Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05

.lnough tne chamber, filling IL with n million hiss
ing sounds that grew in volume instantly as
though caught up by moclSing sprites who changed
ana missed and crashed his words about and back
at MN with ghoush glee It was horrid happen
ing, and he thought the noise would never stop
IL seemed to abate and then commence again,
each time louder and louder.
suddenly something clattered with hollow
bang in the darkness opposite. and there follow
ed pandemonIum itself. So deafening grew the
noises that he put up his hands 10 his ears in
very pain and shut his eyes, all his nerves on
edge; waiting until he thought the nuisance gone,
ne opened his eyes again to see with wild amaze
the figure of huge man, full ten feet high, stand
ing IN the centre Of the cavern holding an enor-
nous lantern in his hand
| Cressngham's heart leaped violently then stood
almost still, so great the shock, and he OBJ
served with positive fear that the giant ap-
preaching him. But with every step the mon
strous creature and everything about him di-
minshed IN size until ten PAGES off he recognized
Desire The girl had seen him simultaneously.
With the speed of thought she motoned him to
silence, and beckoned him to go to her. He lost
no time, but half mad with Joy sprang forward to
find that every step he took he sank ankle-deep
in thick black slime
Desire took his arm and they hurried of to-
gether in the direction she had come. II took
them, however, though straining every nerve a
full hve minutes to cross the cavern and not till
they had penetrated the tunnel which they next
entered for sixty yards did the girl choose to
break the silence. Then she stopped, and de-
manded: How it is I found you there?"
1 got tired OF waiting, Desire and tried to es-
cape from this cursed place by myself"
you were mad" cried the girl almost anerily,
you should have waited for me- It fills me with
wonder how it happens that you are alive or how
you managed to reach the Devils Bedroom Why,
my Lord, some of the tunnels end in frightful
shafts and bottomless pits which are entirely un-
protected and just as the old lead miners left
them hundreds of years ago, because they could
find no more ore. You are certainly the luckiest
man in the whole world"
What horrible place that big cavern is. De-
sire. 1t is full of dreadful noises, and when ]
was quite afraid of you"
IT'S called the Devils Bedroom" said Desire
"It is death to stay there long. for the air *
full OF poisonous mist. But let us get on we
have long way to 60"
did you get the boat Desire?"
eyes"
Cressingham felt as glad and happy as a bov
'You darling!" he cried "you are perfect treas.
1 ure!"
Desire made no answer, but pressed on in ad
vance.
Where are we gOng?'' asked the man pre.
emily
"0ut of this"
is locked, isn't t?"
'By a way discovered for myself last wintcr
!
"You dear, clever girl!''
! "Am I?"
! Desire, are you angry with me?"
yes
For not waiting for you?"
NO. not that, although it was silly of vou''
What for, then, Desire?"
Never mindl"
Cressingham could not extract another word
from her, although he essayed every blandisb.
ment he knew, but Desire would not let him
touch her, refused to speak, and showed herself
so sullen that he finally desisted in despair and
they marched on in silence Ten minutes sharp
walking brought them to a place where the tun-
mel contracted that they had to crawl for
forty yards on hands and knees Then the light
suddenly disappeared; Desire had extinguished t.
Here are" she said, and stood up. Cress-
ngham pushing forward eagerly received a sting
ing blow in the face from the branches of
shrub but forcing these aside, he got his feet
and joyfully filed his lungs with deep draught
Of the pure air of heaven.
He found that he stood on a rocky mountain
ledge behind the castle and outside the bay,
which was hidden utterly from view Two hun,
dred feet almost vertically beneath the ledge
the beat upon the mountains feet. Desire
had already plunged into narrow sideing path
that skirted the precipice and this she trod so
swiftly and fearlessly that the man for
second stood aghast But marking her sure-footed
skill he gathered up his courage and followed
her.
1t was a matter of an hours clambering along
the coast and scrambling through the maquis un.
til they reached the beach where the yachts boat
Law moored half in the water, half in the sand
Cressingham found that the girl, in spite Of
her sudden inexplicable aversion to him, had
provided for his comfort for the boat was stock
ed with a beaker of water and fair quantity Of
food; it was also furnished with sculls and
small lug sail.
He got everything prepared for his departure
with all possible despatch, and then turned to
the girl. Don't let part bad friends, Desire"
he pleaded.
NYou had better start" she returned, coldly.
'1t must be after ten, and if l don't soon make
my appearance a search boat will be sent out
after me-"
me, don't know why. Won't you at least tell
me why?"
rYou had better g"
"Please tell me, Desire"
"Go, go quickly"
Every well, dear since you wish it. But our
bargain holds. l shall soon return, Desire"
'TYes return quickly, quickly as possible"
'Perhaps you will be liking me again before
then. All, Desire let me tell you how grateful
7 am to you for all you have done, what a
sweet. noble girl think you"
"rThat is not true" cut in the girl "You don't
think me noble, you don't think me even good"
"My dear girl, you dream" cried Cressngham
in amaze. 'T think you are the best and noblest
girl know Of.
o0Then why did you kiss me?" very angrily
The man gasped "Why-why what's the mat
terg"
"Ah!" cried the girl of a sudden. going very
close to him and kissing the words in his ear:
at know WHY You have no respect for me that