Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-20

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darkness and silence there. We gropet
our way down with revolvers ready fo
instant service. After listening intently
awhile I hazarded the lighting of ;
match, expecting nothing less than tha
it would precipitate desperate encoun
ter. No one was there. The mattel
went out, and We were in total darkness
again.
In silence we commenced careful ex.
lploration, feeling our way inch by inch
to discover the secret door or partition
which must be there some where, but we
could detect no break in the continuity
Of the wall. At length, after listening
intently, we were satisfied that we heard
movements Fear the wall where we sup
posed the cellar-doorto be. At the same
time discovered crevice in the Jagged
wall extending perpendicularly from
floor to ceiling. Searching again we
found a similar crevice parallel with the
other about three feet away. This was
evidently the the doorway which had
been filed upto match the wall as nearly
as possible. Eureka! Here was progress;
but now to utilize was the next question.
The chinks were all carefully filed up,
SO that nothing could be seen or heard
through them. Harold placed his foot
in my hand, and raised him up SO that
he could see if there were any forgotten
chinks above.
Leaning heavily against the wall we
suddenly felt it give way, and we We're
precipitated into the very place we had
been looking for.
At the same instant a shrek arose, fol-
lowed by the moaning of a woman. A
light was extinguished, and there was a
sound of hurrying feet, and then all was
still.
Fortunately We were uninjured by our
fall, nor did we for an instant lose our
presence of mind. Springing to our feet
we discharged our revolvers in
quick succession, and the flashes of
light from them showed lis that there was
no enemy to contend with. 1t was a
strange looking den, and evidently its
habitues had provided way Of escape in
time of danger; for at the end of the
small, square cellar there was an open
passage way through which they had
fed.
Harold, with admirable qrIckness,
found the stairway leading to the door
above, and threw it open. This gave
ssme light within, and enabled him to
detect any movement without. 1t was
important for us to know whether they
We're really gone or were still lurking in
the subterranean passage.
.Confound the Villains" shouted he;
they are off like the wind, and with our
horse and wagon, too. No use to follow
them," he continued, as sprang up the
stairs. ''Ihey are lost in the darkness
already. Come back, and let us explore
the den.'
"Well, I suppose it is the only thing to
be done; but 1 hate to think of losing
Brutus, and
'Hush What was that?:" interrupt
ed Harold. A groan came from below
which very seriously disturbed our equa-
nimity.
Striking a match and making torch
of newspaper L had in my pocket, 1
said, 'Follow me-" and jumped down into
the cellar. Harold followed, and we
stood ready to do battle. But there was
no battle to be fought. Almost at our
very feet lay young woman in a swoon,
and from her position we judged that
she had been struck by the falling wall,
and left behind by the others in their
scramble to escape. "You guard the
woman while I explore this passage-way.
We must know we are safe from attack
before anything else, though L think
there is no one else here;" and suiting
the action to the word, Harold seized the
torch and disappeared. LII a few mo-
ments he appeared at the door above and
exclaimed:
"Au right The passage leads to the
stable, and is clear. Now for quick work,
or the scoundrels will be back with re-
endorsements"
First, let us carry this woman up into
the house. where we can have little
light" said L.
carefully carried her into room above,
whree water soon revived her; but she
only opened her eyes to close them again
YEARLY.
She was woman of remarkable beau
ty. To find woman with a classical,
refined face and superb form in place
like this, and in such company, was, to
say the least exceedingly strange.
But we had no time to waste in spec
ulation, and rummaging the closets until
we discovered candles enough for our
purpose, we hastily returned to the I'M
apartment to explore further
Imagine our establishment when, over
turning long bench that stood against
the wall, our eyes were dazzled by the
sight of mass of glittering jewelry in
sufficient quantity to be measured by the
bushel. 1t was in large box, and it
watches, rings, chains, lockets,
and every description of finely wrought
gold ornaments. All had apparently
been in use, and the most of them were
valuable. Many were set with precious
stones At the bottom of the box our de-
lighted eyes rested upon gold coin to
the amount of several hundred dollars |
This without conjunction, we secured
about our persons, so that, come what
might, we would be provided with the
sinews of war. 1t was clear that this
was the plumber of persons who had
robbed the dead and dying on the battle
field or pilfered from the living in the
camps of the armies.
There were thousands of dollars worth |