The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-06

cellarB7 Where DO you 60 down.
stairs from this fioor7"
Pearl John did not answer this
last question directly. He only said,
i've had the basement searched
already. He's not there"
Angelique and Betty came into
the room just then.
Good morning. Where's Pearl
Pierre7" asked Angelique. i've Just
remembered the name Of the race
horse Of my fathers ! was trying
TO tell him about yesterday"
I'VE were wondering II he
wasn't with you some place" Bob
tried 10 keep his voice casual.
"Me7 Why" She asked coyly.
II haven't seen Pearl Pierre since
we all said goodnight here"
That's pretty good, too" thought
Bob as he looked at her curiously.
Where had she been with Pearl
Pierre when he saw them In the
hall outside his door2 And how
about her trailing softly after de
Forest when he opened the Alyster-
ious door that was always kept
locked?
The Indian guard, coming TO the
door just then, claimed Pearl
Johns attention, and they all heard
Broken Shield say that nobody had
gone down the trail to the plains
since the road was opened the day
before.
After he had gone Pearl John
came back into the room, looking
very much disturbed. II think we
had better start TO look for him
here" he said. 1T he's not In the
house, we'll search the mesa"
Accordingly every door in the
hacienda was opened and each
room looked over very thor
oughly, except for the locked door
with the lions head knocker.
That leads down cellar and
I've already had search made
there" Pearl John repeated when
someone spoke Of 1t.
Tante Josephine vigorously pro-
tested an investigation OF her
rooms, but her nephew paid no at
tention to her tuning.
II was lunch time before they
finished. and Pearl John insisted
that they should eat the meal be-
fore they started outside Bob
noticed, though. that de Forest ate
almost nothing himself. Appar-
emily Pearl John was more dis.
turbed than he admitted over his
brothers, abfence. 1t did seem
que> without Pearl Pierre sitting
in his place at the head Of the
table his strange, silent per-
fonality o7c '@i1adowlng everything
elce in The rc1U. Both he and Pearl
Gam had had that almost hypnotic
power OF making themselves felt,
even though they spoke little. 1t was
Il relief to have the younger bro
theirs more genial presence, instead.
II think the girls had better not
come with u.s." said Pearl John
as they rose from the table. TITS
cold and threatening outside"
"Oh, pleased" begged Angelique.
1T gives me the creeps to stay In
here alone, doesn't 1t you, Betty?
And Tante Josephine will be all
right for little while. She's TAX
Ing nap and maid Is with her"
Under protest, Pearl John finally
consented and soon they were all
trooping through the snow, search
ing for something--but what?
The Indian was still In the patio
and Pearl John ordered him TO
come along. As they came 10 the
ash pile where the Christmas
greens had been burned, Ange-
lique and Ramon both eyed 1t
closely. but now there was moth
Ing but a blackened heap.
They went on TO the rock place
where the two had watched Pearl
Pierre poking about In the Gin
ders, and the girl looked at Ra-
mon. He did not sec her; instead
he was staring down over the side
where a black object lay crumpled
On the crags below.
With a cry. Angelique saw ~,
too, and drew back. pointing
shaking hand. 'Therel Down
there"
Pearl Pierre was certainly down
there, lying very still and sprawled
lgrotesquely on the bare rocks. After
the first shock Bob reced back tn
the house for stout rope. When he
returned Pearl John ordered the
Indian TO 90 down over the edge Of
the cliff. The man protested, but de
Forest was firm.
do as I tell you. Broken Shield,
or, by Heaven. tn be the last
time you ever refuse TO do any