Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-20

thickly leaved evergreen bushes, .
patch OF earth that had evidently
been disturbed within, few hours.
On brushing away the leaves and dirt.
which sesmsd to have been replaced
hurtsedly, In an awkward attempt to
conceal the spot, came upon an iron
grating like the covering to the man.
hole Of q sewer, but with openings
which, II they had been clear. would
have permitted Q certain limited
amount Of ventilation. This lid was
hinged at ono side but was not fas-
tened down and had no great dim
Guilty. In lifting II up 80 that could
peer into the blackness below.
An iron ladder. very much rusted
and weather worn. but apparently per-
fectly strong and secure. was attached
to one side OF this shaft, and, after
waiting for few minutes until my
eyes had become accustomed to the
hlackness Of the hole. could ace that
| 1t was about Ia feet deep and opened
into the arohed roof OF tunnel Of
some kind. the floor Of which, as well
as the sides and top. wan constructed
Of massive masonry.
At times the most levelheAded and
evenly balanced man 10 tempted to
do some foolhardy thing, and, while
I make no claim to any unusual de-
gree Of personal bravery. and have
not q daredevil trait in my DISPOSE
ton, was suddelaly seized with an
Irresistible desire +, descend into this
forbidding looking pit and investigate
1t for myself, then and there.
MY revolver was fully loaded and I
also carried . small pocket-lamp which
had been given me some time before
and which, / had found useful on sew
eral occasions; leiIs strenuous. how
ever, than the one 1t hand.
With these thoughts in my mind
and, 1t must be confessed, with many
misgivings which I strove to keep
down and ignore, I propped open the
lid Of the 1hanhole and descended
boldly into the underground passage,
holding my revolver hrmly IN my hand
and ready to light my little lamp as
soon as / reached the bottom Of the
ladder.
Once in the tunnel ! stepped to one
aide in the direction OF the river,
where l could not be seen by anyone
looking in from above, and tried to
accommodate my eyes to the darkness
OF the place and 4veid, II possible, the
use Of my lamp.
After a time ! found that I could
see fairly well and that was IN :
long, narrow tunnel Of brick and stone,
about six feet wide and seven in
height, which sloped Gradually down
to the river, where It ended In the
flight Of stone steps that had seen
and which were entirely under the
surface Of the water. There was =
damp. noisome odor to the place and
1 soon recognized in 1t the same
graveyard smell that I now knew 20
well and dreaded so much.
had, however, expected something
Of this sort, and nerving myself to al
most anything that might be disclosed
in my search, proceeded cautiously
and stealthily along toward the steps,
thinking I would explore that part Of
the tunnel first, before going in the
other direction.
/ saw nothing of interest until got
near the water, whert, found heavy.
warm coat neatly folded and. on 1t. .
whisky TASK with the cork loosened.
evidently awaiting their owner and in
dicating clearly that he purposed re-
turning by the route he had taken
when he left.
Leaving these as they lay, 70.
traced my steps and passed once more
under the open shaft and on up the
gentle slope Of the passage-way, hold
ing my pistol we'll n front OF me and
wondering at what moment some
CHASTITY sight would meet my gaze and
account to- the constantly increasing
fetidness OF the plaps. / had not
lighted my lamp, for the faint elimmer
that altered in through the river
water and the illumination from the
shaft enabled He to sec with reason
able distinctness.
AZ proceeded up the tunnel. how
ever, objects began to grow DINNER