The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-03-22

to De about ten feet square anC
without windows. 1t was much
like vault. When my eyes grew
accustomed to the dim light | saw
there was rough table across one
corner and a human head upon il
that looked as if it had been sever.
ed from the body and placed there
with its face towards the door. Il
was gastly sight. The counte,
nance was terribly cruel and slnis.
ter. From the part of the long
coarse black hair that struggled
over the table a broad white scar
extended across the swarthy face
to the right-hand corner of the
mouth. On futher examination
found the head had not been sew
cred from the body as | had first
supposed, but that while coming
from an alcoye that had been let
into the chimney-and / at once
comprehended why the size of the
chimney was soimmense-the wall
had given away and the logs had
fallen across his neck as he stoop-
ed, breaking it and pinning him
to the top of the table. On the
floor by the side of the dead man
was a large pair of saddle pockets,
also a canvas sack of smaller pro-
portions. The mouth of the sack
had burst open when it had fallen
scattering gold coins about the
room. Both the sack and the sad
die pockets were filled with treas
are. ! now understand why the
man had not escaped with his COM
panions if he was In the house
alone. He had remained behind
20 take the treasure and had been |
caught as | have described by the
falling wall. | gathered up the
,oins that lay scattered about and
aking the sack and saddle pockets
With me went down the stairs. II
communicated my suspicious to
he young lady and pointed out
he necessity of leaving as quickly
nd quietly as possible. | did not
ell her of the grewsome find | had
nade upon the upper floor.
Can you ride?" ] inquired.
II am quite at home in the sad
le," she replied.
'sIf you feel sufficiently strong,
think we had better put a few
liles between ourselves and this
ouse at once" | said, "for if any
+ its former occupants should
eturn and find us here, very siren
Gus proceedings would be sure
, follow"
She quite agreed with me and
fought she would be able to ride
Tree or four miles before night
Ill. Having wandered in the
GODS the whole of the preceding Is
ight, her clothing had become Z
'rn and plastered with mud From {
$ appearance | concluded she had s
lien into the water while Crop {
g in the darkness. ! told her | s
ought she would find an ample (
Ipply of wraps and more COM Z
rtable clothing in one of the bed &
'oms, and as we might be COM !
'lled to live in the open air for 3
indefinite length Of time with Z
cry prospect of the weather be s
ming M ore inclement, / sug- :
'sted the necessity of her taking )
ficient for her needs. So say 3
2, l selected a saddle and bride )
Om among those piled in the cor 3
r and went out to the stable 8
lere the horses were. | caught 3
fine black that showed saddle s
arks, and as matter of precau- q
N as we'll as of mercy, turned Q
. others outside. After adjust q
Z the saddle l led him around to q
} front of the house and hitched y
n by the side of my own horse. z
cit that the circumstances under q
Iich | was placed fully justified q
: course both as to the horse q
/ the money. Should we be pur- =
ID, our chance of escape, if both =
re mounted, would be good,
lerwise we would be almost GER
q to be oyertaken.
Ill M