Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-20
CHAPTER <LITI

&AAhk 4EFt ALLIE
Charlie dropped flat, an irstinc-
tive maneuver which would not
have saved him had Brill turned
and flashed his torch backwards.
But Brill. II he had the impulse 70
do so. refused to yield to it.
Idiot" snapped Bril-.
God. what a scare I'd give them
il / walled" thought Charlie, from
the blackness OF the ground.
just one wall 1t would almost
be worth IT. To send that damned
little beast leaping into the air with
stark terror for one glorious. trium-
plant instant. to hear him shrek
in CHASTITY horror at the imagined
naturalization OF his fiendish con-
ce~ption--yeS. II would nearly be
worth the eternal extinction that
would Immediately follow it,
Nearly-but not quite. Charlie
rose noiselessly 10 his feet. And as
he did so a new idea was born in
his brain. Suppose suppose
something suddenly walled behind
him.
Ecomi
That, certainly. was the sea-"
murmurcd the professor. There
have been ether sounds. however.
while ! have not been at work. that
might better fit into your under
ground people theory than into the
theory CT the waves. Brill"
You're making arrant nonsense"
barked Brill.
Being n fool. that Is my privi-
lege.' retorted the professor. dryIy.
"And-tO continue with my folly
are you sure IL was you who scared
the first caretaker away?r
"Oh. yes-I'm sure enough about
thati" exclaimed Brill. when I
came upon him down below here
What He found his way DOWN"
"He did
"How?"
I'm not certain. Someone's care
~lessness. perhaps. But he was a
smart fellow. DO you want to hear
what happened to him?"
The professor stopped again.
Are you sure you want TO tell
me?" he asked.
Move on" ordered Grill. prod
ding the professor i'm the back.
Yes. I'm ure I want TO tell YOU.
Cunningham. You see It's neces-
Sary for me to impress you this
evening with the fact that I do
things rather thoroughly. That
caretaker got down below here
somehow. We had a bit Of an en-
counter. and when nc found he was
getting the worst OF it, was lucky
to be able to surprise him. and to
make use az my knowledge Of the
place-he turned and tried to
escape. He raced I'D the stairs.
and when ! reached the top after
him. he was just disappearing into
he cupboard In the lounge hall. "A
moment later. and I wouldn't have
seen his ruse-I'd have run out of
the house after him. But j was
Just in time. and when he heard
me coming to the cupboard door. he
holted II on the inside-I imagine
the door originally led right
through TO the adjacent room. and
when the farther room was walled
up the bolt was not removed. You
dent generally find bolts inside
cuDboards. Anyway. he bolted him
self N. And. as the key was in
the outside, II seemed such a pity
not to complete the john the
circumstances Sol turned the
key. And then if 7 couldn't get In.
ne couldn't get out"
"Do-you mean" whispered the
professor. in a stifled voice.
He vas rather badly hurt when
he entered the cupboard" replied
Brill. so I'm not sure that IL would
really have helped him If he had
come out OF the cupboaord-and 1t
would certainly not have helped me
.-. All, at lastl Here we arel'
They stopped. and Charlie heard
the Jingle Of a key. "Wait a min
ute-wait a minutel" said the pro-
fessor. hoarseiy. 81 dont know
that 4 can 20 on"
"Yi5u win 60 on" answered Brill.
and now a. dropped his voice 70
4 fcadIy uuietness.
Suppose I FEfusn-even noWt
The final experiment hasn't taken