The morning call., 1893-03-26
"THE LION JUMPED ZOE rRE EYp or 1HE pLANK.a

ranchlng and in due time heard the story
of the mine. he had desire to investigate
the thing, but always changed his mind
when he got to the mouth OF the inclined
shaft.
The mine is located in a most unexpected
spot. 1t is not even near a mountain or
hill. but on the floor OF the Santa Cruz VAL
ley, and person could easily fall into some
of the numerous shafts with out seeing
them. All windlasses and houses have
been DESTROYED. by time and the raids Of the
Apaches. There is nothing to suggest that
a mine exists except the opening.
All the shafts except one re vertical and
considerably over 100 feet deep. The other
shaft Is inclined and can lie descended with
out much trouble.
Allen was passing near this place a week
or 80 ago. He was hot and nearly exhausted
from long ride that began at daylight and
IL was now o'clock. 1t was still a two
hours ride to his ranch, and he thought it
would be good idea TO tie his horse to a
cactus and go down the shaft where il was
cool and rest for half an hour or so.
He thought of the story Of the gnost. but
then he had no fear of that now that it was
daylight Still he was undecided But
after looking around and seeing the burn
ing road that lay before him he made up his
mind to go down. He wished that he could
take his horse. but that was impossible, SO
he fastened him to a cactus that gave con-
siderable shade and left him.
At the foot of the incline, about 40 feet
from the surface, tunnel commenced and
as the air was cool and refreshing Allen
concluded that there was no use In going
further.
The interior OF the mine was clean and
dry and at the place where Allen stopped
there was plenty of light, although few
feet back in the tunnel it was dark, and
gruesome bats few past his head in an un-
canny manner. Again he thought OF the
ghost and this made him conclude that the
foot of tha incline had advantages that
could not be obtained where it was dark
He seated himself where he could see the
sky and the light from it filtered down to
where he was until it was as soft as that in
an old cathedral. 1t was most restful and
refreshing and Allen congratulated himself
on his good judgment that made
him conclude to take the rest He lighted
his pipe and stretched himself out
comfortably, watching the wreaths of pale
blue smoke curl upward and pass out the
top of the shaft into the heat and dust. He
knew it was hot out there. and vision of
the glaring desert fitted before his vision
then he wondered how his horse was getting
along, and concluded he didn't care because
he was so comfortable himself Still he
thought about the horse, and seemed to see
him standing under the cactus with the
burning sun shining all around him, and
then he saw several hundreds of horses
that kept getting more indistinct every mo-
ment. Before he knew it he was sound
asleep. and the bats that he had disturbed
went back to their rocky crevices, and hung
| themselves to the roof upside down.
Allen did not open his eyes for long
time, and when he did he did not know
| where he was. He was conscious that he
was in a vault of inky blackness, the sides
of which were made of cold stone.
A feeling of horror came over him as lie
thought that he might have been buried
! alive.
Then he got to wondering where he was
the last time he was on earth.
The darkness around him was not the
kind he had been accustomed TO. 1t was
nothing but blackness, compared to which
black cat would have looked like q snow
| flake.
There was nothing to start his brain to
working at the right place as his mind ran
back several years to when he had been in
India. and 1t gradually worked up to the
time he stretched himself out comfortably
| on the floor of the mine.
| This did not give him much relief. be-
cause thoughts OF that ghost he had heard
| of would come into his head. Oh. we'll it
made no matter, he would soon be out,
There was no danger as long as be had his
| reyolvers. But when he felt for his re-
volvers he found he didn't have them and
plainly remembered leaving them in the
saddle holster.
But which was the way out?
1t was dark on every side and there was
| nolHIus W lBulCHto Iue Tignt direction.
He felt along the walls, but could find
nothing to guide him. HI had about made
up his mind that he would have TO wait
until daylight, when his hand struck some
thing that felt peculiar. lie took hold of il
and found that il was a piece of candle that
some person who came into the mine out of
curiosity must have left behind. Then he
remembered that he had plenty OF matches.
and wondered why he did not think of IL
before. Perhaps the fear of the ghost was
affecting his brain. But no, that could mt
be, for he did not believe In ghosts and was
not afraid of them, anyhow, But he
wished he had his revolver.
Allen was about to strike match when
he became conscious of a purring sound
close beside him. He looked. and his blood
almost troZe at the sight Of pair of green
eyes looking at him.
he reeled and fell backward and the
blackness around him turned red. while he
could distinctly hear several loud detona A.
tious. ~
Still the eyes glared. and soon he could
see fragments OF human body forming
underneath them: 1t was the ghost and he
felt that he would soon be insane.
But as nothing else happened his mind
slowly recovered its equilibrium and he
gradually came to himself again. The ewes
glared. but did nothing else. and soon n
feeling OF nervousness began TO come over
him,
While quaking in every limb he managed
to strike match. The ghost, that had