Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-08-15

he remained oil night, the waters
steadily creeping toward him until
at last 1t seemed to find an outlet
to the west and remained station
airy. The idols and images in the
far corner were half buried in de-
bris and water. The larger one
lifted its head above the food, and
his wicked eyes CLEANED in their
sockets in the flashes of lightning.
Blue flames of electricity ran along
the walls of the cavern; balls of fire
and tongues of phosphorescent fame
glowcd in its depths. Above the
roar and turmoil of the storm, Mr..
Pence could hear wailing cries as Of
some soul in torment. 1t was prob
ably his Imagination, but there were
sounds as II giants were struggling
on the shattered floors above his
head.
Through the long night Mr.. Pence
remained in this cavern and heard
the storm lashing above his head.
No sleep came to his eyelids. When
day came and the last rumble of the
thunder died away in the north,
he was so cramped he could hardly
move. He succeeded in wading
through the water, and after much
effort crawled out into the open
air bringing one of the idols with
him. In the warmth of the sun his
clothes soon dried. He sat down
beneath tree where he could watch
the opening of the cave. He closed
his eyes for moment and fell
asleep.
When Vincent awoke and found
himself alive and not much injured,
except for a confusion on the back
of his head, he hunted for the idols
and soon found them. He was just
starting to return to the ruined city
when he heard shout to the north,
and the next instant the report of
a gun. Vincent shouted in return,
and in a few minutes saw Sidney
Hammond and Palmer j. Morton
coming towards him. Briefly he ex-
planned what had happened. and the
three set forth for the temple where
Mr.. Pence was guarding the treas
ure. The Indignation of Sidney and
Mr.. Morton was tempered by fear
that the millionaire had not sur
vived the fate which his avarice had
tempted.
They soon reached the temple. At
first they did not observe Mr.. Pence.
Vincent had crawled down into the
cavern and announced that no one
was there before Sidney discovered
the slumbering guardian under q
calabash tree.
1t was n pathetic figure which these
three men approached. His hat had
fallen to the ground, and the matted
gray hair half covered the eyes Of
the sleeping financier. One hand
was firmly clutched to the idol. In
the relaxed fingers of the other hand
was stout club. The linen clothes
were bedraggled in mud and slime.
The right foot was in pool of wa
ter. Were it not for the slight but
regular heaving of the soiled shirt
bosom they would have thought him
dead.
Mr.. Morton pushed the idol with
his foot. The hand of the sleeper
instinctively frightened its grip. He
awoke with a start, and with sur
prising agility sprapg to his feet
"Back! back" he shouted. You
shall not have it! l will die first!"
He brandished the club defiantly
and swung n blow at Mr.. Morton,
who stepped back, and narrowly
evaded it.
"Wake up, Mr.. Pence" said Sidney
Hammond. "You are all right! Come
out of your trance; it is time to go
home"
Simon Pence blinked his eyes, ran
his hand over his forehead and came
to his senses. He threw himself into
Sidney's arms and gave way to his
emotions. When he recovered there
was no difficulty in persuading him
to go back to the bungalow. In
fact, he was eager to go. The ex-
periences of the night had overmas-
tered his rapacity. Each of the four
carried one of the images, and an
hour later were on the raft and soon
after all the members of the Social
Island Colony once more were be-
meath the roof Of the bungalow.
After n meal they repaired to their
rooms and enjoyed several hours Of
refreshing sleep. 1t was late in the
afternoon before the castaways re-
covered from the effects of the hur-
ricane.
ITO Be Continued
Txr0 sfOrien NV m Preacher.