The San Francisco call., 1905-06-25

wind whistled through the cave but up where Tom
perched it had little force. In another mo-
nent into the tent swept two forlorn-lookng men,
like flies borne by the gale, and in another instant
they had been cast out into the green valley, where
they were at once seized by the workers there and
taken away.
Tom then realized that the leather tent was
gigantic bellows that drew in the air with force
undreamed of.
Mounting his airship he fitted noiselessly over
the great bellows and utsaH the ropes and wires
that worked it, then stopping directly over the head
of the old man, but so far aloft that he could not
be seen in the darkness of the dome, he suddenly
snatched off the 'ssilencer" of his automobile
motor and started the machinery.
Now, you have heard the hideous uproar that q
healthy automobile can make when it gets loose in
side, and yet you can't imagine what it would
sound like in lofty cave like this onel The ter
rife din was beyond all imagining. Crashes, roars,
rumbles thunderings and earsplitting banging
echoed from wall to wall, and started the old man
from his rest suddenly that he rolled off the
floor where he lay as if parayzed, looking up into
the gloom with terrified eyes. 1t seemed to him
that the whole earth breaking up. The walls
all seemed to trembe and shake In the din. Millions
of bats flew hther and thither in terror
Then Tom stopped his engine, and giving three
terrific "honks' with the brazen horn, he turned
his two immense electric headlights.
The little old man, as he lay there shaking.
what he supposed to be two great fiery eyes glarng
down upon him from the dark vault, and he at once
rolled over on his back and tainted.
Tom darted down, tossed the old mans form into
the automobile arship. and mounted aloft with him
in jiffy, for he not that there might not
be near to rescue him If he tarried
long in that spot
s.We' growled Tom, when he saw that the old
man had revived, what have you to say for your
sef?'
Mercy cried the little man. "Oh. potent and
horrible demon. spare me! I'll pay you anything
you ask, if only you will spare me! | have treasures
in heaps-gold. silver, pearls and bushels of grain
stored away All is yours. master!'
sWhat is your name. and how come you into this
cavern of mine 2! demanded the boy glaring through
his goggles.
sAfy name is Jusippius Necromancer and once
was famous wizard of Scandinavia, but just at the
height of my power along mightier sorcercr
who soon ran me out of the land. was compelled
to seek new quarters, and in my wanderings | dis
covered this vast cave, of which took possession
and here have lived ever since. / got copper from
the rock and made my gigantic suit of armor ia
protect myself from the Indians, who swarmed here
Then and when the whites came into the land
made them captives by drawing them into the cave
by immense bellows, as perhaps you have seen
They have toiled for me many years. but alas now
/ am getting too feeble to. enjoy my wealth.
"Well your health is going to be very much worse
after this!" asserted Tom "I am going to give you
slight taste of toll and trouble, so that you'll
know before you pop off, what you've missedw
He sailed down to the wizards chamber in the
rock and threw him out like a bag of meal Then be
said