The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-05

head, they could see nothing, but as the
great orb gradually disappeared they
began TO see lights and the figures OF
men moving about below. Later they
observed the polished parts OF stupen-
dous machinery-machinery that moved
almost noiselessly. Johnston caught
sight of great network of moving ca
bles reaching from the machinery NJ
through the hole above and exclaimed
enthusiastically:
"A mechanical SUM Electric day
light! What genius A world in a great
cavel Hundreds of square miles and
thousands of well organized people liv-
ing under the light of an artificial sum-
The Alphian looked at him, astonish-
ed. as it not so in your country" he
asked.
Johnston smiled. 1.-THE great sun that
lights the outer world is as much great
er than that ball of light as Alpha is
greater than grain of sand. But this
surely is the greatest achievement of
man. Yet while l now understand how
your sun goes over the whole of Alpha
| | cannot see how it returns.
"Then you have not heard of the
great tunnel of the sum-" replied the
| Alphian.
''No What is it?''
''It runs beneath Alpha and connects
the rising and setting points of the
sun. There is point beneath the king s
| palace where, by staircase, the king
and his officers may go down and in
| spect the sun as it is on its way back to
the east during the day.
| Wonderful
"And once year royal party goes
in the sun over its entire course. 1t is
said that it is sumptuously furnished
| inside and not too warm, the lights be-
ing only innumerable small ones on the
| outside. +"
The two men were silent for mo-
ment. Then Johnston said:
Perhaps we might be able to get in
to it unobserved and be thus carried
over to the other side or reach the pal
ace through the tunnel. "
Branasko started convulsively, and
then, as he looked into the earnest eyes
of the American, he said despondently:
ave have got to die anyway. 1t may
be well for us to think Of it, but on the
other side, in the Barrens, there is no
more chance for escape than here. But
the adventure would at least give us
something to think about. Let's try it. "
All right but how can we get down
there where the sun starts TO rise?" ask
ed the American, peeTng cautiously
over the edge of the hole.
"There must be some way" answer.
ed Branasko. "Ah, seel Farther to the
left there are some lodges. Let's see
what can be done that way
g am with you. "
The rays of the departing sun were
almost gone, and the electric lights
down among the machinery seemed afar
off like stars reflected i'll deep water.
With great difficulty the two men low
cred themselves from one sharp ledge
to another till they had gone half down
to the bottom.
g 1t is 10 use," said Branasko, peer
ing over the lowest ledge. "There are
no more lodges, and this one juts out so
far that even if there were smaller ones
beneath we could not get to them.
That is true, agreed the American
But look! Is not that lake beneath?
think it must be, for the lights are re-
Elected on its surface -
You are right, answered Branas-
ko, land | now see chance for us to
get down safely"
"How?'
The workers are too far from the
lake to see us. We can drop into the
water and swim ashore.
Would they not hear the splashing
of our bodies?''
Il think not, but first let's expert
ment with big stone.''
Suiting the action to the word, they
secured stone weighing about 10
pounds and brought it to the ledge.
Carefully posing it in midair, they let
1t go. Down it went, cutting the air
with sharp, whizzing sound. They
listened, breathless, but heard no sound
as the rock struck the water and the
men among the machinery seemed un-
disturbed. Only the widening circles of
Nt't' cii WV iohO sulluOt
where the stone had fallen.
"GoodW calculated the Alphian.
Are you equal to such plunge? The
water must be deep, and we won't be
hurt at all if only we can keep our feet
downward and hold our breath long
enough. Our clothing will soon dry
down there, for feel the warmth that
comes from below"
The Alphian slowly crawled out OH
the sharpest projection of the ledge.
"Are you willing to try it?" he asked
over his shoulder
Eyes. ~
well, wait till you see me swim
ashore and then follow
Johnston shuddered as the strong fell
low swung himself over the ledge and
hung downward.
"Adieu," said Branasko, and he let
go. Down he fell, as straight as an ar.
row, into the shadows below. For an
instant Johnston heard the fluttering of
the fellows clothing as he fell through