Amador ledger., 1904-04-01
OUT Of THE
DEPTHS
~ By MARTHA ~
MCULLOCH-WILLIAMS
Copyright, 1903, by t. C. Mcclure


brought good letters, the very best, to
the rector and Squire Clark Mrs. Brown
gave the garden party where so much
else happened. Mrs. Brown had three
girls to establish, and, as beaus were
none too plenty, naturally it was a rul-
ing principle with her to let no eligible
young man get away from Eastbridge
without proper experience of their
faScinations
The fascinations were all very well
until Amy Peters came. Amy was new
er accounted a beauty, but somehow
she put all the set beauties out of court
and countenance. Behold her at the
party tripping airily about the lawn,
with young Alanson at one side, Jock
Hilman at the other and Billy Corliss
tagging after like the faithful watch
dog he was. This while the other
young women had less than a beau
apiece. You will admit it. was aggra-
waiting. Kate Martin, Amy's best
friend, spelled upon her fingers "P-I-G"
as the train went past her. But Kate
was not in the least angry or jealous.
She had Bobby Shepherd all to her
self, although Essie Brown had done
her best to lure the gentleman away.
Let me tell you about Miss ANY,"
Jock said to the stranger when pres
emily Amy was safely enthroned in a
garden chair, with her court still about
her. "She's nearly the only girl in
Eastbridge you don't have to court,
whether or no you want to-
But you know you always want to,
Jocky, dear" Amy said saucily. Billy
Corliss laughed with the rest, but
somehow the laugh did not get into his
eyes. Young Alanson kept up the
game bravely. Can you imagine q
live man not wanting tor he asked of
the world in general and Billy in par
tlcular. Billy put on his most reflec-
tive look. "There might be extenuat-
ing circumstances" he said diplomat
ically. Amy gave him a reproachful
glance and said loftily: 81 suppose,
Billy, your eXtenuating circumstances
wear frocks Pray, does it happen by
any chance that the most eXtenuating
of them is named Clarissa Brown?'
NO" Billy said sturdily, shaking his
head. "But that reminds me that neither
Mr.. AlansOn nor have more than said
'howdy' to Miss Clarissa. Jock, you
stay here and keep this quicksilver
young person out of mischief while we
scramble through the decent thing"
"You may find us engaged unless you
hurry back" Amy flung after them.
Jock laughed aloud. "Let's hide" he
said. 81 know the very place. Won't
it give Billy a jolt to come back and
find us missing?''
HE needs one, good and hard" Amy
said, tossing her head the least bit 81
have not told anybody else, Jock, but
I'm going to marry Billy if l can ever
make him show himself properly and
humanity foolish. He's so abnormally
steady going and sensible and settled l
should not dare try to live up to him
unless l knew he had a nice silly streak
somewhere"
81 suppose you wouldn't any way
consider me. I'm pretty near all silly
streaks," Jock said dolefully Amy
laughed and patted his arm, saying:
"But you have good sense streaks, too,
Jock, else why should you like me so
well? Well always be the best of
friends, know"
"Bet your bottom dollar on it!' Jock
said, hurrying her along. He was max
ing for a tumbledown summer house,
thickly overgrown with vines, that
nestled in the very farthest corner of
the lawn. 1t had plank floor, rotten
and crumbly, and a dilapidated rustic
bench along one side-a cool, deeply
shaded nook, sweet with roses and hon
eysuckle. Amy sprang joyously inside
it. with Jock at her heels. AS they
made to sit down low, hollow reverbera-
tions came up from below their feet.
There was a dull crushing, a giving
away, then before they could cry out a
sliding down, down to dark, dank, I'M
known perilous depths.
Five minutes later Billy was asking
anxiously Of those about the garden
chair, where is Amy?" Nobody
could tell him. Presently he spied far
out in the grass one of her little lace
mitts. Running away from it were
faint footmarks on the warm turf.
Billy followed the marks, his face
whitening fast. Jock could not be so
cruel as to take her near that old well
house, he said to himself-then
groaned aloud; he had come in sight
of the well house, where the crumbled
floor told him the tale.
"Jock! Amy! Answer me! Oh,
God!' he cried aloud, peering over the
crumbling rim into the blacl1ness. No
articulate answer came to him, but
was it fancy that down in the deeps
of earth he heard low, gasping means
He sprang up with a shout that brought
the whole crowd huddling about him.
Mrs. Brown was at the head, weeping
and wringing her hands. They are
lost, lost!" she moaned. Nobody ever
came out of that well alive. It's al
ways half full of choke damp! That
is why my father had it built over!
Why didn't think to tell eyerybody?"
Dhiy S0ohSu uoL W near w llH giant
strength he wrecked the rotten lattice,
clearing the well mouth, then flung off
coat and shoes, and prepared to clam
Der down. He had already sent for
ropes. No. 1 can't wait, with Amy
dying" he said to those who tried to
stop him. 1--WE got to save her or
die with her, Stand by-llsten close
and let me have ropes the minute you