Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-10-01

such a matter TO do it in. At that rate
i.'ll be dark when get back to Lud-
lows; but that won't matter. An hour
will give me all the time want at Toms,
and we can figure safely up To ten
O'Clock" Then the folly of planning
50 far ahead while he was still in a
prison that for two days and half had
resisted all his efforts Ia break il
struck him like the rcbuke of a task
master, and hc slid down frnm the log
with a mild imprecation pointed at
his own Vagarics. That's Just like
me" he muttcrcd, "scnding my imagin-
alton across the river before the bridge
is even planned. Work is the word. You
speculative idiot! DO You hear that?
Work."
To his great astonishmcnt, the word
seemed Ia bring AN answer from the
upper world. and ne ran TO the other
end of the cavern IL listen. The halloo
was repeated, and he answered il with
all the strength of his lungs; once again
he heard the cry, hut this time il was
fainter, and after that the silence was
undisturhcd. Alive To the Importance
OF utilizing every moment of time. Ring
brand returned to his work; but the cN-
piring glimmcr of the hope raised 10y
the answering shout left feeling of
depression which would have un
manned him had he known that one Of
the searching miners had actually
looked down into the cavern at the
la oil 4
from the first step of his predetermined
stair.
Fitting the first round of the ladder
from the solid standing ground offered
by the bottom of the cave was much
easier than the adjustment of the sec
ond, hut Eingbrand had his plans well
thought out now, and he worked care
fully and mcthodically. saving the pre-
cious moments in every possible way.
Climbing 10 seat upon the round al
ready placed. he hoistcd the other
piece of wood after him 10y means of
tie rope; and, balancing upon the pre-
carious footing, he succeeded after
many cautious trials in hcwing ont a
resting place for the second step in
lis stairway. With the fixing of this
round, however. the difficulties immCdi-
atCly doubled, because the subsequent
steps must be fitted each from the slight
scairoldinC afforded by the other. Max
ing final trip TO the floor of the cavern,
Ringhrand tied one end of the rope 10
the pick, and, carrying the other end
with him, he assembled and fastened
il To the first piece of wood. Then,
climbing 10 the second, he repeated
the former operation. diSlodging the
lower round 10y gentle upward blows
with the swinging pick and drawing
il up until he could grasp and raise it
10 n point still higher i'm the cavern.
Ere plan was completely successful,
iaJ its slow progress consumed the
noe remorsclcssly, and the strain of
work and anxiety began To tell upon him.
lie fought desperately against the ris-
ing fever of Impotence, knowing well
enough that everything now depended
upon his ability TO go on with persist
Ont determination and with steady
hands. As he neared the roof of the
cavern. where the shadows were deeper,
the difficulty of placing the cross-pieces
increased SO greatly that he grew faint
and dizzy with lifting and reaching;
and while he was raising the last step
in the stair TO its place between the
walls, he suddenly became blind and
tremulous, the heavy log slipped from
his hands and went crashing TO the bot
tom of the chasm, ard q second after