The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-10-26
SPIRITED AWAY.
By J. A. BoLLEs



The inhabitants of Albuquerque
New Mexico, had become greatly ex.
cited on account of a series OF daring
robberies that had been perpetrate6
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 bank had been blown open
and not less than $4,000 in money
and $4,000 in coupon bonds had been
secured by the miscreants. In not
one instance were any of the fellows
captured, and no clew as to their hid
ing place or rendezvous for the plan
ming of their robberies could be OBJ
tanned
Alarming as was the continuation or
the robberies, 1t was surpassed by an
occurrence that proved to be the cul-
nomination of the work Of tho despera-
does. One night the beautiful daugh-
ter of Colonel Blocker, the richest citi-
zen of the city, was kidnapped. That
the decd had been done by the robbers
for the purpose of keeping the maid
en- captive until they could obtain
liberal ransom from the distracted IA
Their there could scarcely be a doubt.
The circumstant!al evidence showed
that Helen Blocker had been chloro-
formed while sleeping in her bed, after
which a blanket had been wrapped
about her and she had been borne
from the house and spirited away.
Helen had a lover named Malcolm
Macdonald, sh-ewd 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
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 ont so as to resemble
huge bowl. The latter was all that re-
manned of the crater of an extinct
volcano, and so long had destroying
influences been at work that the sides
had considerably fallen away and
crumblej until the once deep bowl was
now so shallow that is was easy to
walk into and out of it.
The young men, holding their rifles
in readiness in case Of an attack, de-
seconded into the great bowl and ad-
vanced until they came to the mouth
of the cave. The opening was large,
and from it goodsiZed passage wound
downward distance of ten feet to the
cave, which was about a rod long and
shaped like a right-angled triangle.
The adventures satisfied themselves
by a 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. A deep hole was revealed, ex-
cept where narrow shelves extending
on four sides had served to support
the edges of the block. 1t was prob
able that the party was at the entrance
of the hiding place of the robbers. at
the mouth of second cave lying
beneath the one they we're in. The sup
position was that one of the robbers
had accidentally broken through the
floor of the first cave at point where
1t was thin, and had thus discovered
the entrance to the second cavern. 1t
was further surmised that in order
to keep their valuable discovery
secret the outlaws had Immediately
cut block of lava from the extensive
beds outside of the cave and had fitted
it above the hole in the manner al
ready described.
Macdonald determined to make the
descent of the shelving sides OF the
hole. He argued that the robbers were
undoubtedly 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 bold
ness, the young men discontinued their
objections; and after they had assured
him that they would defend him should
he come forth pursued and would re-
venge his death should he be killed,
they babe him godspeed as he entered
the cavity. He was armed with long
hunting knife and brace Of pistols,
and carried in his hand dark lantern.
Closing the slide of the lantern go
as to conceal the light he crept in
darkness down the passage. At last
he stood upright and moved on level
He was in the cave. The sound of
washing waters came to his startled
ears, and he inferred that he stood up
on the edge of subterranean lake.
After considerable hesitation he ven
tured to turn on the light. A weird
spectacle was presented to his view.
Above was the roof of the cave, COM
pocad of shapgy lava from which