The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-08-07

s1o 1850 -
sound Of rushing water and clashing
winds. The sky overhead was blue
and ~cloudless; the air Mt that altitude
was crisp and rarefied. and held the
odor of spruce pine. With a laugh
Pole dismounted. What ef | was to
tell you. Mr.. Craig. that you was iD
ten yards o my old den right now?"
Craig looked about in surprise. I'D
think you was making fun of me-ten-
derfootiD'. as we used to say out west"
I'm givin' it to you straight" saiu
Pole. pointing with his riding switch
"Do you see that pile o. rocksy"
Craig nodded.
fright under them two fat ones IS
the mouth o. my den." said Pole.
'Now let's hitch to that hemlock. au
I'll show you the whole thing"
When they had fastened their horses
10 swinging limbs in Il dense thicker
of laurel and rhododendron bushes.
they went TO the pile of rocks.
II toted mighty nigh all of EN- from
higher up" Pole explained. .'Some
o. the biggest | rolled down from that
cliff above"
IL don't see how you are going to
get into you hole in the ground" saiu
Craig. with a laugh of pleasant anticl-
patton.
role picked up a big. smoo'h stick
Of hickory. shaped like u crowbar. and
thrust the end of Ii under the largest
rock. Huh! I'll show you in Il jifTy."
II was an enormous stone weighins
over three hundred pounds; but witt,
his strong lever and knotted muscles
the ex-moonshiner managed to slide II
slowly TO the right. disclosing Il BLACK
hole about two feet square In the rag
ged stone. From this protruded int"
the light the ends of n crude ladder
leading down about twenty-five feet
to the bottom OF the cave.
"Cghr' Craig shuddered as he peercd
into the dank b~lackness. You don't
mean that we are to go down there!'
II was n crisis. With his big feet
dangling in the hole. Pole threw him
self back and CAV vent TO a hearty,
prolonged laugh that went ringing ana
echoing about among the cliffs and
chasms.
Il lowed this I'd make yore flesh
crawl" he said. Looks like the open.
in to the bad place. don't it?'
at certainly does" said Craig. some
what treasured by Poles ievity.
"Why, it amt more'n forty feet
square," said Pole. wait till I run
down an make n light. I've got some
fat pine torches down at the foot o
the ladder"
first said Craig. with an uneasy little
laugh.
Pole went down the ladder. reckless
" humping his heels Oh the runSs.
He was lost to sight from above, but
in n I'M Craig heard him strike q
match and saw the red. growing flame
OF a suffering torch from which
twisted a o p of smoke. When it was
well ahlaze, Pole called up the ladder:
Come on now, an watch whar you
rmt yore feet. This end o. the ladder IS
sulid as the rock o. Gibralty."
The square of daylight above was
cut off. and in u moment the ex -banker
stood beside his guide.
Now come down this way" said
role. and with the torch held high be
led the way into Il part of the chamber
where the rock overhead sloped down
lower. Here lay some old whisky bar
rels. two or three lager beer kegs and
the iron hoops of several barrels that
had been burned. There We're several
one gallon jugs with corncob shoppers.
Pole swept his hand over them with a
laugh. IF you was a drinkin' !
could treat you to a thimbleful or two
left in them jugs" he said almost apoi-
ogetically.
But | don't drink. Baker" Craig
said. His premonition of danger seemed
to have returned to him and TO be driv-
en- In by the dank GOODNESS of the cav
ern. the evidence of past outlawry
around him.
Pole heaped his pieces of pine against
a rock and added to them the chunks
of some barrel slaves. which set up a
lively popping sound like a tiny fusil-
lade of artillery.
You see that rock behind you. Mr..
C'raig?" asked Pole. "Well. set down
on It. Before we go any furder me N
you've got to have a understanding"
The old man stared hesitatingly for
an Instant. and then. after carefully
feeling of the stone. he complied.
~ thought we already-but. of course"
ne said haltingly. I'm ready to agree
to anything that II make you feel safe"
II kinder lowed you would" And.
to Craig's overwhelming a~stOnishment.
Pole drew a revolver from his hip peck
ct and looked at it. turning the cylin-
der with a deft thumb.
"You mean. Baker But Craig's