Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-31

| lJS not the nrSt time I've Deen treas
ure hunting, but I'll swear it shall be
the last. I've had enough of these fool
cries"
dangerous light was gathering in
Kitwater's eyes. He moreover drew
the iron bar as if in anticipation of
trouble, and placed his fists defantly
on his lips.
"If you're going to talk like that,
my boy" he began, with never a
quaver in his voice, Its best for US
to understand each other straight off.
Once and for all. let me tell you that
I'll have none of your bounce. Wheth-
er or not this business is destined to
come to anything, you may rely upon
one thing, and that is the fact that
did my best to do you good turn by
allowing you to come into it. There's
another thing that calls for comment,
and you can deny it if you will It's
O fact that you've been grumbling
and growing ever since we left Ran
coon, and have made difficulties in
Vulnerable where you needn't have
done so, and now, because you think
the affair is going to turn out badly,
you round upon me as if it were all a
put-up job on my part to rock you Of
your money. It's not the thing, Hayle,
and don't mind saying that resent
it,"
You may resent it or not, as you
darned we'll please" said Hayle dog
gedly, biting at the butt of his cigar
as he spoke. st don't matter curse
to me; you don't mean to tell me you
think I'm fool enough to stand by and
see myself"
At that moment Codd, who had
been away Investigating on his own
account, and had no idea of the 9TH
ers' quarrel, gave a shout of delight.
He was at the further end of the
courtyard, at spot where q dense
mass of creeper had fallen, and now
lay trailing upon the stones. The eff
feet upon his companions was in
Simultaneous. They abandoned their
quarrel without another word, and
picking up their crowbars fastened
to the spot where he was waiting for
them.
What have you found, little man?"
inquired kitwater, as he approached.
Mr.. Codd, however, said nothing in
reply, but beat with his bar upon the
stone beneath him. There could be
little or no doubt about the hollow
sound that rewarded his endeavors.
We've got it," cried Kitwater.
Bring the pickax, Hayle, and We'll
soon see what is underneath this
precious stone. We may be at the
heart of the mystery for all we
| know"
In less time than it takes to tell,
dayle had complied with the others
request, and was hard at work pick
| ing out the earth which held the
enormous fagstone in it's place. A
state of mad excitement had taken
hold of the men, and the veins stood
out like whipcord upon Hayle's fore
mead. 1t was difficult to say how
many feet separated them from the
| treasure that was to make them lords
OF all the earth. At last the stone
showed signs of moving, and it was
possible for Kitwater to insert his
par beneath one corner He. did so,
PRED it up, and leaned upon it with
all his weight. It showed no sign Of
moving, however. The seal of Time
was set upon it, and it was not to be
lightly disturbed.
Push your bar in here alongside
of mine, Coddy," said Kitwater at
last. II fancy we shall get it then"
The little man did as he was di-
rected' kitwater and Hayle seconded
his efforts on the other side, and then.
under the strain of Their united exer-
lions, the stone began 10 move slow
~ from its place. Little by little they
raised it, putting all the strength
they possessed into the operation, I'M
TIL at last, with one great effort they
hurled it backwards, and it fell with
crash upon the pavement behind
them, revealing a dark, narrow hole,
the bottom of which it was impossi-
BILE to see.
Now, then, Gideon, my worthy
friend, what have you got to saw
about the business?" asked Kitwater.
as he wiped the perspiration from his
brow. You pretended to doubt nv
story. Was there anything in the old
frenchman's yarn after all? Were
we wasting our time upon fools err
rand when we set off to explore sen9-
kor-Wat?"
Hayle looked at him somewhat
sheepishly.
mo, no." he said, II am willing to
admit that SO far you have won the
trick Let me down easily if you can.
l can neither pass nor follow suit. I
am right out of my reckoning. Now
what do you propose to do?"
Get one of those torches we brought
with US, and find out what there is in
that hole" Kitwater answered.
They waited while the latter went
back to the camp, and when he reap
peared, and had lighted the torch. they
prepared to follow him down the steps
into the mysterious depths below. The
former, they soon discovered, were as
solidly built as the rest of the palace,
and were about 80 in number. They
were, moreover, wet and Shiny, and 80
narrow that it was only possible for
one man to1descend them at once.
When they reached the bottom they
found themselves standing in mar
row passage, the walls of which were
composed of solid stone, in many
places finely carved. The air was close.
and from the fact that now and again