The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-21
Blonde
For Bait
BY ROB EDEN

The far side of the room seemed
boxed into a separate little apart
ment no larger than closet, and
she was about to satisfy her curl
osity by stepping in to look at II
more closely when she heard Rick
and Caithness returning ana
turned to greet them.
Lunch Is Ready
Lunch is ready" she called. and
for the next few minutes all three
Of them were busily engaged with
the food she had brought. Rick
poured the steaming hot coffee
into tin cups he brought from the
cabin.
Caithness seemed to have thawed
out a bit and his face didn't seem
as forbidding as when they had
first arrived.
"Caithness that's an unusual
name" Ellen commented, as she
put down her coffee cup. You're
a relative of Gwen, aren't you, Mr..
Caithness ?"
"Oh. you've met her, Ell? Yes,
she's my daughter"
Ellen told him she'd met Gwen
hlst recently and recounted the cir
When she mentioned Karl's name
she thought the mans jaw set
little firmer, but couldn't be sure.
Maybe he was only biting on the
stem of his pipe which he had
loaded up and lit as he relaxed
after his meal.
"How's the gold mining coming
along?" she asked. That time she
was certain she saw the two men
exchange quick glances.
"Er-oh, just $685." Caithness
IT'S an old mine" Rick ex-
planned land we've been doing ex-
ploratory work rather than actual
ly taking out any ore.
1T was abandoned years ago
when water from an underground
stream started seeping in. Henry,
here, has an idea that a new type
of pump on which he's been work.
ing, may solve the problem.
IF we can get the water level
down. and then keep the pumps
going, well be able to get down to
the rich VEIN"
Somehow, the elaborate explain
alton didn't ring true to Ellen and
she wracked her brain trying to
think of what really lay behind this
hidden cabin in the mountains ana
Kicks visits to 1t.
Close Friendship
At any rate, the relationship be.
tween Gwen and Henry Caithness
explained the close friendship with
Rick. Gwen, at any rate, knew
the secret purpose behind the hide
out, but Ellen was sure she'd never
be able to pry any information out
of Gwen.
She didn't seem to be the type
who would talk very readily unless
she knew you very intimately.
Busy with her thoughts, she
didn't hear Rick the first time he
spoke to her, but she did notice
the two men suddenly get to their
feet.
I'm sorry" she said Il didn't
understand what you said"
Il said we were going to take a
look at the shaft" Rick answered.
ITS a pretty tough place to get
at, so maybe you'd rather stay
here. Well only be gone a short
time.
There are magazines in the
cabin if you want to read, or you
might go for walk if you'd like.
Better stick to the trail though.
as it's rough going
ANY snakes around - she
asked.
I've pretty well cleaned them
out" Caithness answered. There
were nests Of them around in the
rocks when l first came, but /
haven't seen one now for month"
The girl shuddered.
Thanks" she said. Il believe
I'll stay here. This may be their
day to come out again"
Men Laugh
The men laughed, and walked
away. AS soon as they were out
of sight, Ellen moved quickly to
the cabin and walked to the small
walled off place she had seen be-
fore luncheon.
Cautiously. she opened the door.
1t was pitch black inside, and she
involuntarily stepped back. There
was a peculiar odor of chemicals
which seemed to billow toward
her.
NIlf lpbhtu dDbul TIC tabiiit
finally found a flashlight on the
table, and returned with it to the
little room.
Trembling. not knowing what TO
expect. she flashed on the light
and gasped in Amusement.
It was a completely equipped
dark room. Al one side. in a roll,
she saw what appeared to be a
number of blue prints. She care
fully shut the door and replaced
the nashlight where she had
found il.
What in the world did Caithness
want with a dark room way out in
the desert. And what did those
blue prints mean?
She went TO the cabin door,
family heard the two mems voices
approaching. and hurried outside.
O. - 49,. CLEARING the rahle