The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-05-30

the guards. With curt nod to the
men, he strobe out 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 mOvin'.''
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 the
valley. through the gap and along the
ridge carried them far into the night
This much he knew-they we've in !
the hills directly above the northern i
gates. The vague. black shadow of Il |
lightless house doomed up before them.
In twinkling he was hustled across
the road and into a door, then down
a flight 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 jerl1ed up
sharply With a command to stand still
A light flashed suddenly in his face
binding him for moment.
Soon he saw that they were in d
broad, bare cellar: three men in heavy
black boards were in earnest converSa-
ton with several of his captors: all
were gesticulating fiercely.
His Newport companion enlightened
him between puffs of the pipe he was
struggling with. Here's where we
say goodhy. young fellow. We turn
you over to these gents. whoever they
are. You go into the village gay with
these 'swabs' by the sewer line. l
guess. TruNton pricked up his ears.
THE old man has had a hole chopped
in the sewer here, they tell ne. and its
snap to get into the city Not very
clean or neat. but it gets you there.
Well. so long! They're ready. | see.
They don't monkey long when they've
get a thing to do
In another moment his guardianship
was transferred: he was being hurried
across the cellar toward an open door
way. Down few stone steps he was
led by the bearded crew. and then
pushed through hole in what ap-
peared to be 4 heavy brick wall He
realized at once where he was. The
gurgle of running water came up to
him. 1t was the great sewer that ran
from the hills through the heart of the
city. flushed continuously by diverted
mountain stream that swept down
from above.
Hn IL hny hnu
traversed the chill sewer In time.
however. the water got deeper; rats
began to scurTy along the sides Of the
circle OF to swim frantically on in front
of the disturbers.
At last the strange Journey ended
They came to niche in the Shiny wall
Up into this the men climbed The mar
above was cautiously tapping on wha1
appeared to be solid masonry. IL
Kings surprise a section of the wal
| suddenly opened before them. He wa:
seized from above by strong hands an(
literally ierked through the hole. vi
: narrow steps and then into long. dim
) ly lighted room. in the center of which
stood long table.
j adjoining Some one. speaking in Eng
fish, told him to sit down. The ga
| was removed from his stiff. infiame'
mouth.
Fetch him some water,'' said
voice that he was sure he recognized
a high, querulous voice,
Hello. Spantz!' articulated Truxtor
turning to the black bearded. bent fig
ure.
There was an instant of silenc,
Then Spantz spoke. with a soft laugl
You will not know so much tomo
row. Herr King. Give him waite
man. He cannot talk with dr.
I throat
King was pushed out into the large
J. room. where he was confronted by
crowd of bewhiskered men and snak
eyed women with most intellectu;
l. nose glasses. 1t required but glant
:. | to convince him that the whiskel
{ were false.
Il For nearly an hour he was probe
with questions concerning his busine!
in Edelweiss. Threats followed clio:
upon his unsatisfactory answer
) though they were absolutely truthful
Wen find way to make you ia
y tomorrow. my friend! Starving is n
/ pleasant"
= You would not starve me"' he erie
IL mo. You will have the pleasure
II starving yourself" said a thin ey'
fellow whom he afterward knew
L. Peter BrutuS.
u He was thrown back into the lit
- room. To his surprise and gratitic
u ton the bonds on his wrists were 1
moved.
He found a match in his box al
l. struck it. There was no article
'e furniture. The floor was bare, t
. walls green with age. A chimney he
&c in the ceiling was perhaps the on
means by which fresh air could rea
this dreary place. Sleep was claimi1