Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-18

I thought it was growing a little
lighter. There was a gray look in
the darkness I thought could make
out the darker shadow of my COM
panion before me.
1--WE must be near the place they
brought us in at, Menzies" | whis-
pered at last.
He paused.
"Wheeshtr he replied after mo-
ment. '.A'm thinkin' All hear some
thin comm"
I moved hastily, and my outstretched
hand came in contact with something
which seemed to project from the wall.
1t gave way and fell to the sand. Soft
as it was, it made hollow sound
not loud indeed, but loud enough in
the silence to make my heart stand
still. We stood and listened anxiously.
Yes, could hear 1t nova footstep.
1t was heavy, and 1t was coming to-
ward us. Menzies turned and, grasp
ing me by the arm with grip like
iron. whispered almost in my ear the
words: "Dinna ye move. Staun' close
tae the wa an let him gang by" !
did as was told.
The heavy footstep came nearer.
Then a voice muttered. "Madre de
Dios!" close at hand A gray figure
that looked gigantic in the shadow
seemed to grow out of the darkness
close in front of me. It stopped and
seemed to listen. Then it muttered
something that sounded like curse at
the darkness. and then 1t moved on
ward again. The figure had passed
me- felt that shrank back. was
sure could have touched it as it went
by. Something in the hand of the
figure gave faint CLEAN Of light.
knew that it was carrying naked
dagger.
The shadow melted away in the
darkness. and next moment another
shadow followed it. There was dull
sound OF a heavy blow, Of muttered
exclamation, of soft yet heavy fall
in the sand. Then Menzies' voice whis-
pered as the gray shadow passed me
again: THE Lord be thankit. That's
ane deeyil the less. But dinna stop
here. It's like there's MAR whnur he
cam frae."
l followed my companion. In an
other instant l could see that we were
opposite the passage by which they
had brought US into the cavern. The
gray. uncertain light was a little
stronger, and, peering into the dark
ness, I saw what appeared to be the
faint crimson reflection of dying fire
somewhere beyond the passage. Dark
err shadows seemed to fit across 1t, and
the sound of voices reached me. |
stopped to listen, but again Menzies'
voice whispered urgently: "Dinna stop
yet. Maybe they'll pass us by" We
went cautiously forward into the
darker shadows. 1t seemed to me that
the place stretched indefinitely before
us. We must have gone for some dis
lance, for the voices that had seemed
to be coming nearer died away into
silence.
We both stopped and listened, but
there was not sound. Wed better
gang forrad, Am thinkin'," Menzies
said at last. 'Ah wudna wonder but
there's some road cot O this near by"
took the hint and moved on. but we
had only gone a few yards when we
stopped again by common impulse.
There was sudden band of light
which crossed the darkness before US
at no great distance. 1t was evidently
u light. and it was coming toward us.
We waited breathlessly. and after d
Einute or two that seemed to be more
than az many hours it came in sight
1t was ships lantern, aud woman
was carrying it.
She came suddenly out Of cross
passage and stopped. Then she held
up the lantern as high as her face and
peered forward into the darkness. 1t
was a strange face which the lantern
showed. a girlish face, with pale,
clear skin and fair hair, eager, anxious.
wild and almost beautiful as IL looked
out of the mass of her looSened haIr.
bat with strange, vacant eyes. in Which
all the time there was a CLEAN that
looked like fire. 1t was Menzies' low
whisper at my ear that brought me
back from my wondering question who
she was and what it could mean.
"Eh, mon, isn't yon a sicht?" There
was low. fierce ring even in the
whispered words. ITS the lassie All
saw in yon 6eevifs den. Am thinkin'
she's English and she's game clean
daft"
l felt sure he was right. She came
toward us as III she saw us. although
the strange. far away look in her eyes
seemed to forbid the idea. At any rate.
she would see us directly. Would she
scream then and give the alarm? The
same idea had evidently occurred to
my companion, for he suddenly stepped
forward and spoke.
Il say, lassie, whaur are We gaunY'
he said clearly in his usual deliberate
fashion For a moment she started at
the apparition as he emerged from the
darkness. Then the sound of his words
seemed to reassure her. Her face
cleared, and a strange smile lit up her
large blue eyes.
Comet! she said Come! I was
looking for you. You must go away
from here. at once or they will hurt
you. You must go home again
Her voice was low and sweet, with
a little Scotch accent and tone like
that of a child who thinks herself Ill