Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-06

uiu 81, III VIC ACIlVA CnA tahS CAa
wharsomcvcr he's lucky enough to fin
'en,, cayn't hep apw.i. ;r|
They were silent again, and Ring
brand smcllcd tobacco smoke. He stood
motionless in the darkness, trying to
think of some way in which the cold
blooded plot could be frustratcd; there
seemed to he but one way, and his de-
sire for vengeance cooled little as he
thought of it, but he crept into a posi-
tion where he could command the widest
range of space in the other chamber.
and watched for the men TO cross the
narrow field of vision on their way back
to the mine. 1t seemed hours before
they spoke again, and then the gruffer
voice said: II don't believe that thar
lamps gwine out, Buddy"
II reckon hit air, for Shore" was the
reply; but hit don't make no ditr'r-
ence; we-all can fin the way without
hit"
A little later the light faded and flick
cred and then went out, leaving behind
it a darkness that was almost tangible,
and Ringbrand's heart sank as he real.
lied that one chance Of saving Hester's
father and brother was gone. 1t was
only a chance, he knew, for the noun
tainecrs were two to one. and be was
not enough Of q marksman to be sure of
disabling even one Of them; neverthe-
less, he had made up his mind to fire
upon them when they came again in
view, trusting to the shortness Of the
range to offset his lack of skill with the
weapon.
He thought he heard them when they
left the chamber, and again, after what
seemed an interminable interval, there
was faint rustling such as might have
been made by the two. men climbing
out OF the cave. The correctness OF this
last supposition was confirmed short
ly aftcrwar,l by the dull rumble Of q
distant explosion. and the listener knew
that another of the mysterious, attacks
had been successfully made on the
working in the McNabb mine.
With the certainty that the men had
left the cavern, and that with their dis.
appearance his only chance of prevent
ing the terrible conclusion Of their plot
had taken flight, Ringbrand sat up and
strove ficrccly to concentrate his mind
upon some expcdient that would free
him in time to enable him to warn the
Latimers. For awhile the awful re-
sponsibility resting upon him pushed
him so near to the edge of distraction
that connected thought was an impos-
sibilty, and he got up and tramped up
and down the familiar limits of his cell
in fcverish agony of helplessness.
Then his brain cleared again. and one
plan after another was considered and
rejected. The sandstone was compara-
lively soft--could he not dig through
to the other chamber?-ves, possibly,
but it would take too much time. The
other end of the cavern was filled with
broken rock and earth which had fallen
into the crevice from above-could he
not dig enough Of this down 10 make it
possible to climb out on the heap of de-
bris?--undoubtedly, in time, but the
finding in the mn ASs of single bowlder
too large to bc loosened might, cost the
lives of two men. No, there must be no
more experiments.
At last, when the travail OF suggcs-
tion had become well-nigh unbearuble
in its hopeless iDsistence, he stumbled
over the log; at the same instant, as
il the shock had opened the door of his
understanding, n possible solution OF
the problem, clear and distinct in every
detail, flashed upon him like an inspira-
ton, ind he threw himself down upon
the sand to watch for the coming OF the
daylight, praying with what faith there
was in him for strength and dexterity
to enable him to earn his freedom quick
ly.