Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-08
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE:
By ROBERT AITKEN.


a strong resemblance to nervous pfostra
tion. His venture. on the top of his ex'
periences of that morning, had taxed
him to the uttermost.
They did not linger. therefore. but. hav.
ing sent MCGUIRE on in advance to break
to their friends the news Of O'Dare's
most amazing resurrection. climbed up
ward arm in arm.
them, while the two girls at the trap
door above could scarcely wait till he
came forth to welcome him. and Fits
eyes We're full of. thankful tears. and
Beatriz Ybarra stammared as she spoke
and even the wounded men sat up to
cheer
Dennis was quite embarrassed by the
warmth of his reception. and gradually
the strained expression in his eyes gave
place to one of calmer retrospect.
He told his story simply. in few words
"A rock abutting hid my light when
was half way down. he said, land. OF
course. lost sight Of those above at the
same moment. The funnel does not fall
plumb. but curves inward from that point
Il could see that the rope was travelling
in groove on the rock face above me
which showed that l was not by any
meaos the first to explore the cavern
Otherwise would have turned back then
and there for underneath i could see
something moving.
Il was half sick with fright. but knew
gave the word and so went on until
saW-to one side Il smooth shelf. And on
the wall behind it was an iron ring.
Il started swinging so that might
reach it, and very soon succeeded in do.
ing so. 80
standing there I came to the ~concla-
sion that Years must have passed since
any one had set foot on 1t. The ring was
rotting. the rock beneath was thickly
coated with fine gray dust.
Of I hat ~
rude doorway. and. of course. had to find
out whether there was any chance for us
through that. 1t was not idle curiosity
that kept me going. 1 can tell you.
But Jerry's knots proved too tough for
my fingers. l had to cut the rope to free
myself. and. Most unfortunately. reached
too high. with the result that / severed
the signal cord Also and in my anxiety
to save that I lost my life line. There i
was stranded with both of them dan
IT. howled and shouted until 1 was
hoarse. but could hear no reply. That
was because the rock is honeycombed
with openings which lead heaven knows
where. but evidently carry off all sound. l
studied them on my way up.
II was half frantic for time. but
judged that some one would come after
me. and plucked up heart to employ my
time more usefullY for All of us -.
The door was latched. without lock-
vi tHc lHSlOe Ills lace DlancneQ
again.. he spoke with twisted lip-"on the
inside there was a gray monk sitting
on an oaken chest-his head hung for
ward beneath his cowl. l could have
cried with cold terror! But as l started
back. he disappeared-melted away be-
fore my eyes-God! it was horrible
Nothing but sheer funk kept me from
boiling back past the spot where he had
been sitting. and-f1inging myself from
the shelf. I'm thankful l was preserved
from that. 80 ,st.
LAS soon as l could thinkI knew. of
course. that l had merely come across a
mummy. and mustered up sufficient cour-
age to root round and make some more
Investigations. :, -
THE chest he had been sitting on was
full of church ,plate-cups and candle
sticks. and clralices. all solid gOld-and
there were others ranged behind it. l
didn't open them. and only brought away
one relic
He drew forth from an inside pocket a
little oblong volume bound In yellow
boards that looked like horn. and Corbyn
took it from him. turning over the thick,
cracking leaves until .nessAws this super
scription in thin. faded characters traced
by clerkly hand and very long ago:
Fray Jayme.. Madryd, 1890" and I'M
derneath. 'Se fyel."
BE faithful'' he translated the curt
motto which had brought its owner over
seas from Spain. And he was very
faithful. poor chap-even unto death.
(To be continued tomorrow