Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-24

He had worked hard during those two
days. and when Mary saw the heap OF
great stones which he had moved, ard
placed In orderly rows along the side OF
the tunnel. she marveied that stunted
and semi-paraiyxed body had done SO much.
He began at once to move another stone.
lifting 1t by slow inches with crowhar.
which he worked with one hand only. Mary
watched him for minute, and then bent
down and lifted the great stone in her
arms, and carried it back to its place IN
the row.
You sit down." she said. I'm twenty
times stronger than you. ! will do the
work"
The little man laughed. and did as he
was told He did not wonder that his mas
ter had dared much for the sake OF girl
like this!
In an hour they got through. and then
Sims went first. carrying the lantern. Tho
at the lowest point Of the tunnel. and at
once the floor began to rise sharply. Sud
denly Sims stopped. and said IN warming
tones:
He stamped his foot. and then put tho
lantern on the ground and went down. on
his knees; for the floor had given back a
hollow sound.
stones like the walls. We're on bridge
of some sort
Mary had advanced little further.
There's a square slab here" she said.
winch seems TO cover D. trap uoof OI ooiAS
sort. Bring the light.
Sims did SO. and Mary bent down to lift
the slab. She guessed that 1t probably Gov
cred the head of another stairway which
led downwards into cavern below. SEe
had raised the slab few inches, when
Sims. who was bending down to throw the
light of the lantern into the opening. start
ed backward and cried sharply:
Let it drop, miss. Quick!
What's the matter?' she asked. when
she had lowered the slab into its place
again.
There's foul gas coming up. Can't you
smell it? There's cave full OF some sort
OF rottenness down there.
Mary remembered what Wortley had told
her. The gentle draught of the tunnel
would carry the fumes from this opening
to the barricader II the slab was on ana
as the barricade was at the lowest point,
they would collect there. Down below
there was great fostering mass OF dis
tiller's refuse, the product of seven years
Of Wisemans work, and that was the
weapon which Black had used! The floor
on his side If he stood about six feet back
from the barricade, was at least two Feet
higher than where Wortley was working,
and in addition to this, Wortley was, st
first. sitting down No wonder that his
while he talked.
There's no staircase there" said Sims.
''Or If there Is, we can't go down It, Bet
ter go on, hadn't we, miss?"
A few yards further on the floor became
solid rock again, and the tunnel once more
trended sharply downward. Moreover 1t
began to open out laterally, and very soon
it ended in long cavern which varied N
width from two or three yards to more
than twenty. They followed 1t for nearly
a hundred yards, and the floor still drop
ped at an average rate of about one yard
in ten. Then they came to the openings OF
two galleries. one on each Side.
(which way now. miss" asked Sims
Straight on said Mary. "If we come
to nothing, We can return and try the gall
feries."
But Sims had heard something. and was
listening intently. Suddenly he took his
coat off. and covered the lantern with 1t.
"Voicesr he whispered From the gal
lery on the left aren't they. miss?'
Eyes. I think So Mary answered. But
hush. what's that?'
The chauffeur listened again, and then
laughed very softly.
That's from the gallery on the right.
he said. land it's a man whistling Annie
Laurie very low Oh. miss, I told you he
wasn't drowned! That's my master!'
Mary felt suddenly faint and the tears
rose to her eyes. Two big drops rolled
down her cheeks. and in the darkness she
didn't think 1t worth while to rub them
off; for there was no one to see! In
trembling voice she asked: sTS r..
"How do you know?
5"Because" said the chauffeur-and his
voice. had a qniver in it too-"iRs the tune
hard and making up his mind to do some
thing or not to do 1t. When he has set
tied he changes to John Browns Be dy.
very quickly and with variations. We take
the right-hand gallery, don't we, miss?'
But Mary had already moved away, and
the chauffeur heard her stumble in the
darkness as he finished speaking. He lifted
up the lamp. and uncovered that side OF II
which was toward her. Then ne followed
her as quickly as he could.
When they were inside the gallery they
found that ii took a sharp bend, and as
soon as they had passed round this Sims
uncovered the lamp altogether. They hur-
ried along, and the way was rough and
they did not stop to pick path, Sims
stumbled frequently; and Mary had to wait
for him, since he carried the light But
presently light shone In front too. and
she waited for the chauffeur no longer
She went on ALMOST at run, and suddenly
the whistiing ceased. Their stumbling ad-
vance had been heard
great chamber in the rock opened out
before her. and in 1t she found Wortiey:,
He was half lying. half sitting on pile
of rugs. with his back against the wan OF
the cavern Beside him was lamp. and
he. had book in his hand. She rushed
across to him, and saw that one of his feet
was heavily bandaged.
"Maryp' he cried. MISS HOLLAND! how
did you get here?"
.'Sims brought me- she answered pant
ing but you are hurt!
e"Ankle broken, he answered with
primace "That's why l can't get up TO
welcome you. And that's why my jailers
don't bother to guard me- can't run
away. YOU see% But where is Sims? II he
brought you, why isn't he with you? Have
YOU met any OF these people?"
She answered him almost gaily A broken
ankle was bad enough; but 1t was so much
less than the fear which for two days had
crushed her hope that she almost forgot
that it was a calamity!
Zone question at a time. please. We have
met nobody
THAT'S lucky. And Sims?"
Did you think l shouldn't outstrip
lame man? He's coming.
poor old Sims. He's a bit slow on his
pins But I think he will be glad to see
me-"
Hes splendid" said the girl. earnestly.
"He has worked, while l did nothing but
Fret useIessly If 1t hadn't been for him,
fhnA