The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-04-09
STORM MUSIC

shut behind you, and there In the wall
which the door, when open. had hid
den, was another smaller doorway
which gave to the secret room. The
door which 1t framed was also of oak
Ind iron, but though 1t boosted han
die, there was no keyhole at all. 1t
was In fact locked by the catch which
held open the major door. Turn this
catch to one side. and the minor door
would swing open without a sound.
From within the room this door,
when shut, could neither be opened
nor seen. because 1t was backed with
the woodwork which covered the walls.
All this. of course. learned later.
All that l knew at the moment was
that the door to the room had been
'cleyerly DONE"
Rush whispered over his shoulder.
watch out for this door. It's
wedged.'
He sidled round the oak and fol-
lowed, with hand on my pistol and
Geoffreys knife In my sleeve. -.
shall never forget the scene.
Only one torch was alight, and this
was so held by Dewdrop that Its beam
fell on Helenas face. To this the eye
naturally turned, and in an instant the
rest of the room was black.
She was sitting upright on bench,
with her back to the panelled wall.
The neck of her dress was torn and
had fallen from one OF her shoulders.
II anything, her air was listless: she
did not seem to be breathing, she sat
so still. Her eyes were lowered to avoid
the glare Of the torch, but her beau
tiful head was high, and for all the
emotion she showed she might have
been sitting In church.
The sight of her captive and DESC
late hit me hard.
That Pharaoh had been able to seize
her was all my fault: but for me,
she would have had Sabre. her body
guard. More. Had I returned to the
castle, my cousin and Barley and
would all have been there, and the
odds against Pharaoh's success would
have been absurd as 1t was, | had
made them even--and Pharaoh had
won.
The beam OF the torch was binding
and | shut my eyes and sank my chin
on my chest. I wanted to be able to
see where Pharaoh was. Rush was be-
side me: he had fingered moment to
take up the wedge and to lock the
major door, but now he was standing
beside mel could hear him licking
his lips. And Dewdrop. pace or
two distant, was holding the torch But
had not distinguished Pharaoh. and
Pharaoh was first on my list. Then
the man spoke again, and knew that
he was standing or sitting on the
farther side OF the room.
"As always, I'm perfectly frank. My
hand Is upon the treasure. It's simply
question of testing these walls and
this floor. But can't get 1t out Of the
castle-at least, not as much as | want
| don't like to use the drawbridge. |
believe even your bucolics would find
that strange, But know there's anoth-
err way ont You took 1t with Mr.. Spen-
Ger FIVE nights ago"
There was a little silence. Then
go on" said Helena, quietly.
you will tell me that way said
Pharaoh
And then?"
1--WE shall work till dawn, removing
as much as we can"
"And them"
I'VE shall clear up and CO." said
Pharaoh. And you viii be free. hard
ly think you'll want anybody to find
us-in possession of so much gold"
Clear up and CO." said Helena
what do you mean by clear up?"
u mean what you think | mean.
There's nuisance I've got to abate"
III you were honest. you'd say "a
score to settle.
Il prefer the term nuisance Still,
that may have to wait little At dawn
we shall leave the castle. and you will
be free"
Helena took a deep breath.
II see," she said And now I'll tell
you something You've got long way,
but long way Is never enough. You
know that you're near the gold, but you
don't know how to reach r. It's very
well to talk Of testing these walls and
this floor. but that's Job for a mason,
and you know 1t as well as l. But
II the gold was here, as you admitted
Just now. you couldn't get 1t away.
More. So long as you stay here, you're
safe. for on one will open this room.
But the longer you stay here. the slight
err your chance of escape. You've only
the Rolls and my men will very soon find
that, looking for me. And tomorrow,
as you surmise, order will be restored.
Quite good order, warn you: Mr.. Bo-
hun Will see to that. II you walt till
then, therefore. you will have to cut
your way out You'll have no gold to
carry, so that should be easy enough
but once you are out, you'll have no
saFr nj -trHhspuft nTftlIH=IfHFH VI n be
full of my people, looking for me. Of
course, as | say, II you stay here,
you're perfectly safe. But you've neil
Their food nor water, and nothing that
Won can think of will make me taJk y