Wichita eagle., 1889-05-02

"H your worship will spare me few
minutes of your time, have something
would like to show you"
"What is its"
"Come and see"
"Is 1t far?'
"Nothing of vast importance should be
thought fart" was the equivocal reply. 1T
is this way-pray follow mel"
My curiosity being little excited, re-
Joined as I went after him:
snake haste then, Pedro; for am anx-
ious to get to the fresh, pure air above"
Pedro quickened his pace, and kept close
behind him. Turning here and turning
there, out Of one passage into another the
fellow continued walking rapidly for at
least five minutes, by which time had got
completely bewildered, and feared he had
or would get So At length, as was about
to demonstrate, he suddenly came to a halt
upon the brink Of what appeared to be q
dry well, the mouth of which was about
four feet in diameter, and the sides in
clining outward from the perpendicular, so
that the bottom was broader than the top,
and the entire excavation slightly conical
in form.
''Do you see thisa" exclaimed Pedro,
turning his black eyes full upon me, with
peculiar, glittering sort of look of
triumph.
81 see it-yes-a we'll"
"Of silver, Senor-of silverI Ha. ha!
Perhaps of gold, too, Senior. Who knows.
And then speak Of the diamonds in a
whisper, my friend, lest the walls should
have ears.n
II do not understand you, Pedro" SAID
/, wondering what the fellow could mean.
Il OF ~
IA King!'
Youp'
Gay, me--just as you see me here-al.
though at present wear no royal robe"
THAT is fact which is quite apparent"
returned l, scarcely knowing whether to
laugh or look vexed pray, your Majesty,
where is your kingdoml"
MY Silver Halls are herel" he said, point
ing down the well. "Lstenl what I want
Is prime minister-one who can tend to
my affairs when l am away. But am told
the chosen one must be spirit, and not 4
mortal, and my royal pleasure is that you
shall serve me in that capacity"
AS he spoke ne sprang behind me, and
pushed me so suddenly that, not being pre-
pared for the assault. l went over the verge
of the well in spite of myself, and fell heav
lily to the bottom, q distance of some fifteen
feet, but fortunately without breaking any
bones. l arose with perfect presence of
mind, and as looked up to the contorted
face Of the miner, who was now bending
over and glaring down upon me, the whole
truth flashed upon me:
He aCds q maniac, and I tuds IN his po,ueri
1t was a terrible discovery to make in my
situation, an my heart fairly quailed at the
thought that the place might be my grave.
1t would be impossible for me to get out
without assistance; could not expect help
from the mailman who had put me there;
and what chance was there that any one else
would find me, or even think of looking for
me, in that out-of-the-way placef These
were my first thoughts, that flashed through
my mind in an instant, and the next were
that should humor the fellow, fall into the
train of his insane ideas, and try what l
might gain by stratagem.
''Oh, mighty Monarch of the Silver Halls"
said, 81 deeply thank your Majesty for
this evidence of your royal favor, and
humbly beg to assure you that already have
become spirit and your prime minister,
only wishing to do your royal will.''
''You look the same-we see no change"
he replied, now using the kingly plural,
land they told US it would take many days
to effect what we desire"
"Who told your Royal Majesty thiss"
"Our ubiects."
"And is it possible your Majesty can be-
heve your plebeian subjects before your
noble ministers"
1--WE should not, perhaps; but days are as
nothing TO spirit; and as you are now a
spirit, we will leave you for few days, and
then let you know our royal pleasure"
With this he smiled a grim smile, waved
his hand majesticslly, turned and disap-
peared. l called after him, but he returned
me no answer, and 1 could hear his echoing
footballs slowly receding till they died out
in the distance.
1t was useless for me to attempt to de-
scribe my feelings when thus found myself
left alone in darkness, at the bottom of pit
from which l could not extricate myself,
and in a part of a deserted mine, from
which, if / were wholly free, might never
find my way to the world above. Though I
felt myself literally buried alive, yet l did
not at first wholly despair A faint hope
fingered that my guide might go back with
out me, his condition become known, myself
be missed and search be instituted for me;
but then the chances were so many against
my ever beng found while living that the
comfort, which finally went out in horri-
BILE gloom that was worse than death itself.
For three mortal days and nights-the
time of which was all one rayless, awful
night to me-did I remain in that fearful
pit; and then, nearly dead from hunger,
thirst and despair felt as if l was going
mad myself For a long time 1 had called
and shouted and shrieked for help and now,
no, 2 ha fol, ofl r
around my prison, beat my head against Its
earthern walls, tore my hair, bit my flesh,
and shrieked because of the horrors that
seemed to set my brain on fire, and when at
last | heard human voices, and saw lights
flashing above me, | was in that state when
the mind, lowering on the verge of insanity,
is not able to distinguish the true from the
false-the real from the lmaginary-and
whether these were beings of earth or de-
mons from the other world, / had lost the
power to determine.
hynext remembrance is of finding myself
in bed, and being tended with care; but 1t
was two weeks from the day entered that
mine before had sufficiently recovered to
relate my story and learn of the manner Of
my discovery.
Pedro, it seems. had gone back to his
work in the mine as though nothing IN
usual had occurred; and subsequently,
when questioned about me, he replied. in a
very straightforward and intelligent man
ner. that he had conducted me to the upper
shaft, and then left me at my own request.
1t was there supposed had gone out when
no one was about, and departed in very
uncivil way, and no search was made for
me. In fact, l owed my life to accident
one OF the miners. having occasion TO visit a