The Portland daily press., 1895-03-09

pnnion to follow him. When they were out
| OF earshot he told of his discovery, which
was the more astounding from the fact taat
II hau always been supposed that Skinner S
mouse mad neither cellar nor basemen t. De-
teImlned to profit by the discovery. o Blien
and his companion waited for later hour
pet ore proceeding any further. Then, still
further disgusting themselves, they pro-
ceeded to reconnoitre Skinner place. Not
ught was to be seen from any of the win
COWS, nor was there sign of any human
being stirring. Cautiously approaching the
door, " Brien tried the latch. but it was
locked. and it resisted all his efforts to force
IL. Meanwhile, his companion had gone TO
the rear of the house, trying windows and
doors in succession. but without success
until he came to the last window. which
gave way after vigorous push. making a
slight noise. Crouching down in the dark
ness. he listened for any movement from
within, but, hearing none. he returned to
O'Brien ana told him of his success. The
two, with dark lanterns, entered the room
and cautiously looked around. 1t WAS the
room adjoining the bar, the door of which
was open. The two men peered in, but all
tour of the house, but found it utterly de-
serted.
Returning to the bar, they began ex-
amining the floor carefully on the spot
pointed out by O'BIien as the place where
he had seen the light. There was no sign of
frap-door there, but The boards. on being
tapped lightly, gave out a hollow sound,
proving that there was chamber of some
sort underneath. They next went behind
the bar, and made minute search. and
| there they were at length rewarded. AT the
back of the bar was sort of sid board, up
on which the bottles of liquor were set out.
There was a cupboard underneath, and it
was in this cupboard that O'Brien found
what he was looking for.
"There were several panels set in the wall
at the back. studded with brass nails. In
examining these nails the sharp eyes of the
officer detected two that appeared to be
larger than the others. Pressing one of
these caused the panel to swing inwardly,
bur the space was not large enough to ad-
NIT mans body. O'Brien pressed the
other one, when a second panel opened, the
two together forming a narrow passage.
Thrusting his lantern into the aperture,
he discovered narrow flight of steps.
Reckoning his companion to follow. he de :
sc nded the steps. Arriving at the bottom
the two found themselve in small cham
beI he sides of which were of rough earth
and the ceiling the flooring of the barroom.
The chamber had evidently been made
within the last few years. as there were
several roots of trees still protruding from
the sides. Not article of any description
was to be seen, nor were there any signs of
human beings.
20 Brien and his companion carefully in
spected the room, feeling along the sides
for any means of exit; but the sides Were
solid, and they were about giving up when
something in one of the corners attracted
their attention. Bringing their lights to
hear on this particular corner, they dis
covered door, but SO carefully was it dis
guaised that it might easily have been
passed over in cursory examination. This
door was not locked. When it was opened
it let in a strong current of air.
Passing through this door the two men
saw stretching before them a long mario q
passage. barely broad enough to permit
them to walk abreast. and scarce hlg
enough to permit them to walk upright.
They proceeded cautiously. each with re-
volver in one hand, and holding lantern
in the other. There as nothing to impede
their progress, and although the passage
was somewhat winding one. it appeared
of uniform height and width.
''They had been walking, they calculated,
for about five minutes, when they felt a
great improvement in the atmosphere.
which had been musty. Soon they saw a
flicker of light. which gradually grew larger
md n n inc
Emerging from this they glanced hurriedly
around. AT their feet lay the waters of
Lake Memphremag og. with tiny row-boat
floating peacefully on the su, face. Turn
ing. they glanced at the entrance from
which they had emerged. but could not at
first discover it. as they advanced two or
three steps TOW ards the beach. RetracIng
their steps. they found that the opening
was formed by two vast boulders, but
whether they had been placed there or
whether they were the work Of nature they
could not determine. However, they were
placed in such position that the opening
could not be seen from the lake. and there
was apparently no place where any body
could land except at the little cove where
lay the row-hoat.
''All this tine not person had they SEEN
What was next to be done? That was the
question that the two men whispeIingly
discussed for a few moments. But they
appeared 10 be of one mind. having come
so far, neither of them was inclined to turn
back without seeing the end of the adven-
ture. They therefore decided to take the
boat and reconnoitre. But here another
surprise awaited them. Taking one of the
oars from the bottom of the boat. O'Brien
attempted to push it off. but instead of GO
ing out in a straight line. the boat shot off
obliquely, rounded rock and then seemed
to float without any means of propulsi on .
The men were naturally astonIshed, but
they soon made the discovery that the boat
was attached TO cable and was being
drawn rapidly through the water. But
where were they going? Peering in the di-
rection in which the boat was proceeding.
they saw short distance ahead of them a
large island, flooded by the moonlight
Several lights We're fitting about, and it
appeared that there was somewh hat of a
commotion. The boat rushed through the
water as though propelled by steam, slight
waves occasionally washing over the Sides
Nearer and nearer the island they ap-
had fbau 4.