The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-10-25

He went out and Darrell heard him
rafting the paddock hat secured the
door. For some time afterward there
were sounds suggesting that sentries
were Being posted about the building,
and after that silence.
Darrels thoughts were not of the
brightest and he cleared his mind of
them and surveyed the interior of his
prison. Every opening that had once
served as window was covered with
stout planking, the chinks between the
logs were solidly filled and the place
was as tight as a drum.
Even had there been no guards on
the outside escape from the jail would
have bafled the most resourceful pris-
oner. Darrell yawned, laid h stump
of his cigar On the candlestick and
crossed the creaking boards of the
floor to a cot on the opposite side of
the room.
1t had been his intention to lie down,
but his f~astidiousness rebelled at the
Vermin disguised him and he returned
TO his chair.
Drowsily he leaned back and through
his half closed eyes he saw the shad-
ows of the room taking vague shapes.
Stcalthily they glided to and fro, now
forward, now Jack and now surround
ing him, their gaunt hands c,asped
and their dance a dance of death.
Out of the spectral ranks came final
ly the s~oothsayer who had crossed his
path at the Half Way house-a hideous
ha" VINO tossed her skeleton-like arms,
nOcl,"i him with jeering face and
pointed towards him a bony and threat
ening finger.
You may be honest, but you can
never be h~onorable!"
The words pierced him like pointed
javelins and he writhed unde the
smart. Rousing. he brushed a hand
across his eyes, laughed at the folly
into which h perilous hour had be-
suiled him and dropped back to be a
further prey of his disagreeable rev.
cries.
The queen of hearts tripped through
the semi-Sloom, but w her sInil-
ing countenance and his came the
dead face of Sturgis; and when this
faded it left the gruesome hand of
Death raising five cards for his inspec-
tion-three knaves and two sevens,
dripping red.
with a sudden he threw
himself orwar in the chair and raised
his fist. There was nothing
before him, however, except the dull
CLEAN of the and
What was wrong with his nerves?
RMS mood was foreign to him and he
could not understand it.
Sprinsins up. he tramped the creak-
ing boards for an hour. When he
again seated himself he bowed his head
on the table in his folded arms. The
restless stirring of the guards outside
died away in his ears: he slept, and
The candle burned to its socket, sput-
tered and vent out.
Some time later-just how long he
had no means of knowing-a peculiar
sound aroused linn. He started up,
his eyes peerins into the blank dark
ness.
He stHl heard the guards: but the
noise that had awakened him came
from within. not from without.
A labored breath, carefully s,ined;
the sweep of a hand yer a rough sur
face: a creaking lift of one of the floor
boards; a fall of wood. muffled with
painstaiiing care. Then silence again,
broken only by the tramp of the armed
sentrics.
Nv opdIue SlOOEl, Darrel strained
his ears TO follow the sounds and
couplc each with a c~orresponding
movement that must have caused it.
lie readily gathered that entrance was
being forced into his prison chamber
from beneath. Who could it be?
Darrell came a kissing whisper.
1eS? he returned. in undertone.
IF you would save your life YOU
have not a homer to spare. The
marshal has been lured away and made
n prisoner and there is nothing to
prevent Stursis' friends from wreaking
their vengeance on You. There are a
lot of them at H~awkbill's now. getting
ready. The guards posted b. the mar
shall are in sympathy with them and
listen! The voice broke off, trem-
nlous with excitement. DO you hear
anything? They may be coming this
minute"
NO. returned Darrell. after a mo-
nlent. its the watchers outside that
you hear. In the first place. who are
you?"
The man whose life and honor YOU
saved at FIawkbill's."
How have You been able 20 come to
me?"
Through one of the drifts from the
creek bank. 1t was only necessary TO
dig out a few feet of earth in order
TO come up directly under this build
lng-but it has taken hours and every
how r,1~,~