Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-05

FToiu tue Lace OIL tue CHI puueu
cloud of dust. A thudding report boom
ed over the water. Just wisp of
whitish gray smoke arose, and beneath
it the great rock with a gaping seam
across its top rolled majestically out,
ward. sending shower of spray on
all sides and opening to their eager
view black chasm into the heart of
the headland. The experiment had
worked out with the accuracy of
geometric problem.
That's all, SIR Barnett reported Of
| ficially.
Magic! Modern magic" said the
captain. He stared at the open door
For the moment the object of the I'M
dertaking was forgotten in the Won
der of its exact accomplishment
"Darrowll think an earthquakes
come after him." remarked Trendon.
Give way" ordered the captain.
The boat grated on the sand Cap
| tain Parkinson would have entered
but Barnett restrained him.
ITS best to wait a minute or two"
he advised. Occasionally slides follow
| an explosion tardily. and the gases
don't always dissipate quickly"
| Where they stood they could see but
a short way into the cave. Trendon
| squatted and funneled his hands to
one eye.
| There's a fire inside" he said
| In moment they all saw 1t. a sin
| gle pin point glow far back in the
| blackness, q cyclopean eye that sway
ed as 1t approached. Alternately It
| waned and frightened. Suddenly it H.
| Illuminated the dim lineaments of q
face. The face neared them. 1t joined
itself TO reality by very solid pair of
shoulders, and man sauntered into
the twilit mouth of the cavern. re-
moved cigarette from his lips and
gave them greeting.
Sorry not TO have net you at the
door," he said courteously. 1T was
You that knocked, was it not? Yes?
1t reused me from my siesta.'
They stared at him in silence He
blinked in the light with unaccustomed
eyes.
You will pardon me for not asking
you il at once. Past circumstances
have rendered wcll-perhaps sus-
picious is not too strong n word
They noticed that he held revolver
in his hand
Captain Parkinson came forward a
step. The host half raised his weapon.
: Then he dropped 1t abruptly
"Navy menr' he said IN an altered
voice. Il beg your pardon. l could
l l.
: barrow"
Il am Captain Parkinson of the
United States cruiser Wolverine" said
the commander This is Mr. Bar.
nett, Mr. barrow. DIR. Trendon, Mr.
barrow"
They shook hands all around.
Like some silly afternoon tea
Trendon sail later in retailing it to
the mess. A pause followed.
won't you step in. gentlemen" SAID
= Darrow. MAY 1 offer you the max,
ings of cigarette?'
!, Wouldn't you be robbing yourself?
inquired the captain. with a twinkle.
"Oh. you found the diary, Them
said barrow easily. Rather silly OF
+, me to complain so. But really in con
ditions like these tobacco becomes {
serious problem"
$50 one might imagine" said Tren
don drily. He looked closely at Oar
row. The mans eyes were, light an(
dancing From the nostriS two livit
lines ran diagonally. Such lines one
might make with. hard blue pencil
pressed strongly into the flesh. The
surgeon moved little nearer
Can you give me any news of M
friend Thrackles?" asked barrow light
ly. "Or the esteemed Pulz? Or th,
scholarly and urbane Robinson O
Ethiopian extraction"
Dead" said the captain.
! "Ah. a pityr' said the other a,
put his hand to his forehead. Il hat
thought it probable" His face twitch
I ed. Dead? Very good. In fact
really-er-amusing"
He began to laugh. quite to himself
1t was not a pleasant laugh to hear
Trendon caught and shook him by tn,
shoulder.
drop it, he said.
barrow seemed not to hear him
Dead. All deadr' he repeated IAN,
I've outlasted 'em! I've outlasted 'emr
And his mirth broke forth In strange
" shocking spasm.
Trendon lifted a hand and strucl
him so powerfully between the shout
der blades that he all but plunged for
ward on his face.
"Quit it, he ordered again. zee
hold of yourself"
Darrow turned and gripped him
The surgeon WINGED with the pain o
the grasp. Il can't" gasped the ma
room, between paroxysms. I've bee
living In hell-a black, shaking, shiy
lering hell, for God knows how long
What do you know? Have you eve
been buried alive?" And again tn
agony of laughter shook him.
This, then" muttered the doctor
and the hypodermic needle shot homs
During the return Darrow lay lik