Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-06-06

ne decided, grlmly, JnaC IL must SUI
flee.
He CROPPED about above him. The
planks ran right and left parallel
with the ladder, and he could find two
inset cross-battens. The planks were
strong but roughly joined. He select
ed spot and set to work with the
corkscrew.
1t was difficult and nervous task.
The wood was tough, and his imple-
ment fragile. The tool survived the
test, but his lungs were jibbing badly,
drenched as they were with fumes from
the pit.
Inhaling slowly and cautiously, he
held his breath and descended one
step of the ladder. He pulled gently
upon the steel handle of the knife. The
trap responded, requiring little effort!
He descended step lower-and real
lied that his legs were plunged into
the feathery, poisonous mass. But now
he could grasp the edge of the
1t proved to be carefully oiled, and
it's opening was almost soundless.
Seeing above him, the dimly lighted
passage, his first, natural instince was
to abandon the knife and to climb out
into cleaner air. But above all, Daw-
son Haig was a conscientious worker;
and scheme which was to have far
reaching consequences in this very mo-
ment of peril took form in his brain.
Holding the trap with his left hand,
he detached the corkscrew, and, balanc-
ing perilously, slipped the knife into
his pocket Then, pulling the wooden
frame fully down, and ducking to
avoid it, he climbed up and reached
the passage above
Gently, he allowed the trap, oper-
ated by spring hinges, to rise again
into place. He stood still, eXhaling
and inhaling, to free his lungs of those
poisonous fumes. He looked, right,
along the dimly lighted corridor. He
saw a closed door He looked, left,
into the room of the carpets. There
was no sound.
Quietly he stole out. Pocketing the
spectacles of "N1r. Smith," Dawson
Haig set out cautiously to explore.
And five minutes of exploration Salts
fed him. There was no one but him
self in the shop of Mohammed-and it
was quite impossible to get out! Heavy
locked doors, iron barred windows de
fed him.
He seated himself upon a square
wooden chest. OF Eileen he was afraid
to think. . In that direction mad
ness lay. And at all costs he must
keep cool plan every move
He heard the sound of an opening
door. He slipped back to the room of
carpets. dived behind bundle of rugs,
and, automatic in hand-waited.
Smoking cigarette, and seemingly
quite at his ease the fortune teller
whom he had followed from the Wal
LARGO walked along the room. Joseph !.
Haig crouched, ducking his head. The
man came to the doorway beyond
which lay the death trap.
AS Haig knew, there was a narrow
space to right and left of the trap,
along one of which safety zones old Mo
manned, with surprising agility, must
have skipped when he had led him to
what had been designed to be his
finish The Armenian dropped upon one
knee, pushed the trap fully open, and
secured it.
Haig craned cautiously forward 10
seph was peering down into the Bath
of Feathers"
He turned and walked to the door
beyond, tried it, and uttered an I'M
patient exclamation. Haig ducked be-
hind the pile of carpets.
The man circled the open trap, went
back again by the way he had come
and in few moments returned.
He walked past the raised trap and
inserted key in the lock of the closed
door beyond. Whereupon:
Hands up!'
The Armenian dropped to his knees
in flash, whisked around, drew pis-
tol from his pocket with miraculous
agility, and fired as he crouched!
Joseph dropped his automatic, half
rose and toppled forward into
the Bath of Feathers !''
A stifled cough came up from the
drugged pit.
Haig stood still-listening. To the
sickly sweet fumes had been added the
tang of powder. He visualized the
street outside and realized that inter
ference was unlikely Clouds of
feathery dust were rising from the
Bath.
He circled around to the door. The
key was still in the lock- He opened
it. A flight of wooden steps led down
wards. Descending, he found himself
in small square cellar. On his right
was stout low wooden door com
municating with the base of the pit.
Before him he saw a narrow packing