The Republican journal., 1901-09-12
SPIRITED AWAY.
BY ]. A. BOLLES.

robberies that had been perpetrated in
their midst. The principal dry goods
store had been broken into and $500
dollars worth of silks taken from the
shelves and 5000 in specie and in bills
stolen from the safe; the post office
had been robbed; and even the vault of
a bank had been blown open, and not
less than $4,000 in money and $4,000
in coupon bonds had been secured by
the miScIeants. In not one instance
were any of the fellows captured, and
no clew as to their hiding place or rem
devious for the planning of their rob-
berries could be obtained.
Alarming as was the continuation of
the robberies, it was surpassed by an
occurrence that proved to be the cul-
mination of the work of the despera-
does. One night the beautiful daughter
of Colonel Blocker, the richest citizen
of the city, was kidnapped. That the
deed had been done by the robbers for
the purpose of keeping the maiden un-
til they could obtain liberal ransom
from the distracted father there could
scarcely be doubt. The circumStan-
tial evidence showed that Helen Bleek-
er had been chloroformed while sleep
ing in her bed, after which blanket
had been wrapped about her and she
had been borne from the house and
spirited away.
Helen had a lover named Malcolm
Macdonald, shrewd young lawyer,
who was confident that the headquar-
tiers of the kidnappers were in the era
ter of lava beds about 20 miles south
west of Albuquerque. This belief was
not shared by many people, however.
for the cave had often been visited by
hunters, contained no hidden receSses,
and was not adapted to purposes OF
concealment or defense. But suffice it
to say that Macdonald knew what he
was about when he resolved to attempt
the rescue of the dear girl to whom he
was betrothed, by organizing party to
search for her captors among the lava
beds Five of his friends, all of them
stout-hearted and adventurous young
fellows, agreed to aid him. Armed to
the teeth, and mounted on good horses,
the party quietly left Albuquerque
three hours after the abduction of Hell
en- became known. When they arrived
within sight of the lava beds they
placed their horses in the care OF
trustworthy ranchman, and with
watchful eyes walked toward their des-
tination.
The lava beds were several acres in
extent, and were in the shape OF low
and broken cone, the top of which was
followed out SO as to resemble a huge
bowl. The latter was all that remained
of the crater of an extinct volcano,
and so long had destroying influences
been at work that the sides had conSid-
erably fallen away and crumbled until
the once deep bowl was now so shallow
that it was easy to walk into and out OF
it.
The young men, holding their rifles
in readiness in case of an attack, de-
Scended into the great bowl and adj
vanced until they came to the mouth
of the cave. The opening was large,
and from it a good sized passage wound
downward Il distance of ten feet to the
cave, which was about a rod long, and
shaped like right-angled triangle.
The adventures satisfied themselves
by cautious exploration that the rob
bers were not in the cavity. A little
later, while, torch in hand, they were
examining the bottom of the hollow.
they discovered square section OF the
lava floor was slightly separated from
the surrounding lava. The excited
men pounded on the slab of lava until
they broke it sufficiently to enable
them to grasp the pieces and remove
them. \ deep hole was revealed ex-
cept where narrow shelves extending
OH four sides had served to support
the edges of the block. 1t was proba-
BILE that the party was at the entrance
Of the hiding place of the robbers, at
the mouth of the second cave lying be-
meath the one they were in. The sup
position was that one of the robbers
had accidentally broken through the
floor of the first cave at point where
it was thin, and had thus discovered
the entrance to the second cavern. 1t
was further surmised that i'll order to
keep their valuable discovery a secret
the outlaws had Immediately cut a
block of lava from the extensive beds
outside of the cave and had fitted it
above the hole in the manner already
described.
Macdonald determined to make the
descent of the shelving sides of the hole.
He argued that the robbers were I'M
doubtedly asleep at that hour, and that
the chance of coming upon them before
reaching the main cave was small.
Seeing that they could not diSsuade him,
and admiring his boldness, the young
men discontinued their objections; and
after they had assured him that they
would defend him should he come forth
pursued, and would avenge his death
should he be killed, they babe him god
speed as he entered the cavity. He was
armed with long hunting knife and a
brace of pistols, and carried in his hand
a dark lantern. Closing the slide of the
lantern SO as to conceal the light he
crept in darkness down the passage.
At last he stood upright and moved on
a level. He was in the cave. The
sound of washing waters came to his
startled ears, and he inferred that he
stood upon the edge of a subterranean
lake. After considerable hesitation he
ventured to turn on the light. A weird
spectacle was presented to his view.
Above was the roof of the cave, COM
posed of shaggy lava, from which rocks
protruded so much of themselves that
it seemed as if they might fall at any
moment The sides of the cavern were
equally rough, and with the exception
of the shelf of lava on which Mac
Donald stood the bottom of the cave
was covered with a gloomy waste of
waters.
Soon MacDonald's attention was ar
rested by a singular sight A huge
mass appeared from the gloom beyond
the reach of the lanterns rays and
slowly advanced toward him. 1t was
not craft belonging to the robbers, as
NJoonoroI1 bod of rcf foaro6 h1lt yUac