Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-19
Twenty-Third lnGtalIment
CHAPTER XII

Sound-Proof.
THE next moment they heard the
A. sound Of a key. For some
reason this closet was supposed
70 be kept locked What sort OF
closet was IT? Martins right hand
reaching into the corner rested on
a cane. That might come In handy.
be thought and he gripped Il.
The door swung open. letting In
quite a lot OF Light from the corrE
dor, but at the same time cutting
or his view or everything but the
inner face OF the door. He heard
a gasp from Rhoda and d growled
what the devil J" In a mans voice.
Conley'sl There was a click OF q
switch and the closet Light came
on overhead
$50 this is where you've got to.
is III" Conley said. Il had an
idea you were still on the prem
iseS Well the old man will be
glad we haven't lost you Come
out OF therei-
At that Martin shifted his grip
on the cane, noting as he did that
its rubber shod ferrule was heavily
weighted. and kicked shut the
closet door with q siam.
The unexpected and unaccount-
able sound OF the door slammed TO
behind him must have frozen Con-
lev for an instant. for he and
Rhoda presented. as Martin first
saw them. the effect Of a tableau
vivant, Rhoda backed fat against
the wall-only was 1t a wall or was
that middle panel In II \ door,
Conley gripping her by a arm
In the midst OF his arrested at
tempt 70 haul her away. The next
insant he turned saw Martin. and
jumped for him
Martin. who had already short
ened his grip on the cane. know
ing that he wouldn't have room
In that closet for a full swing.
met the rush with a backhand
stroke at the side OF hrs assail-
ants head. Thanks to the thick
rubber cap with which the ferule
was shod the impact was practi-
cally noiselesS but the big detec-
tive wilted and went down under II
like a stock yards steer under the
maui
Rhoda and Martin gazed at each
other aghaSt across him
IT'S all right Martin said
ITS Just another knockout. r
guess. I must have caught him
on the law. too. He'll start Gem
ing TO in a minute and then We
car beat L cut OF here"
when he opened the door"
Rhoda said -he was coming
straight toward me rs IL be knew
I'd be stasding right here But
he didn't know. because be jumped
when be saw me. Martin. 7 can't
stand II like this Let's do some
thing. Can't we open the door,"
He didn't answer instantly. Or
move. He was looking nc the ont
lined panel in what appeared to be
the wall behind her. She swayed
slightly and caught for support ut
the nearest clothes hooks. then ut
tered A cry OF establishment as she
started to fall. not forward. but
back. The thing she was leaning
against "A q door and X was
swinging open behind her.
Martin sprang over COnley and
caught her. without a word the
two OF them stood staring into the
strange little chamber which the
opening revealed staring and draw
ing deep breaths OF an air that
seemed after the overwhelming
STIFFNESS OF the closet. fresh and
cool.
The place was eddy furnished.
fn n that suggested a stage
set. IL comprised one solidlooking
black oak. leather-seated chair In
the mission style, more or less, q
small square oak stool that evil
IDENTIFY served the occupant TO put
his feet on, an oak table with a
telephone Of the new cradle type
On II. and an ash-ray. A proscen-
INN arch. wRkrn wasn't an arch but
an ohlong opening. didn't come near
co the floor Of the stage 1t stopped
thirty inches above It. and Il wasn't
an opening since Il was filed BIZ
IN enormoas sheet 81 plate eiasR