The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-11

D With courtiy
-r1ErwELL. Wy bow he turned
bold YOUNG from the tepse
FRIEND muscied captive
and directed his final Instructions to
the guards With a curt nod to the
men. he strobe OFT through the mouth
of the cave and was gone. Dusk had
settled down upon mountain and val
ley. One of the men cut the rope that
bound Truxton's feet
Get up" said the Newport man.
We've got to be moyln'."
Still. gagged and somewhat dizzy,
King was hurried Off into the narrow
mountain path, closely surrounded by
the five men.
The silent. cautious march down tho
valley. through the gap and along the
ridge carried them far into the night.
This much he knew-thcy were In
the hills directly above the northern
gates. The vague. black shadow OF
lightless house doomed up before them.
In twinkling he was hustled across
the road and into door. then down
a fight Of stairs. through pitchy dark
ness. guided by two of the men. a
whispered word of advice now and
then from the Yankee saving him from
perilous stumbles. He was jerked up
sharply with n command to stand still.
A light flashed suddenly In his face,
binding him for moment
Soon he saw that they were In a
broad, bare cellar; three men In heavy
black boards were in earnest CONVERSE
ton with several of his captors: all
were gesticuiating fiereely.
His Newport companion enlightened
him between puffs Of the pipe he was
struggling with Here's where We
say eoodi,s. yetinr fellow. We turn
you over 10 these gents. whoever they,
are. You 90 into the village gay with
these 'swabs' by the sewer line. I
guess" TruXton pricked up his ears.
The old man has had a hole chopped
in the sewer here, they tell me- and It's
a snap TO get into the city. Not very
clean or neat. but Il gets you there.
, Well SO long. They're Seady, see.
They don't monkey long when they've
got thing to do.
In another moment MS guardianship
was transferred; he was being hurried
across the cellar toward an open door
way Down Il few stone steps he was
led by the bearded crew. and then
pushed through hole in what APP
peared to be heavy brick wall. He
realized at once where he was. The
gurglc of running water came up TO
him. II was the great sewer that ran
from the hills through the heart OF the
city. flushed continuously by a diverted
mountain stream that swept down
from above.
lie did not know how long they
travcrsed the chill sewer. In time.
however. the water got deeper; rats
began to seurrF along the sides OF the
circle or to swim frantically on In front
of the dlsturbers.
At last the strange journey ended.
They came To a niche In the Shiny wall.
Up into this the men climbed. The man
above was cautiously tapping on what
appeared to be solid masonry. To
Kings surprise section of the wall
suddenly opened before them. He was
seized from above by strong hands and
literally jerked through the hole, up
narrow steps and then into a long, dim
" lighted room, in the center Of which
stood long table.
He was passed on into small room
adjoining. Some one, speaking In Eng
fish, told him to sit down. The gag
was removed from his stiff, inflamed
mouth.
Fetch him some water" said q
voice that he was sure he recognized
a high. querulous voice.
Hello, Spantzw articulated Truxton,
turning to the black bearded. bent ig-
ure.
There was an instant Of silence
Then Spantz spoke, with soft laugh:
"You viii not know so much tomor-
row, Herr King. Give him water,
man. He cannot talk with a dry
throat"
King was pushed out into the larger
room. where he was confronted by q
crowd OF bewhiskered men and snaky
eyed women with most intellectual
nose glasses. 1t required but glance
to convince him that the whiskers
were false.
For nearly an hour he was probed
with questions concerning his business
in Edelwe:ss. Threats followed close
upon his unsatisfactory answers,
though they were absolutely truthful.
Wen lind way to make you talk
tomorrow. my friend! Starving Is not
pleasant"
you would not starve mev he cried.
mo. You will have the pleasure Of
starving yourself" saidfA thin eyed
fellow whom. he afterward knsw. - :
Peter Brutus
ITO be coniinued.l