Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/220

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH "That is very bright of you, I am sure, but really I think you are mistaken. Have you searched all the rooms?"

"All except those to the rear."

"I have never looked into those myself," she confessed. "May I go with you? Truly, I am as anxious to uncover this mysterious passage as you are."

She laid her hand upon my sleeve, yet I clung to my first suspicion, determined now to be satisfied with nothing less than a thorough examination of the fireplace.

"Certainly, you may go with me," I answered carelessly. "But the rooms can wait; that big chimney looks to me the more promising."

Convinced by the expression on her face, not only that she knew the truth but that I was upon the right trail, I started toward the rear of the hall, never glancing behind, yet aware that Miss Jean was following. In appearance it was a strange, old-fashioned fireplace, nothing more; large enough to contain a great back log, and overshadowed by a huge mantel. The opening was concealed by an iron fire-screen, leaving nothing visible to arouse suspicion, yet the apparent size of the chimney, and that such a fireplace should be located here upon the second floor, appeared sufficiently odd to merit close attention.

"Have you heard or seen anything, O'Brien?" I asked, as I came up.

"Not a thing, sor," his eyes on the girl, "only the wind. There's a powerful dhraft blowin' up the chimney." [ 206 ]