The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-05-18
THE LONG CORRIDOR.
By JOHN n. CSKISON.


descended upon the peace1ul MIL VII
lage two days before, and straightway
began the erection on the mountain
top of a curiously divided, substantial
structure where, 1t was announced,
certain rich meteorological experiment.
er was to spend the winter and spring.
1t was matter of snow formation and
precipitation, It was said. In which
Professor Butler was interested.
Two days from the appearance OF
the workmen, the last nail was driven
and train Of wagons, loaded with
winters supply of food and clothing,
was started for the top. And that
evening when the darkness blotted out
every feature Of the landscape the old
man appeared with O clinging, fright
ened-looking girl, on the mountain
top. On the next evening. the dark
top. On the next evening, the darkness
blotting everything from view as be-
fore the old man brought up younger
man, to be, as he said, assistant to the
professor. Then, with corps of close
mouthed helpers, the experimenters
shut themselves away from the world
and were buried in the snow on the
mountain top.
The mythical Professor Buffers ex-
pertinent station was constructed in q
peculiar way. Two low-roofed, solidly
anchored structures, identical in size
and shape, were set on the very edge
of precipice that dropped sheer 500
feet. Three walls of each structure
were windowless, unbroken save by
heavy doors-the third fronting the
precipice, had abundant light and ven
tilation. And between the two struc-
lures, opening into each, was a long,
covered corridor, lighted from the
north, but through which, when it
was completed. no man could pass.
Old Richard Dumble, who had as
sumed the role of the professor, took
his son to the end of this strange cor
ridor, and, pointing to the door that
loomed at the other end, said:
"In the room at the end of this long
passage is the foolish young girl you
profess to love better than your own
life. This door here, as you see, is
open, and will be left unlocked. Yon-
der door is likewise freely passable.
But between these doors is this strange
passage through the floor Of which,
when either of you tries to pass, you
will fall upon the rocks 500 feet be-
low have had marked upon this
passage floor the point beyond which
you may not go without breaking
through. On the girls side have talk
en- the same precaution.
81 shall keep you both up here until
you are tired of this farce you call low
ing. can trust my keepers. have
everything ready to keep you year if
necessary. Whenever you are ready
come to me and swear that you have
banished all thought OF Miss Schouler
from your mind l will have you both
released, send you back to Harvard,
and make a man or you.
But if, in reality, sou love one an
other better than life, you have only
to rush together through this passage
to a romantic death. Rather than to
see you mated with that girl would
come up to this mountain when the
snow is gone in the spring and gather
your bleached bones off the rocks. You
won't do anything so foolish, know,
and so goodbye, my boy, until you
send for me-"
The old man went out hurriedly,
choking little over the last words. A
ponderous lock grated as the father s
form disappeared through the door,
and the boy turned to gaze, fascinated,
| down that fatal corridor.
Presently, as he watched, Edwin saw
| the form of Henrietta Schouler at the
| opposite door, and he started forward
| impulsively in an ecstacy of welcome.
When the girl saw her lover, she, too,
strainted forward a pace, and then re-
coiled with cry Of terror. That tell
tale maker which the old brewer had
showed her stretched its impalpable
barrier almost under her feet.
On his side, Edwin approached the
white line with an unnatural caution.
With his toe on the edge, he felt the
fragile floor quake and sway. He crept
back to the doorway, blind animal
terror clutching him, and the sweat
| DeaOlnB on MS lOTeHedu. ne stoou
for moment gazing at the face framed
beside his fathers, in that other prison
door. He stretched his arms toward
the girl, and cried out to his father
for pity. The man finished his talk
to the girl and went out, paying nc
more heed to the boys cries than to
the wind that ratified the window
frames.
Then, for the two young people, be-
gan the most curious Imprisonment
that prosaic twentieth century chron-
icle has ever recorded. In an age that
fostered intrigue and inquisition, old
4 Dumble would have been a master
plotter. Now he was shrewd, rich
old autocrat with purpose in view
which he was determined to accom-
plish as quickly as possible.
Thus reasoned the old man: "Once
in a thousand cases, perhaps, mar
and woman will rove one another
better than life. In this practical age
l.A