The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-09-24

leading down about twenty-five feet
to the bottom Of the cave.
"Ugh!' Craig shuddered as he peered
into the dank blackness. you don't
mean that we are to go down there?,
1t was a crisis. With his big feet
dangling in the hole, Pole threw him.
self back and gave vent to a hearty.
prolonged laugh that went ringing and
echoing about among the cliffs and
chasms.
II lowed this I'D make yore flesh
crawl he said. Looks like the open-
in to the bad place, don't it?''
ut certainly does," said Craig. some
what treasured by Poles levity.
"Why, it amt more'n forty feet
square," said Pole. "Wait till I run
down an make light. I've got some
fat pine torches down at the foot o.
the ladder
well, l believe will let you 90
first" said Craig with an uneasy little
laugh.
Pole went down the ladder. reckless
ly humping his heels on the rungs.
He was lost to sight from above. but
In moment Craig heard him strike a
match and saw the red, growing fame
of suffering torch from which
twisted rope Of smoke. When it was
well ablaze, Pole called up the ladder:
"Come on now, an watch whar YOU
put yore feet. This end O. the ladder is
solid as the rock O Gibralty."
The square of daylight above was
cut off, and in moment the ex-banker
stood Beside his guide
"Now come down this way" said
Pole, and with the torch held high he
led the way into 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 were several
one gallon jugs with corncob stoppers.
Pole swept his hand over them with a
laugh. If you was drinkin' man, I
could treat you to thimbleful or two
left in them jugs,' he said almost apol-
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 tiny fusil-
lade of artillery.
"You see that rock behind you, Mr..
Craig?'' asked Pole "Well, set down
on it. Before we go any furder me n
you've got have understanding"
The old man stared hesitatingly fo1
an Instant, and then, after carefully
feeling Of the stone, he complied.
II thought we already-but, of course
he said haltingly, Pm ready to agree
to anything hat IL make you feel SAFE"
Il kinder lowed you would" And,
to Craig's overwhelming establishment,
Pole drew revolver from his hip peck
ct and looked at it, turning the cylin-
der with deft thumb.
"You mean, Baker, But Craig's
words remained unborn in his bewil-
dered brain. The rigor of death itself
seemed to have beset his tongue. A
cold sweat broke out on him.
Il mean that I've tuck the trouble
to fetch you heer fer purpose, Mr.
Craig, an thar amt any use in beatin'
about the bush to git at it,
Craig made another effort at utter
ance, but failed. Pole could hear his
rapid breathing and see the terrified
cleaning of his wide open eyes.
you've had a lots O. dealin's, Mr..
Craig" said Pole you've made yore
mistakes an had yore good luck, but