The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-10-26

have learned since XAsn Il was bui,d.
ing equipped by u well-known secret
society for its limitations. We
went on through n narrow hail, and
up a winding fight that seemed TO
me interminable. Above it, as we
stopped, the man who was leading mo
raped thrice on a rafting wooden
door. II broke the silence with loud
echoing noise. could hear then the
sliding OF a panel and a faint whisper
ing and the sound Of many feet as
cending the stairs below. The door
swung open presently, and we were
led in where l could see no sign OF any
light They took me alone across
wide bare floor, where they set me
down on some sort OF platform and
left me. as | thought Then | could
hear the whispered challenge at the
door and one after another entering
and crossing the bare floor on tiptoe.
Hundreds were coming in, Il seemed 70
me. Suddenly a deep silence fell In
that dark place OF evil The blind
fold went whisking on as II n ghOstly
hand had taken II. But all around
me was the darkness OF a pit could
see and | could hear nothing but a
faint whisper high above me, like that
of pine boughs moving softly in a light
breeze. / could feel the air upon my
face. I thought | must have moved
out of door by magic Il seemed as n
l was sitting under the trees alone.
Out OF the black silence an icy hand
fell suddenly upon my brow. tlinched.
feeling It move slowly downward over
my shoulder. l could hear no breath
ing. no rustic OF garments near me.
In the dead silence I got a feeling
that the hand touching me had no body
behind f. | was beyond the reach OF
fear-I was In way prepared for
anything but the deep. heart-shaking
horror that sank under the cold.
damp touch OF those fingers. They
laid hold OF my elbow firmly, lifting
as if to indicate that was to rise.
| did so, moving forward passlyely as
II drew me on. To my establishment
| was unable TO hear my own football
or that Of my conductor. | thought
we were walking upon soft earth
Crossing our path In front of me ]
could see, In the darkness. a cleaning
line. We moved slowly, standing stlli
as our toes covered II. Then suddenly
q light flashed from before and below
us. A cold sweat came out upon me:
I staggered back 20 strong hands that
were laid upon my shoulders. forcing
me TO the line again. By that fash OF
light could see that I was standing on
the very brink OF some black abyN--
indeed, my toes had crossed the edge
OF II. The light came again. flicker
ing and then settling into a steady
glow. The opening seemed 10 have .
grassy bottom some 10 feet below. In
front Of me the soil bristled. on that
lower level, with some black and
pointed plant: there we're AZ least q
score Of them. AS | looked | saw they
were not plants, but a square Of bay
onets thrust, points up. In the ground.
A curse came out OF my hot mouth,
and then a dozen voices Knocked II.
going fainter. like a dying echo. A
tall figure In a winding-sheet, its face
covered. was leaning over me.
ITO hesitate is to die" II whispered
Courage may save you"
Then a skeleton hand came OFT OF
the windlng-sheet, pointing down az
the square Of bristling bayonets. The
figure put its mouth to my ear.
Jump" It whispered. and the bare
bones OF the dead fingers stirred i'm
patiently
ITO BE Continued