Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/211

 his hand and pressed the moulding behind which lay the spring. The panel flew open and a rush of cool air took Stella's breath.

"Heavens!" she exclaimed, clinging suddenly to John's arm, "why, I had no idea it could open here just behind us in the hall!"

He could feel her tremble.

"There's not the slightest danger—you need not be afraid," he said, tenderly. "Wait, I'll get the candle and go before you."

He took the candle from the centre table and entered the passage-way, closing the panel.

"Wait, you must hold my hand," Stella cried timidly.

He took the soft little hand in his with a throb of joy and carefully led her down the tiny stairs into the basement, where the passage turned between two walls and again descended a half dozen steps to another door which led out of the house into the long straight way to the vault.

Trembling with excitement, she clung in silence to his hand as they entered the long damp passage. He closed the door suddenly, the sound crashing through the narrow walls in a thousand startling echoes.

Stella sprang into his arms, nestling close and whispered:

"Mercy! what was that?"