The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-04-12

Over alI Iay chick coating of fine
sand deposited from the eddying winds
4hat could never reach the silent
aeptas. The place was grewsome, hor-
rlb1y depressing jerks broke out into
Relammy persplration. He seemed to
6e looking at the secrets OF the grave.
At last bis superior intelligence as
serted Itself His brain became clear
recovered It's power OF analysis. He
Aegan to criticise. reflect and this is
xhe theory he evolved:
Some one, long ago, had discovered
BaIuable minerals Ia the volcanic rock.
Mining operations were in full blast
when the extinct volcano took its re-
yenge upon the human ants gnaWing
2t It's Yitals and smothered them by
deadly outpouring OF carbonic acid
rzas, the bottled mp poison OF the ages
q horde OF nsgs running wild over the
aElandEp there no doubt by Chi
nese fshers-had met the same fate
while sutent on dreadful crgy.
Then there came q European who
knew how the anhy ydrate gas, being
heavier than the surrounding air, set
Eed Ike water In that terrible hollow.
he too, had striven to wrest the treas
ne from the stone by driving a tunnel
into the elf. He had partly succeeded
and had gone away, perhaps to obtain
help, after crudely registering his
knowledge on the lid OF tin canister.
Hhis again, probably fell into the
hands of another man. who, curious
hut unconvinced, caused himsef to be
set ashore on thfs desolate spot with
u few inadequate stores. Possibly he
had arranged to be taken OFF within
8xed time.
But sampan laden with Dyak pi-
rates came first and the intrepid ex-:
Raorer,s bones rested near the well.
uhile his head had gone to decorate.
xhe hat of some fierce village chief.
Ene nurdere1s, after burying their own
lead-for the white man fought hard
witness theempty carhidg searched
She island. Some Of them ignorantly
nquisitige, descended into the hollow.
They remained there. The others, SUI
persitious barbarians, fed for their
lives, embarking SO hastily that they
4ook from the cave neither tools nor
on though they would greatly prize
these articles.
Such was the tragic web he spun, a
conpound OF fact and fancy. It ex-
piained all perplexities save one. What
did ss3S2 80 divided by mean? Was
There yet another fesrsome riddle
awaiting solution?
And then his thoughts few to Iris
Happen what might her bright picture
was seldom absent from his brain.
Suppose, egg hunting, she had STUN
HE'D across this valley Of death. How
could he hope to keep it hidden from
hers Was not the ghastly knowledge
better than the horror OF a chance ram
Bae through The wood and the shock OF
15scoyeryRay indeed. tie risk Of o
eatasHophe?
He rushed back through the trees ua-
til he caught sight of Iris industrious.
90 kneading the sego pith in one OF
those most useful dish covers.
He called to her, led her wondering
tpsthe track and pointeu out the fatal
uaafTy, but in such wise that she could
net look inside It.
Iea remember that round hole we
saR from the summit rock" he said.
Wei, 1t is full Of carbonic acid gas, %
bseathe which means consciousness
and death. It gives no warning to the
snexperienced 1t Is rather pleasant
Hhan otherwise Promise me you Will
sneyer come near this place again
now. Iris, too, had been thinking
deeply. Robert jerks bulked large in
her day dreams. Her nerves were not
Fet quite normal There was a catch
m her throat as she answered:
ssI don't want to die. OF course I
viii keep away. What horrid island
4his is. Yet it might be a paradise.
She bit her lip to suppress her tears;
but, being the Eve in this garden, she
continued:
How did you ind out? Is there
any ything-nasty there
Yes, the remains of animals and
other things. I would not have told
vou we're it not imperative"
Are you keeping other secrets from
mes''
.sOh, quite number
He managed to conjure up smile,
and the ruse was effective. She ap-
piled the words to his past history.
81 hope they VIII not be revealed so
dramatically" she said.
seYou never can tell,'' he answered.
They were in prophetic vein that
morning. They returned in silence to
the cave.
II wish to go inside with a lamp.
May e" he asked.
seAday cone too?' she demanded.
g He assented. with an explanation Of
his design. When the lamp was in Or
dor he held it close to the wall and