The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-10
He drew his watch from his fob. and

He drew his watch from his fob. and
held 1t to his ear.
ut still runs" said he. Therefore
am confident that I have not been
prisoner thirty-six hours, though how
long I remained hanging senseiess IN
the we'll cannot tell. It is altogether
impossible for me to see in this horri'
BILE darkness, nor can I tell what time
it is by raising the crystal and feeling
the position of the hands upon the dial.
I might guess twelve hours too little
or twelve hours too much. But IT Is
very important to me to know how
long I have been without food and
drink. I do not feel the want OF II
now, for my excitement checks hunger
but not thirst. I can work certain
number Of hours without food, but
must grade my strength that 1t may
hold out as long as possible. I must
know what time 1t is. To wind up my
watch requires six turnings Of the key
that is, my watch runs six hours for
every turn. I will wind it now and
make a guess Of how many hours OF
the thirty-six are gone"
He searched for his key, found It, and
wound up his watch.
The key turned four times exactly,
and stopped.
"Goodw said James Greene. "Four
times-six hours to every turn-twen'
ty-four hours. I have been trapped
twenty-four hours. IT is, then, now
about o'clock at night, on the 1lth
of March. What may not have hap
pened to Kate Elgin during all that
timer
he rested for some time, and then
rose to his feet The place in which he
stood allowed him to stand fully erect
"Water! anything for water" said
he; II shall faint without water. My
tongue feels like piece Of leather
But let me find what sort Of a place
I am in now"
Clinging close to the wall for fear OF
pits, Greene began his blind examina'
tion.
Ten minutes suficed to inform him,
and he paused.
II am in a passage built Of brick,
fifty feet long and ten feet wide. Pos
sibly once cellar, or maybe an en-
closed space. between the foundation
walls-probably the last. Now how
high Is it?'
He reached up his hand.
"Say seven feet. 1 dare not cut my
way through the floor. Wood makes q
terrible noise. / shall have to dig
through or under another wall. This
passage is so long, that I think I had
better work at the end. If I dig
through at the sides I may lose labor
and enter another cellar. But first let
Us look for water"
He began to feel the floor above
him, walking to and fro, and sweep,
ing his hands about him.
He was seeking FOR water pipes.
Suddenly he almost shouted with
l. Joy. His hand grasped slender tube,
running from the ground upward.
He was about to cleave it with his
wedge, when he paused, saying:
1T may be a gas pipe! If I cut
it asunder shall be suffocated! do
not think God has permitted me to es.
cape from the we'll to be smothercd
with gaa I will trust in Him and
striker
He struck brayely, and jet Of ice
cold water deluged his face and hands.
"Hurrahw said Greene, quenching his
thirst. "Now, If the leak is discovered,
plumbers must seek for the cause, and
I shall soon make myself known. But
the cutting OF Of the water may not be
noticed for days, weeks or months.
The pipe may have been used to supply
q room now unoccupied. must go to
work again."
Selecting a spot. he began to loosen
the bricks. -Four hours hard labor
made a breach through which he
crawled.
Ozark yet" said he. II have not
reached safety yet. And now let's see
where we are" he was not long in
exploring the place. II am in small
stone ROOM" said he, Fifteen feet
square. I cannot reach the ceiling.
I have found a place where once was a
door, but a wall has been built on
the other side, and the door Is closed
with solid stone. This must be very
old house, or this room has been left
az foundation for new one. find
q large fireplace. The fireplace has
been bricked up, but I think I may
make an opening, enter and 60 up the
chimney-if it Is large enough. will
begin"
When Greene began at the fire.
place it was midnight on the 18th Of
March, and he was far below, but i'm
mediately under the crimson cham
ber.
While James Greene labors at mid
night of the 11th of March, let US re-
turn to Luke Hammond, whom We left
impatient for that hour to arrive.
To be continued.
Weather in Arizona.