The Washington times., 1906-03-18
~
W. HRNLD MACGRATH ~
- AUz70R or ZHE NM ON TEBCY
AMN "zZuG Gxu1oun


stuffed into the pocket of my Capu-
chin's gown. Then We tiptoed softly
down the stairs. the girl tugging fear
tully at my sleeve.
There was an earthy smell. 1t was
damp and cold Miles and miles away
$50 IL seemed) the pale mOonshine I'll
tered through a cobwebbed window. It
was Shostiy; but SO FAR as / was con-
cerned, l was honestly enjoying myself
strange as this statement may seem.
Here was l, setting forth upon an ad-
venture with the handsomest, wittiest
girl L had ever laid eyes upon If I ex-
tTlcdted her neatly, she would always
De III my debt; and the thought OF this
was mighty pleasant to contemplate
DO you know the way OUt2'
/ confessed that, 50 fer 10 { knew. nc
were IN one o. the fabled labyrfnths
Of mythology
Go ahead" she said, Dravcly.
i ask only 70 die in your highness'
service. .'-soberly
But l do not want you 10 die:
want you 10 get me out Of this cellar:
and quickly. too"
I'm live or die IN the attempt
4 see nothing funny in our predica-
ment, "-icily.
Few minutes ago you said that
our angles or vision were not the same,
begin 70 believe it. As for me, /
think it's simply immense TO find my
self IN the same boat with you"
1 wish you had been an anarchist.
or performer in a dime-museum.'
You might now be alone here. But
pardon me; surely you do not lack the
full allotment Of the adventurous spirit
II was all amusing enough TO come
here under false pretenses."
But ] had not reckoned on any ones
losing Jewels"
No more had 1"
Proceed ] have the courage to trust
10 your guidance"
Il would that it might be aIways,---
with burst Of sentiment that was not
wholly feigned.
Let us be on, n,"-imperativeIy. u
shall not only eaten my death OF cold
but l shall be horribly compromised
My dear young lady. on the word
OF a gentleman. ! Will do the best 7
can 10 get you out OF this cellar. III
have Jested a little, il was only In the
effort to give you courage: for I haven't
the slightest idea how We are going TO
get out OF this dismal hole"
We went on. We couldn't see half
dozen feet in front OF US. The e-loo-,
beyond the dozen feet was Stygian and
menaeins. And the great grim sbsd-
ows that crept behind US as We nro-
ceededi Once the girl stumbled and
fell against me.
What's The matter?" I asked. star
tcd- S''i
stepped on something that-tbat
moved -plaintively.
Posslbly il Was a potato; there's a
bin Of them over there. Where the
deuce are we2"
If you swear. shall certainly
scream she warned.
But can swear in the mos, Ella
CANT and approved fashion
am not inclined TO have ,,o,,
demonstrate your talents"
ana. Here is the coalbin. Perba,,
he window may be open. II SO NE
are saved VIII you hold the candle
Tor Q 11oment?''
Have you ever witnessed a ca+ Too.
ing II across tb-- snow? II Won b.,,n
picture me initiating her Cautiously
TOOK one step, then another; and then
Ihat mountain of coal turned into n
roaring treadmiIl Sssssht Rrrrr, In
moment l was buried TO the knees
and nearly suftocated. became angry
would reach that window
Hush! hush, The noise. the noIsAm
whispered the girl. waving the candle
franticaIly
But have determined. Again triad
This time I slipped and fell on my
hands As l strove TO get up, the cord
Of my gown became tangled about NV
feet The girl choked: whether with
eoal-dust or with laughter 1 could not
say. as she still had on her cambric-
mask
Forgive me-" she said And then l
knew it was not the coaI-dust.
I'll forgive you, but 1 will not pr7m-
Use to forget
MercifuI heavensl you must not try
that again. Think Of the noiser'
Was ] making any noise?'-rubbIng
the perspiration from my forehead. Il
had taken off my mask)
Noise? The trump Of Judgment
Day will be feeble compared to it.
Surely some one has heard you. Why
not lay that board on top Of the coal %
a good idea 1 made use of it at
once. The window was unlatched, but
there was a heavy wire-screen nailed
to the sills outside There was no get
ting out that way. The gods were evil
IDENTIFY busy elsewhere.
Not '1g doing" 1 murmured, a bit
discou ed
An ven If there was. you really
could not expect me to risk my neck
and dignity by climbing through win
dow like that Let us give UP the idea
of windows and seek the cellar-doors,
those that give to the grounds I de-
clare 1 shall leave by no other exit"
ut was very kind of you to let me
make an ass of myself like that. Why
didn't you tell me beforehand"
Perhaps it's the angle of vision
again. l can see that we shall never
agree. Seriously, 1 thought that if you
got out hat way, you might find the
other exit for me. I am sorry if my
laughter annoyed you
Not all, not at ALL But wouldn' {
it be wise to save a little laughter to
make merry with when we get Out?''
l stepped out OF the bin and relieved
her of the candle; and we went on
You did look funny" she said
Please don'tr' I begged.
Soon we came TO bin Of cabbages.
peered in philosophically.
II might find a better head in there
: than mine," l suggested.