Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-04-27
CHAPTER xxx.
THE SAND CAVFRN.

L
THE SAND CAVERN.
When Walter came 10 himself he was
in some dark place lying on his back. He
put out first one hand and then the
other cautiously. He was net in the
barn. for it was not straw that he
Touched but something cold and dry. 1t
was sand. He knew it by the raspy UNI
comfortable feel of it, Now. as we
know, Walter Anderson was not boy
easily frightened. He remembered that
something had fallen on him as he came
NJ the path that led to the Hanging
! Shaw. He felt for his knife and it was
with a pang that he recognized that il
was gone. 1t was his sole defense He
began to move cautiously. He could feel
the loose grains under him. and the com
pact, sandy walls dry and hard all about
nm. Trying to crawl iii a straight line,
he became aware of a sharp pull on his
left ankle. He turned quickly. and put
ting his hand down to the place. found
an iron ring went round his ankle to
which a chain was attached. lie fol
lowed thu, chain with his hand till i came
to staple driven deep into n wooden up
right. Putting his hand forward. he
heard the ruStling of straw. and. crawl
ing cautiously forward. he found himself
IN an arched wooden barrel, the bottom
of which was covered thicllly with straw,
( 1 1t DdIItI WIS open 1T b0lH tnuS, auu
/ through the further there came faint
glimmering of light. Walter crawled to-
wards it, but had not got his own length
! when the pull on the ring round his ankle
told him that he had got TO the limit Of
his tether.
Walter Anderson lay long while on
his elbow watching the gimmering light
as it gradually faded away, and complete
darkness surrounded him. He had not
the least idea where he was or what
would become of him, hut he had been
trained in the belief that there is nothing
50 unbec0ming a man as tears, besides
which they were generally useless; so he
crawled back into his barrel, curled him
self up among the straw. adjusted his
chain and ring in as easy position as
possible said his prayers, and went
quietly to sleep.
utes to convince himself that he had not
been dreaming. but the chain and ring
We're too patent, and the straw of the
| barrel had not the fresh crispness of
the corn sheayes in the barn.
He began to feel hungry. 1t occurred
! to him to wonder if shouting would do
! any good. Finally he decided that he
would not shout. for very likely the per
sous who might hear might he more IN
clined to do him harm than good.
The light through the opening grew
! brighter till the whole of Walters cay
w
on his elbow looking wistfuly at the
angle of the sandy wall round which he
could net see In little while he heard
/ someone moving toward him. but even
! then II did not occur to@lim TO be afraid.
As he watched there came round the
! bend slender figure clothed in
long, ragged garment Of some
/ faded color. 1t was girl with
elf locks, and such bcady black
eyes swimming in luster that Walter
gaSped with amazement.
/ What may ye be?" he questioned, in
Stin!ctiyely' after a pause to recover him
They ca me the 'Hoolct.' :" said the
vision, frankly.
But what's yer ither namc?" said
! Walter who like all boys, was s;ickier
for @enealogy.
NJ mithcr cas- me Jenny when she's
/ pleased, an my father does nae;hirg but
ca me over knocks me over returned
the girl. sharply.
surely I've seen ye afore?' continued
Walter, atfahy.
"Ou. ay ye pat GOT yer tongue at me
the last time We met me on the hill. an
We cloddit my iva hrthers wi stanes for
/ NEEDING wi ger black pet lamb
Then ven be YIN o the Beans Wal
ter said, beginning TO realize in whose
hands he was.
Jenny Bean is my name. Can We him
Walter could not slinsay the fact. but
/ he wished heartily 1t had been otherwise
/ Gone here. and let me tool. nj We, .Jen-
ny. Ay. bnt yc hae bonny een!"-this
with the guile of the deceitful sex.
Jenny came nearer, and sat down by
the side Of the barrel, pleased in spite Of
/ herself.
What for did ye pit DOT yer tongue at
me, gin | haze bonny cen! They're the
same wins had afore.' she asked peril
nently.
I'VE wa!na let me look at them" said
Waite. with polite caution. Can We no
let me DOT O this he continued.
INA. that l canna-it was my father
| that brpcht We here. and an awfu like
man wi him. This is where he keeps the
dowgS he steals, continued Sawny
Beans daughter frankly; Il Gamma let
We ava, but | can bring ye something
Can We no gang an tell my mither.
them said Waite, an she'll come an
Ma" said the ''Hoolo;." my father
has lockit the door, an even my mliher
! comes hame. He droonS the dowgS mat
he gets nae siller FOR i the loch; but I'm
sure he'll no droon you.
Walter was glad to hear this but
wished he could put more falth. in the
I assurances. Then the "Hoolet' brought
( Waite a jug of 'treaclc-ale and three
! farrels of cake.
There's an awful bonny wee lassie up
/ at Deeside that | saw ye playin WI,
suggested the 'Ho0let;" where does she
come frac?'
she comes frae France" said Waite.
enthusiastically. "Ay, she's the bonnieSt
/ -
The "Hoole." here stamped her bare
! foo, on the sand floor Of the dungeon.
Get her - fetch We treacle beer an
cake. then" She exclaimed. as she flung
! off down the passage.
Walter listened 20 the sound Of her re.
] treating footsteps. He was sorry he had