The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-02-18

INTO the creVlce as far as he could reach
and by this means was able to discern
The dim outlines of another chamber
similar to the one in which he was
standing. In moving the light about
to get better view, the lamp tumbled
OFF and rolled out of reach; and in en-
deavoring to recover it with the pick
the point of the latter became so firm
ly fixed in crack in the rock that
he was unable to eXtricate it. ''That
was q bright thing to do" he said,
pausing to wipe the perspiration from
his forehead. II suppose it would have
been all the same if my life had depend
ed upon that trumpery excuse for q
light. Fortunately, l can get out either
way without it,
He elected to go back by the way he
had come, and when he was once more
in the open air he found that he had
just time to walk back to Tregarthen
before dinner. On the way down the
mountain he debated with himself as
to whether it were best to tell Ludlow
Of his discovery at once. There was no
apparent reason why he should not
do so, but he argued that there was
also no occasion for haste; a delay OF
a few days could make no difference,
and in that time he might be able to
gather additional information which
would fit into the discovery and SO
make it more valuable. Taking this
view of the matter, he determined to
say nothing to Ludlow about the exist
ence of the crevice-cave; and in reach
ing this conclusion he forged the first
link in a chain that was to bind him
at time when he would have given
life itself for an hour of freedom.
Passing the furnace on his way to the
village, he called for Ludlow, and they
walked home together. In answer to
his friends question. Ringbrand replied
that he had spent tfie forenoon on the
mountain. "I've been thinking about
the story you told me this morning."
he added. Cant you give me more of
the details?"
"About the feud, you mean?"
eyes"
Ludlow complied by giving a minute
account of the rise and progress of the
vendetta, repeating his suspicious
about the agency of the Bynums in re-
tarding the work of the McNabb.
"What reasons have you for suspect
ing them?" asked Ringbrand.
mo one else had any motive for in
terfering with us, and I am sure that
some one blew down the roof of the
tunnel more than once"
"How can you be sure of that?"
VI saw the marks of the blasts, and I
smelled black powder; our workmen
were using nothing but dynamite. Be-
sides l questioned some of the people
living in the valley near the McNabb,
and several of them had heard the ex.
plosions."
"Did you have the tunnel guarded
at night?"
''No: didn't reach any conclusion
about it until just as we had decided
to abandon the work. When we be-
gin again, as expect to within few
days-l shall leave a watchman up
there at night"
The place will ask for a brave man."
Il can find cue" rejoined Ludlow,
cheerfully. Don't you want the iob?"
I'm afraid l shouldn't be of much
use; but I'll take it, if you say So"
Ludlow looked increduIous. THAT
doesn't sound much like the line YOU
took this morning."
mo, | know it doesn't; but perhans
I'm little like the man who wanted
drink of whisky in order to ascer-
tain what effect it would have on him.
I've tried moral suasion on my weak
ness until I'm convinced there's no
virtue in that kind of treatment, and it
mas occurred to me that a heroic dose
OF carnage may be what is needed"
ut may be, but 1 shouldn't go around
hunting for the occasion if were you,"
replied Ludlow, holding the gate open.
Perhaps I'll have to-" said Ring
brand, as they entered the house. Pos
sibly the occasion will hunt me-"
TO BE CONTINUED.