The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-24
The BOttOInlGSS Pit.
by WALLACE Il. REED.

belle of the place.
The young man had gone out for walk late
one afternoon, and his failure to return by the
next morning had excited considerable uneasi-
ness and alarm.
There wero no lnwless characters in Iron
dale, No tramps had been seen in the vicinity.
1t was hardly possible that Hinton had been
waylaid and murdered
The town marshal was spoken to about the
matter.
"Wait," he said in faint whisper, after
the case had been explained.
do you suspect auything-have you
clew p asked old Colonel Maxwell Armies
father.
"Ifush!" said the marshal, at will not do
for me to say anything now. 1t would spoil
everything"
This encouraged the missing mans friends
little, but left them hopelessly in the dark.
Gle was last seen walking in the direction
of the Bottomless Pit" remarked young man,
eagerly. Why not send out searching party
and scour the country in the neighborhood o.
the Iit?"
''See here" said the marshal, 'you are too
fresh, you are. Wen get up the searching
party but wen not go to the Pit Wen take
the woods on the opposite side of town, and go
over every square inch"
breath, 'if it is known that John was seen go
ing towards the Pit, what do you mean by
making your search III the opposite
direction?'
The marshsl frowned Then no winked one
eye.
81 understand these things better than you
do" he replied. "There is nothing to see at
the Pit John never spent any time fooling
about such place, You may be sure that he
changed his course and went to the woods"
The villagers had their doubts, but they
thought it best to be guided by the marshal.
So large party was organized, and u number
Of men and boys spent the day beating the
woods.
The most active member of the party was
Stephen Marks Stephen was q stalwart
young man standing six feet two in his boots.
His height, his long black hair and dark face,
and his stentoffan voice all combined to make
him striking figure in crowd. He had plen-
I7ty Of holdness,and DASH too, qualities essen
tial in alead4r.
Stephen Marks had been Hinton's most
intimate friend, and he seemed to have a
brotherly affection for Annie Maxwell Under
the circumstances it was natural that lie
should be foremost in the search for his lost
friend,
Ii the grief. tric.-en Annie relied upon any
one man to find and restore her lover it was
the strong and daring Stephen. The little
woman admired Johns comrade, and had the
most perfect trust in him
"Oh, Stephen, you will find him - she said
imploringly, when tho young man called on
her in the morning to tell her that he was
going out with the searching party,
"If he is alive | pledge myself to return
with him." said Stephen taking the little
-,
girls anxious eyes.
"You loved him, and he was devoted to
you,' said Annie.
Stephen WINGED at this He did not look like
a man with tender heart, but when he was
talking to his old friend sweetheart he could
not hide his emotion His face was pale and
he spoke neryously and with trembling
voice.
"God bless himl" said Annie when he left
her.
The party in the woods had a weary day Of
it. They searhed far and wide but found
nothing.
One of the men in dispar suggested that
somebody ought to 60 to the Pit.
"Will you 90 with me?" lie asked Stephen.
"No, it is useless" Stephen answered. "Our
marshal is right about this thing, There was
nothing at the Pit to attract John. am salts
Jleu mat ne came tllB way"
"Then III go alone" said the other.
"All right" was the surly response, "Go
and waste your labor"
After that Stephen went on sulkily, saying
nothing to anybody, until the close of the day
found them all worn out and ready TO give up
tho search.
Two years elapsed, and still there was no
ri m r "a tyIt T., fI,o
course Of time his fellow townsmen came TO
the conclusion that he was dead, but the man
ner Of his death remained a mystery
Even Annie Maxwell was forced to share
the opinion of others. She knew that if her
lover was alive he would have returned 10
her.
One thing gave her great concern. Stephen
Marks was beginning to make il plainly APP
parent that his interest in her was something
far more serious than mere friendship. For n
long time she was blind to the real state of
affairs but at last she could no longer mistake
Stephens intentions. Once he told her OF his
love, but she begged him 10 understand that
they could never be anything more than
friends.
After while, Stephen grew moody and ir-
ritable. lie held himself aloof from his
neigbbors, andi was rumored that he was
drinking HGfd
These reports gave great pain TO Annie,
She was still the young mans steadfast friend,
and she hoped that lac had bright future be-
fore him.
One afternoon Stephen called on her and
urged her to take o walk
She consented reluctantly. She did not like
10 refuse, but the expression Of her VISITORS
face showed that he was not in an entertain
ing mood.
Their walk brought them finally TO tho Bot
toinless Pit. This remarkable freak Of nature
was not very picturesque, but there was ter
rible fascination in looking down into its black
and uniath0mable depths. 1t was a circular
hole at tao foot Of the rocky hills, rising just
westward Of Irondale, aud had doubtless boon
made by landslide.
Annie looked at tho vawninR mouth Of tina