Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-12-15

hope he has not taken advantage OF any
chances you gave him."
He opened the door cautiously, peeped
in, and then flung it wide with great
oath. Tee cabin was empty!
Yet there was no doubt as to his man
ner of escape. In the middle OF the
flooring there gaped little hole, with
heavy square of wood lying beside 1t.
| On examination we found that this en-
trance had also been barred by a graf
ing which now swung downwards on its
hinges, disclosing a wooden ladder, the
foot of which was indistinguishable in
the gloom below.
HE is in the holdv' I cried. HE Is
hiding somewhere amongst the cargo!
We shall never find him without the help
Of the crew."
Amongst the excellent points in my
cousins character was that of perfect
self-control. There was no anger in
his voice to remind me of my blunder
when he spoke again.
Its not the hold, Cousin Robert
he said This is the ships lazarette,
where the food is stored. There are usu-
ally two entrances, each similar to this.
If he has escaped by tho second, it's a
i
friend, for these gratings should be
secured. But 1t may be that he is lurk-
ing amongst the pork and biscuits. 1t
so, we ought to find him easily enough.
don't want to bring the crew into this
affair If l can help 1t. 1t will be enough
if the captain knows"
That's the blacklist part of the luck.
The ship caught it pretty badly last
night; they were right in the thick of
it. I found the captain on deck super
intending three or four sailors who were
clearing away the wreckage of one of the
boats. He was in an amazing temper,
and Blake advised me that if | had
favor to ask him, had best let him cool
off a bit So l dismissed the Irishman
and climbed up to the bridge. | should
think I'd been there about twenty min
utes watching the work, when l saw
sharp-looking lad pop out from the COM
panion and go over to where the captain
was standing They had fine pow-wow
together, looking up at me from time to
time. 1t rather puzzled me, and pres
emily l dropped down the stairs and
walked over to where they were. The
captain seemed decidedly chilly, and |
soon saw by his manner that he was not
wanting a talk just then. Whereupon
l came below SO kindly light the lamp
l see in the bracket yonder, Cousin Rob
ert, and we'll go hunting again"
CHAPTER Xxx.
We descended the ladder, Graden go
ing first, and I following with the lamp.
the light of which / endeavored to throw
over his shoulder.
1t seems a cowafdly thing to confess,
writing as l am in the broad daylight,
with the bees amongst the hower-beds
singing their song tn rough the open win
dow, but though we we're two to one, and
our quarry an old man, my cousin had
twice to rate me for the elaboration of
my movements. We peered about
amongst the lurking shadows, with the
thunder of the seas hammering on the
iron sides without. Now and again a
heave of the ship would send us stag
gering apart, to bring up amongst I'M
expected barrels. Perhaps it was the
want of sleep that had tangled my
nerves, but l knew in my heart that if
l were suddenly to catch a sight of those
wicked eyes staring out from the gloom
before us, l should shrek and run like
hysterical schoolgirl.
But Marnac was not there. The CRATE
of the second stairway was closed and
locked, and yet he had disappeared.
Someone had helped him-that was plain
enough. We stood disconsolate amongst
the details of the ships larder.
WELL he's gone right enough" said
my cousin. Halo! what the deuce is
this?"
He took the light from my hand and
stopped to examine something at his feet.
1t was a steel cylinder, about eight feet
in length; second lay beside it.
Ammonia! So they run a cold stor-
age on board"
How do you know that?' l asked.
my dear cousin, if you can't remem-
Der the part that ammonia plays in the
manufacture of ice, | shall not attempt
to-hallo! stop that-stop that. /
say!'
He sprang forward, caught his foot
in an empty sack, and fell heavily. ex
tinguishing the lamp. AS he did So
saw an arm reach down and draw up thu
grating through which we had descended
A key clicked in the paddock. Grader
was on his feet in an instant, and to-
gether we rushed to the foot of the lad
! der.
In the patch of grey daylight above III
we could see the face Of the captain
looking through the bars, and peepinl
down beside him, with the sweetest dim
pie of an old mans smile upon his lips
was Professor Marnacl
There was a pause, filled with mucl
whispered talk from above. Then TIN
red head of our friend Tim Blake CAM
thrusting into the picture. He SCENE,
much distressed at the situation.
, Faith; but tbs not Oh that know
fu.bot 70 ba1o;x-a On III ba. sr,,,t +Lo clio,