The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-12
to see a large rats bright eyes
staring ct her.

to see q large rats bright eyes
staring at her.
With q srnothered cry, Angelique
jerked backwards, tripped over
something on the floor and crash
ed suddenly against the wall behind.
Immediately she felt something slip
ping under her weight. The next
second she fell through an opening
made by a smoothly sliding panel In
what had seemed o solid wall.
After the first shock Of surprise,
she found that she was not hurt
and. picking herself up, turned the
beam from her electric torch
about her. She was in stable
passageway that led to other
rooms beyond. Since she had
come this far Ahgelique had no
intention OF failing TO satisfy her
curiosity and walked cautiously
forward.
Several bare adobe rooms OF
varying sizes met her gaze. She
realized that she was probably in
the lower levels Of the ancient
pueblo, where rooms, used In cere-
monials IN the kiva, were located.
She had seen such rooms before
in restored ruins. But why such
secrecy about the stuffy old place
on the part Of the de Forests?
She walked on hesitatingly,
half expecting something to spring
on her from each dark corner, but
apparently she had the place to her
self. Suddenly she came to door
way of modern construction, lead
ing into q large circular room which
she knew was the kiva itself.
1t had been entered originally
by a ladder, let down from above.
Dark rings Of SCOT still chung to
the top where smoke from the
sacred fire had enveloped each
man as he descended into the
kiva.
The walls we're quite bare ex-
cept one, holding a small shelf.
Angelique walked over to 1t and
looked closely at the object that
lay on 1t. Then she drew back.
1t was the black obsidian knifel
Fascinated, she touched the
sharp edge, Clipped into shape
by crude stone implements so
many centuries ago. Probably 1t
was now where 1t had been kept
then, and she shuddered TO think
what bloody part 1t had played in
secret rites In the kiva in those
bygone days. @
The ray from her torch swept the
other parts of the room, but there
was only bare adobe TO be seen.
Then she looked at the floor. Sure
enough, In the exact center was the
ancient sipapu. This was the small
hole which the Indians believed
communicated directly with the
spirits OF the underworld. Angeli-
que peered into it curiously, though
she had seen traces Of such shrines
In other ruins. This sipapu was
amazingly preserved. She almost ex-
pected to hear some ghostly mes
sage coming from 1t. Instead, an
oppressive silence seemed to press
her back-a stately, all-embracing
silence, AS though she stood in a
long forgotten tomb.
.Apgeliqpe shivered and drew
back with the feeling that she was
desecrating mysterious forces, whose
unknown powers might still be felt
in this ancient shrine. Quickly she
retraced her steps. More than once
she glanced over her shoulder, but
she emerged from the secret panel
without accident and found herself
again In the storeroom. Giving the
panel little push, she was amazed
to see 1t glide back into place, leav-
ing not the slightest crack to show
its location.
She pressed 1t again at about the
} place where she had fallen against
it. After little experimenting she
found the spot where 1t responded
: to her hand. Grimly pleased that
/ she thus held the secret of the
, house In her grasp, she made her
way up the stairs and carefully
. opened the door at the top. No one
was about, so she stepped out, shut
and locked the door and walked
away.
Once more In her own room
she reviewed her adventure In de.
tall. The thought flashed through
her mind that II the de Forests
found the secret rooms conven-
lent for keeping things. why
!; shouldn't she. too, put them II
use? Suppose she could gel
Betty WEIGH. for instance, dowr
those steps and behind that slid
, ing panel. 1t would be a perfect