New Britain herald., 1929-12-04
BEHIND LOCKED DOORS

and brings q iocksmith to open it.
 Chapter l5
 BEHIND LOCKED DOORS
 It was Monday and Peggy waited impatiently for Obadiah to arrive with the lochsm!th as he had prom isod.
 The Sabbath quiet of the day be- fore had bean cNhilarated by her trip to Sundown's camp with Chase and Evans. They had stayed as long as Peggy dared but the half breed had not shown up.
 Peggy seated herself at her uncle's desk in the living room She must reply to her fathers frantic cable and calm his fears for her. Peggy finished tho letter and signed her name with il pen that sputtcred ;u1 scratched on the paper, making unsigatIy hlots here end there. She was too tired. how ever, and too anxious to get the letter of. to rcwrite it. She sealed it and placed It where it would be in plain sight for Julia.
 Voices came to her through the open window 10 the west and spring open window to the west and spring. ing up, she hastcne1 to the front door.
 Here We are at last
 Obadiah turned on the threshold and putting his hand on his com panion's shoulder. showed the lock smith into the living room.
 Carter, Miss Prescott" and con- sidering the formalities attended 10, Obadiah paused to shake hev gravely by the hand.
 Now. if youll lead the vay, Carter can work while there's still daylight"
 Its very curious that the elec- tiician who wired this house no- Glected 10 put light outlet here,' y commented Peggy, as they groped about the cellar while Obadiah lighted the candles left there on Saturday night.
 from the windows under the yeran- da, giving an ocrie appearance 10 the place.
 Carter. in no sense disturbed by his surroundings. went carefully to york to fit a key to the paddock. Finally picking up his oil can. Carter spirited some inside tn. paddock, gave his key a final polish with dirty rag and slipped it into the lock. A turn of his wrist and inc lock sprung, releasing the bo y in the staple.
 It was Obadiah. however, who drew open the door and snatchin9 uE candle, strode through the opening, Pegsy a second behind him.
 Good gracious, it's bedroom" :" she cjacuIated. Just a servants room in the basement"-and she lroke into laughter-the mirth of one keyed to the point of mysteries It was, as Peggy had observed. a bedroom. whether for a servant or not it was impossible to tell
 A mahogany sleigh" bed. re-
 
 the dimensions of the space it oc- cupied; a high backed armchair high dresser, on which stood a shaving mirror. a table and a wash stand. with running water, com prised the furnishings of the place while the square window, som2- what high from the floor. had both sash curtains and a Holland shade Peggy was the first to comment.
 "A bedroom she repeated. slow ly. "only an ordinary bedroom Why. then. was it so securely pad locked and bolted on the outsider "A sick mans fancy"
 The suggestion came from Oba. diah; his eyes were drawn like ( magnet 10 the candlestick on thc tablc--waX had run down on the outer sides Of tho holder. but oniA q tiny portion ot the wick rcmainc, within it's rounded sides
 He turned abruptly 10 Carter.
 Don't wait if lou are in a hurr" Carter; I'll walk back to the farm Carter's relief was plain.
 Don't bother to pay me noN Miss" he protested, as rcgsl opened her handbag. "I'u send ny bil. Good night" and he made fo, the stairway. Peggy. however reached there first.
 Julia" she called.
 "Yassum.'
 Julia's voice grow clearer as sE'