Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-07-13

'-s'o ulVed INTO The water anC -oUno
shelter somewhere under the shore
AZ THIS we're the case, a man might
easily enough have ventured out from
I his hiding place. and. upon seeing me
I returned and waited until the coast
was clear again.
pulled In close TO the shore. and.
/ padding slowly along under the over.
hanging bank, soon discovered a
broad flight OF stone steps lying en-
urely beneath the surface OF the Wa
TER and leading apparently TO some
Sort or tunnel or cave.
As made this discovery had no
! doubt that the mysterious Hgure 7 had
seen had emerged from this sunken
tunnel, and, upon encountering me.
mad returned TO II with all possible
haste- l certainly had no desire to fol-
10" MIN through the submerged en-
trance to his place OF concealment
but l determined TO GUST him with
out delay. and leaving my skin at the
penthouse, l returned for a Anal -
connoiter before sumrnoninK n ean~
or men 20 dig down from above and
lay bare tho subterranean vault to
which tho submerged stairway doubt
less led
Clambering up on the knoll that
overlooked this part OF the river
cast my eye IN every direction nm and
Gown the stream. keeping as close a
watch as possible on the entire land
scape. and, even sooner than I had
expected, I was rewarded by seeing
the fellows head again emerre from
the water about 20 feet on shore
As be shook the drops from his face
and glanced about him apprehensfve-
y crouched low down on the ground
back OF brush, and watched him At
tenuYeiy from this point OF vantage.
Jhs countenance was 50 distorted
With the cold and the water In his
eyes that I could not have recognized
him even II had seen him betoro
and be seemed to swim with great DIFF
nouity. doubtless because OF the icy
eh1n OF the water; but he went brave
" about It and struck out nanrulry
Tor the shore. which he reached In a
few sturdy strokes.
AZ bo got into shallow water and
made his way TO tho land. I could sea
thot be was fully dressed, even 70 his
shoes. and that be was shiverinz VIC
lently from the effect OF his exertton
md the exposure to which he had
been subjected
vas almost on the point Of calling
out to him and Offering him such as
ststance as I could render lest ho
should collapse before my eyes. when
I discovered that he, himself. had
made provision for this contingency. !
From under growth OF underbrush
he hurrtedly extracted heavy ulster
or storm coat, and. taking a task from
ono OF the pockets. he raised Il 20 his
Ups and drank long and greedily. This
done, he drew tho coat nervously |
about his shaking limbs. and. with a
hunted sort Ok a look In every dtrec-
uon bat mino, 50 that did not get a /
view OF his face. he ran at top speed |
along the shore and finally disap-
pearea 10 the trees az the tura OF !
the river.
y would have bon futile 70 have !
followed him. and once moro be- /
gan 70 look about ne before calling 1
Tor aid and baViRg the cavern. or ,
whatever Il was. unroofed The lawn
NJ this part OF the grounds was kept /
In especially good condition. as Il lay |
almost directly IN front OF tho house.
and scattered about It wore numerous
Flower beds aud clumps OF shrub |
bery.
ln-Soing over this area carefully and /
automatically as did. was not long
In finding IN the center OF a mass OF |