthusiastically, not moonlight When
the detective had assured himself
that somebody was signaling for
help by means OF lights thrown on
the pool he supposed that torch :
was being used at window or on
the ROTOR. possibly, focused from
corner OF the garden behind
screening trees. But he leaned far
out 10 peer in all directions. and
found that every visible window was
dark. No light flashed from the
roof. nor from behind trees. Never
theless, those faint green chickering's
still troubled the pool. dim as the
pale flame of glow worm, yet plain
ly visible TO a watching eye. IS o s.
IS O s."
But--was the CLEAN on the water
or under it?
All, that was what it looked like!
AS il the light shot up from
beneath,
Good Lord" gasped Dason. I've
got II at last"
Without another word. or even
without another thought. he kicked
off his shoes, and. taking the cleo
trio lantern he had got ready for his
excursion to the cellar, he padded,
panther-li like. out of the room. 4
How he blessed himself for go
ing To the window, If he had not
looked down at the pool at that mo-
ment lac would have missed this
wonderful chance. But that was his
luck. He believed that fate had
drawn him to the window at precise
ly the right time. Instead of the
vague prowl through the cellars he
had intended. now he was able to fix
Les, H.. ,t,s fAI&
singularly clear, as if those pale
green flashes had lit the dark places
whore doubt had lurked. The thick
cobwebs of mystery had been brush
cd away. Behind them Dagon could
almost see door!
At last he understood why the
architects industrious measure
ments had been made in vain.
Nothing had been discovered in the
house, because there was nothing to
discover-eXcept a way out. The
hidden hall' existed, as the name
of the house, indeed, indicate with
it's impudent play upon words: but
1t was under the pool in the Persian
Garden.
Somebody in those Spacious old
days OF the late seventeenth or
earliest eighteenth century had been
very clever; probably the Sir John
Hidden who had made the Persian
Garden. First he had brought in
worllmen, secretly, no doubt, most
likely foreigners. They had created
tho hidden hall" for who could tell
what fantastic uses? They had
rooted it with glass Chose signals
seen through the water proved
thao in order to let in light from
above, and the pool had completed
the plan.
All this was easy enough to de-
duce now, Dagon thought. But
how account for the light Of the
signals?
The water was deep and II would
reed strong light to shine through,
even to give those faint flashes he
had seen. Oil lamps would not SUI
nee even If the flashes could be
managed. Some one down there
might have a powerful electric torch
which, used in darkness, would pro-
duce the effect. This suggestion,
however, did not appeal to the de-
tecuNes common sense. The call
Tor help could only have been sent
out by one in danger-a prisoner
who wished to escape and sought
every eNpodient. 1t was not prob
aoie that prisoner would be pro-
Nided with a large electric torch.
especially If that prisoner we're the
person in Dagon's mind Yet who.
unless Sir Rawdon Wells or Sir.
kawdon's father had done II, could
electricity? "A
This was one of the first uuAs-
tlons that Dagon asked himself
When lie had stopped to think, con-
secutive thoughts again. And.
though he had no answer ready. he
VAS strangely sure that Rawdon
"eus had not lied TO him.
~ there Is a hidden room, which
! very much doubt. the secret OF Il
nus been lost TO our family for gem
eratlons.' Wells had solemnIv as
sured him. Could some o,,ts,da.
nave discovered the place by acct
uent? There was one outsider who
-DaEon was obstinately convinced
-ulisht nave done so. And It would
not nave been impossible for that
person TO make such changes or I'm
proNeinents as seemed good to hin,
MOI only was Dagon certain where
ne ne must seek for the way into ths
iloden hail, he was also certain of
Inc Inc slgnalers identity. 1t was NOT
siIon oarroiI who had sent that
ietted beauty's boosted war work"
moula not have necessitated the
learning of wireless televranI,S~
ethins so troublesome and boring.
cue had come over from New. YorE
20 tarls and London on the pretsxt
Vi work. Dagon pictured her
oeilns programs at matinees. hon
ever, or reading to convaIescar+
pihcers. stunts" more strenIons
nc thought, would not have bsar
~ her line, though no doubt 49,
neeh lavish with her money d.
,,iaI n--brave little Pan--she was the
SIT TO pick up wireless teleSrs nh,
WINE other nappers read novels snS
ave chocolates. She Was the essi
whose presence OF mind in dsrsa..
mouio prompt her 10 use the .kno%Fi
.uSe she mad in an emerrencw \.
s was ran: his lost sister. in The 81
cloak, who. had been urrad ~, ~
eau or kindred blood to s,,r,n,c,, me me
D'o ..iii, her soul remembered,
~ save her." Dagon nroni..a
fdn III save her all right Nc
way;. Ns meant to happen that
me old house was dark snd v.,,
r ,i II was an hour when tbess
nner us roof should he $500
Inc detective had purnosos, isep;
Rnt iate Tor his visit TO the celia
hu. ne walked cautiously lest so,r:
ooard should creak and Soma ~.
catch the sound. N sumo ear
tContinued Monday IVA