Gunnison news-champion., 1907-02-08
CMNrGa ~.


had been locked II was not to keep
us IN the cellars. rather 1t Was 10
prevent any one from leaving the
bal room by that route. Evidently
our sbscace had not been noticed.
nor had any seen our prccipstAte
flight sighed gratefully.
For several minutes We stood silent
and motioniess on the landing AT
length ! boldly struck a match The
first thing that greeted any blinded
gaze vas the welcome visicn of hi
tie she'll lined with stewards candles.
one Of these 1 Hehsed. and tWo others
1 stuffed into the pocket OF uy Ca
ruchins gown. Then We tiptoCd
saftly down the stairs. the girl tax
gins fearfWlly at my sleeve.
There was an earthly smell N vas
damp and cold. Miles and miles away
$50 il seemedl the pale moonshine
filtered through q oobwebbed window.
~ ~as ,aVppssS. but SO FAR as ] was
concerned 1 was honestly enjoying
myself. strange as this statement may
seem. Here vas 4 setting forth upon
an adventure with the haDdsomest,
~ittisst girl | had ever laid eyes upon.
IL 4 eStricated her realty she would
always be in my debt; and the thought
of this was mighty pleasant To con
template.
DO yon know the way out?"
confessed that SO far as | knew,
of mythology.
Go ahead she said bravey.
Il ask only to die in your highness'
service, ,"-soberly.
''BSt I do rot want you to die: l
wsAt You to ger ~ oct oisthis cellar.
and quickly, too"
'1'll live or die In the attempt"
Il see nothing funny In our predic-
ament. t."-icily.
our angles Of vision were not the
same; I begin to believe II. As for
me, I think it's simply immense to
AaA myself IN the same boat with
goa"
Il wish yos had beea a. anarchist,
- Q psrformer in Q dime nSseun."
Tea uight nOv Be alsas here. But.
par1sa ~ suveiy ysa - ~ lack the
fuIl albstuseat a The sAveatsrOus
s0arit! II vss III oaustAg eaOHgh to
co0e here u0Aer 1alss prstSases."
''nut I ~ .Ct rsckseel % any
ooe's lssiaG tewels"
Ne Dsrs - l."
"PrsoseA. have tks courage to
trvst - your guiAaacs."
Il W0alA that II might - o.
ways!"-vitA . bsrst u seatinent
that Was not wholly feisned.
~iAt ~ % Oa."-apetieatly. Il
shall not only catcA ny death oe
csaA. bst { shall - horribly coapro-
D1oeA."
NY Aeas yosaS loAy. - the word
q . Oeatbe0aa. I Will % The best I
con 10 get yox oSt Of THE cellar. n
I have tssteA . httIe. II was saly In
~ e40rt 10 give yOs cesra0e; Tor
AAvea't ths slightest iAeA how ~ are
eoanG to get out q tAis dismal hole."
We went on. We couldn't see half
. dosen feet In froat of -. The giooM
beyond the dozen feet vas etygian
aAA nseaacing. And tAe great grim
shadows that crept beAind ~ as We
prOceeded Oace the gisl stumbled
and fell against me.
What's the natter" I asked, start
led.
Il stepped on something that-that
moved
Possibly it was a potato: there's
a bin of them over there Where the
deuce are we,"
IF you swear, I shall certainly
scream" she warned.
But | can swear in the most ele-
CANT and approved fashion"
Il am not inclined to have you
demonstrate your talents"
Aha. Here is the coal-bin. Per
haps the window may be open II so,
We are saved. VIII you hold the can
die for a moment?"
Have you ever Witnessed . cat
footing 1t across the snow? II you
have, picture me initiating her Cau-
tiously | took one step, then another:
and then that mountain of coal turned
into a roaring treadmill. Sssssh.
Rrrrr' In a moment l was buried to
the knees and nearly suffocated
became angry. 1 wonld reach that
window
Hush Hush The noise. the
noise. whispered the girl, waving
the candle frantically.
But I was determined. Again tried
This time ] slipped and fell on my
hands. As | strove to get up, the
cord on my gown became tangled
about my feet. The girl choked;
whether with coal dust or with laugh
ter I could not say. ~ she still had
on her cambria mask
Forgive me" she said. And thea
I knew II was not the coal dust.
I'll forgive you. but q will not
prUNise to forget"
'Mercfful heavens, you must
not try that again. Think Of the
psise."