Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-02-04
by special Arrangement with tn
Chicago Tribune Syndicate
IN THREE PARTS-PART TWO
THE STORY SO FAR

4 iAuAduii iaiSto III q ohlai
southern town. knew nothing Of the out
side world when by the death of her
mother she was suddenly left on her
W resources. Seeking work In New
York seemed like a thrilling adventure
but when she landed in a boarding house
which proved to be the den of crooks
she was at a loss what to do. One night
when Mrs. Carson and her brother were
planning on robbing an old bachelor who
was reported dying; Carson to act as
doctor, Patricia happened TO over the
conversation downstairs. Slipping down
the stairs she was caught listening, and
Carson threatened her. but when she
begged to be taken along saying she
might be OF some help, he consented to
take her along as nurse. 1t turned out
to be a stormy night. After driving Always
Patricia pretended she had lost the suit
case. AS Carson stopped the car and with
a flash light went in search Of the suit
case, Patricia slipped into the drivers
seat and going for quite Il distance she
finally stopped the car and left 1t by the
roadside. She ran as far as she was able
and finally took refuge in what happened
to be a deserted, haunted house.
n now the story
Patricia sighed. Her pinions dropped. She
let the flashlight slip from her hand into
the reticule hanging to the waist Of the
gown, and went back and looked at the
heap OF sodden clothes lying on the floor.
Patricia sighed again and thought the
sigh was repeated behind her! She glanced
furtively over her shouldar; an ugly
thought struck her. Surprising her light
had been seen from outside Surprising
1t should serve as a magnet to draw that
man she so hated and feared to her side
She rose precipitately and crept over tc
the windows. Slowly and carefully she un
latched one of them and peered along the
terrace. 1t was quite vacant. She closed
the door hastily, with an exclamation OF
relief, but as she did so saw that she had
caught the reticule in which she had placed
her precious ~flashlight In the door. She
was obliged to pull sharply before she
could release 1T. When at length she had
succeeded she saw she had torn a long slit
in the frail silk. AS she tried to draw the
edges together a piece of folded paper
slipped through her fingers to the floor. II
had evidently been sewed between the
lining and the silk and had lain there Sc
curely hidden all these years.
AS she touched 1t 1T fell apart at the
~creases, and pricked with curiosity, she
carried the torn pieces over to the candle
light and laid them together on the ledge
of the spinnet.
Some sort of a diagram OF the room In
which she was standing! There was the
fireplace, yes, and the same windows and
doors. She held the stained yellow paper
closer to the candlelight. At the bottom
Of the page she made out the words pas
sage" and further on something that might
We Utcu Z VI SttiGLs III Wdr uDVut
to slip the paper back into the ~reticule
when an exciting thought struck her.
Surprising those words had read secret
passage to the sea" In all the romances
she had ever read there had always been
O secret passage to the sea! OF course, such
things were too f~anciful to exist in this
modern world Of mathematics and eeono-
mics, but still
She held the paper closer to the candle
and wet the almost obliterated words with
her finger:
3 panels to left fireplace
|. Upper right hand corner
seven inches from top. Press twice
Patricia smiled incredulously. Then, pric'
ked with curiosity she went over to the
paneied wall aud hesitatingly passed hel
hand over the dusty wood.
g.. panels to left fireplace
l.. Upper right hand corner .
seven inches from top
Yes, she had 1t right. Still with thai
little excited, soothing smile, she pressed
down twice.
The panel did not move!
She made q little, mocking grimace al
the absurdity of her hope and started AGAR
to replace the paper In the reticule. AS she
did so her eye caught the word left
How like a woman! She was on the RICH
side of the fireplace. She crossed over and
putting her hand on the wall, counted
carefully again, and pressed down hard
AS she did so she gave a little astonished
cry and fell back. Was the heavy pane
moving?
There was a terrific crash of thunder. II
the revealing white light of the lightning
Patricia found herself staring into a yawn'
ing black aperture In the wall A breath
of cold, stagnant air swept toward her.
She screamed-and put her hands to hei
head. An icy prickling ran over her skin.
As inexorably as 1t had o~pened-thert
before her eyes the panel was closing
againi
Her voice had awakened sounds above
She heard the rush of stumbling feet.
steps on the stairs now, cropping, stumbling
steps. Nearer they came-nearer. In q mo,
ment they would be upon heri She stood
listening in an agony of superstitious ter
ror, unable to move a muscle. Closer they
came, closer, those heavy, padding steps
that caused the old stairs to creak under
them. Patricia turned
A black face peered over the banisters
Patricia stared at 1t, stark with terror. Fol
a moment all thought and emotion wal
taken from her.
The Negro did not see her at first. Ths
Pickering candlelight did not penetrate Il
the corner where she stood. Slowly ant
cautiously he CROPPED his way down the
stairs. His eyes were wide and startled
his jaw hanging loose.
Overcome with an ecstasy OF terror, ia
tricia broke the apathy that held her ant
rushed blindly to the windows. A gust O.
wind stirred the curtains.
The darkey's knees Knocked together, HI
uttered a long, ~whimpering cry and fell t.
the floor, lifting his shaking hands tx
heaven.
"a ghost a ghost! Lord hal
mercy on my soul. A-g-ghostr'
More footstepsi Lighter ones this time
Patricia made a movement and the darke,
uttered a louder and more anguished wal
and stumbled to his feet.
Think he was coming toward her, Pa
tricia fled over to the fireplace. A flash o.
lightning threw a spectral light over hel
fantastic figure.
There was another ~whimpering cry and
rush through the room. (.
A mans voice called, Don't be a fool
Tom" and then there was that light, quicl
step again. Staring Mt Patricia, overcome
with terror, the darkey plunged through
one Of the windows out into the night.
A strong wind and furry Of rain sweep
In. The papers on the desk scattered ovel
the floor. Both candles went out
Pitch darkness! Patricia's heart stool
still. A chair was knocked over
r. There was the sound Of quick
heavy breathing. Then, In thu
silence, a mans whimsical voice.
do you think you can frighten me" !
said. Then, with a short laugh, TN tina
chap who doesn't believe ~in-ghosts."
Again that breathless, waiting silence.
The man laughed as II amused. She heart
him cropping his way down the stairs. HI
----r ERyc.AL
lLONESONE FOLKS! Dandy little ladies'