The Ordway new era., 1907-08-16

Ill
ladder. very much rusted
Bber worn, but apparently per
Long and secure. was attached
Isse of this shaft, and. after
tor n few minutes until my
becomc accustomed to the
of the hole. / could see that
bout l9 feet deep and opened
arched roof OF n tunnel OF
n the floor OF which. as well
des and top. was constructed
Fe masonry.
es the most levcl.headed and
lalanced man is tempted to
ioolhardy thing, and, while
po claim to any unusual de-
personal bravery. and have
Iredeyil trait in my disposi.
ras suddenly seized with an
e desire TO descend into this
X looking pit and investigate
|seli. then and there.
Iolyer was fully loaded and !
Ied a small pocket.lamp which
given me some time before
b | had found useful on sew
hslOus; less strenuous. how
n the one at han.
these thoughts in my mind
bust be confessed. with many
ks which | strove to keep
D ignore, ! propped open the
Be manhOle and descended
10 the underground passage.
by revolver firmly in my hand
b to light my little lamp us
! reached the bottom of the
, the tunnel | stepped to one
the direction of the river,
could not be seen by anyone
IN from above. and tried to
date my eyes TO the darkness
bee and avoid, II possible. the
by lamp.
p time found that I could
y well and that was In n
pow tunnel OF brick and stone.
Z feet wide and seven in
khich sloped gradually down
iyer, where it ended in the
stone steps that l had seen
lch were entirely under the
|of the water. There was
Pisome odor to the place and
Recognized in 1t the same
d smell that | now knew SO
dreaded so much.
however. expected something
ort, and nerying myself to al.
Fthing that might be disclosed
tarch, ! proceeded cautiously
lthily along toward the steps.
would explore that part of
fel first, before going In the
fection.
nothing Of interest until l got
water. where | found a heavy,
AZ neatly folded and. on it, a
lask with the cork loosened.
awaiting their owner and in.
clearly that he purposed re-
left.
u these as they lay, I re.
steps and passed once more
y open shaft and on up the
Ipe Of the passage-way, hold.
R's'ol well in front of me and
at what moment some
,snt would meet my gaze and
|'Or the constantly increasing
VI 'he place. l had not
II lamp for the faint glimmer
ls,ea In through the river
|. 'he illumination from the
Dleu ME to see with reason
phctness.
.roceeded up the tunnel. how.
'ects began to grow DINNER
| ana | was on the point of |
! ], nsht when l heard a sudden
saw TO my horror, that the
su. nanhole had fallen shut |
rDs' leaving me in total dark. |
~ : could ignite my lamp or
~, ~, my thoughts, there was a
. !, IA. ar from the upper end of |
,roa. !. ana then some heavy, lum.
, ,'ta.ure ,a. brushed past me,
s,n, ,n'o my face a hot breath
snaple ana suggestiveness and
s,. "au mumbling like a fretful
a. s''er a generous meal.
IN y close to the wall Of NV
! - such !, 1t now was, not know
>, NJ ao or which way to turn.
S,s !. great relief. the.beast. or
,s.,,' ~ was, shumed awkwardly
pan 'sa,h, still making horrid gut.
aus and breathing deeply as
,vos solne similar little animal.
mt, @ my feet at the same mo.
arls arn,n long enough to bite my |
ps' NJ but l made no sound |
. ny ~. breath until the more
= 81, creature was well beyond |
~ me a free course to the |