The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-22
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XLVn

NOW OO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XLvlI
Jimmy, gloom-shrouded figure in
the fog. his pulses racing madiy-
whether from fear or excitement he
did not know-slowly approached the
house where he had seen Kid Divis
disappear.
He stood now just in front Of it. A
short flight of steps led up to the
front door, another short flight down
to the basement entrance.
1t was the basement entrance
which Divis had used and Jimmy
made his cautious way down the
steps. He stood just outside the
door, his ear pressed against panel,
But he heard nothing and for just a
brief second he debated whether to
try the door and sec if he could sim
in unheard and unseen.
But he had change of mand, "Bct-
ter look around first" and his voice,
low, whisper, was ceric- like in the
fog.
Again he was suddenly cold, his
blood running chill. An involuntary
SILVER shook him as he stood in the
basement entrance trying to decide
on some plan Of action that would
enable him to see inside the house
without himself being discovered.
Fleeing memories came of boy
hood nights before the fireside with
thrilling detective fiction. Surely,
he thought, none of it was more
hair-raising or perilous than this
and this, strangely, was real life.
It was impossible, and yet it was
true.
He knew, instinctivcly, that inside
this house was the secret to those
mysterious warnings he had re.
ceivcd; to Olga Maynard's fate; to
Jensen's whereabouts; even to his
fathers murder.
IF only this place wasn't SO far
from nowhere" he complained
"Foolish to try anything alone. Even
more foolish to take the time to get
police out here. They might clear
OUT 80.
lie thought Of running to the
nearest house and asking for help
But the nearest house was good
quarter Of nIilc away and, besides
how was he to know whether il
would be friend or foe living there
He climbed the stairs again and
found himself at the front basement
window. He peered ut the dark.
ness within, but saw nothing, and
the silence was oppressive and fear.
full.
Slowly he made his way around
to the side--the side whence he had
seen the light shining down tbs
road. The light was still there
casting y dull glow through drawn
shade. Jimmy bent down and look.
ed.
He thought: ."If anyone comes
between the. light and the window
Ill see his shadow"
He could detect u low murmur OF
voices, but they. seemed far away
And no one moved between the light
and the window. There was just
that din. unfriendly glow through
the shade. @
/. He strained forward, listening, and
suddenly he thought he heard voice
rising on note Of anger. And,
while he listened, the voice ceased
There was. brief silence, and then
from the room came the sound Of a
WOman'S scream. ;.
He checked the cry that sprang to
his own lips. The voice was Olga
Maynard's.
he turned around hclplcSSly.
Should he run for assistance, or
should he try to enter the house
alone? Would it do any good? It
seemed SO foolhardy, and. yet--God!
Olga had cried out for help. She
needed him.
NAs if in answer to his question,
the cry came again. This time it
was not a scream, but low moan.
God help u.s." he cried. "I'm go
ing in" and he rah as swiftly as he
could around to the front entrance.
Before the door he paused. Should
he try to rush boldly in-maybe by
breakingsa wind0w-and trust to the
value of surprise attack? Or should
he try by stealth?
Hurry, hurry. Do something"
His voice was q desperate whisper.
Hc cautiously tried the knob Of
the door that had opened in answer
to Divis' knock. He was somehow
not surprised to find that it turned.
Divis had not locked, the door behind
him.
He stealthily turned the knob all
the way. and then, with silent
prayer that the door swing open
without 9 betraying squeak, he
slowly pushed it open until there was
enough space for him to push his
body past.
Carefully he closed it behind him,