The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-12-30

HIS place IN the community NAiIc L
was in the pen"
But even then"
He interrupted her. Listen, dear"
He crossed to the billiard room door,
closed il firmly, returned.
THE architect that built this house
was an old friend of mine," he said
in hushed accents. 1--WE were togeth-
er in France and you know the way
fellows get TO talking when they're
far away and cut off" He paused,
seeing the cruel CLEAN Of a star-shell
two figures huddled in a trench.
Willing away the terrible hours of
waiting by muttered talk.
Just an hour or two before-a
shell got this friend of mine," he re-
sumed. he teld me he had built a
hidden room in this house"
"Where?" gasped Dale.
Brooks shook his head II don't
know. We never got to finish that
conversation. But l remember what
he said. He said, You watch old
Fleming. If / get mine over here it
won't break his heart. He didn't want
any living being to know about that
room"
Now Dale was as excited as he.
Then you think the money is in
this hidden rocm?''
Il do" said Brooks decidedly. 81
don't think Fleming took ii away with
him. He was too shrewd for that.
No, he meant TO come back all right.
the minute he got the word the bank
had been looted. And he'd fixed
things so I'd be railroaded to prison
you wouldn't understand, but il was
pretty neat. And then the fool nephew
rents this house the minute he's dead,
and whoever knows bout the money
Jack! Why isn't il the nephew
who is trying TO break in?'
He wouldn't have to break in. He
could make an excuse and come in
any time"
He clenched his hands despairingly.
IF 1 could only get hold Of a blue
print of this placeI" he muttered.
Dale's face fell. 1t was sickening
TO be so close to the secret-and yet
not find it. "Oh, Jack, I'm so con-
fused and worriedr' she confessed.
with a little sob.
Brooks put his hands on her Shout
ders, in an effort TO cheer her spirits.
Now, listen, dear" he said firmly,
''this isn't as hard as it sounds. I've
got clear night TO work Inland as
true as I'm standing here, that
moneys in this house. Listen, honey
its like this" He pantomimed the
old nursery rhyme Of the house that
Jack built Here's the house that
Courtleigh Fleming built-here, some
where, is the hidden room in the
house that Courtleigh Fleming built
and here-somewhere-pray heaven
is the money-in the hidden room
in the house that Courtleigh Fleming
built When you're low in your mind.
just say that Overt"
She managed a faint smile. I've
forgotten it already" she said, droon-
ing.
He still strove for an offhand gaiety
that he did not feel.
why, look hereI'' and she followed
the play of his hands cbediently, like
a tired child, Its a sort of game.
dearest. Money, money-who's got
the money? You known For the
dozenth time he stared at the unre-
vealing walls of the room. For that
matter" he added, ''the hidden room
may be behind these very walls"
He looked about for a tool-a poker
anything that would sound the walls
and test them for hollow spaces. All!
he had ft-that driver in the bag of
golf clubs over in the corner. He got
the driver and stood wondering where
he had best begin. That blank wall
above the fireplace looked as promis-
ing as any. He tapped it gently with
the golf club-afraid to make too
much noise and yet anxious to test
the wall as thoroughly as possible. A
dull, heavy reverberation answered his
stroke-nothing hollow there, appar-
emily.
As he tried another spot, again
thunder beat the long roll on its iron
drum outside, in the night. The lights
Observation-Disclosures.
1.-The lights are going out again"
said Dale duly, her excitement sunk
into a stupeied calm.
Let them go! The less light the
better for me- The only thing to do
is to go over this house room by
room" He pointed to the billiard
room door. What's in there?n
THE billiard room" She was think
ing hard. Jack! Perhaps Court
leigh Fleming's nephew would know
where the blue-prints areI"
He looked dubious. Its a chance
but not q very good cne," he said.
well" He led the way into the
billiard room-and began to rap at
random upon its walls while Dale lis
tened intently for any echo that might
betray the presence Of a hidden cham
Der or sliding panel.
Thus it happened that Lizzie re-
ceived the first real thrill of what was
TO prove to her-and TO others-a
sensational and hideous night. For,
coming into the living room 10 lay a
cloth for Mr.. Anderson's night supper,
not only did the lights blink threat
eninsly and the thunder roll, but q
series Of spirit raps was certainly to
be heard coming from the region of
the billiard room.
"Oh, my Cod" she walled, and the
next instant the lights went out, leav-
ing her in inky darkness. With a loud
shrek she bolted out OF. the room.
Thunder = lightning dashing of