Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-11

OF the cave and was gone. Dusk had
settled down upon mountain and yal.
ley. One of the men cut the rope tha,
bound Truxton's feet.
Get up" said the Newport man
we've got to be movin'."
SUI gagged and somewhat dizzv
King was hurried or into the narrow
mountain path. closely surrounded by
the FIVE men
Inc SILENT cautious march down the
valley. through the gnp and along tina
ridge carried them far into the nirht
This much he knew--they were IN
| the hills directly above the northern
gates. The vague. black shadow Of a
lightless house doomed up before them
In twinkling be was hustled ocroes
the road and into door, then down
a flight of stairs, through pitchy dark.
ness. guided by two of the mon II
whispered word Of advice now md
then from the Yankee saving him from
perilous stulnbles. He was ierled mn
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
/ broad. bare cellar; three men in heavy
black boards were In earnest conJ.ers,.
! ton with several OF his captors: all
were gcsticulnting fercely.
His Newport companion enlightened
him between puffs OF the pipe he was
struggling with. Here's where wa
say goodby, young fellow. We tirn
you over to these gents. whoever they
are. You go into tho village gay with
these 'swabs' by the sewer line.
guess" Truxton pricked up his ears.
"The old man has had Il hole chopped
In the sewer here. they tell me. and it's
snap to get into the city. Not very
clean or neat, but it gets you there.
Well. so long They're readv. I see
They don't monkey long when they've
got n thing to DO"
In another moment his guardianship
was transferred; he was being hurried
across the cellar toward an oven door.
way Down n few stone steps he was
led by the bearded crew, and then
pushed through hole In what an.
lcarnd 70 be heavy brick wall He
realized at once where he was. The
gurgle Of running water came uo to
him. II 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.
He did not know how long they
traversed the chill sewer. In time.
however, tbs water got deeper: rats
began to scurry along the sides of the
circle or to swim frantcally on In front
of The disturberS.
At last the strange journey ended.
They came to n niche in the Shiny wall,
Up into this the men climbed. The man
above was cautiously tnppins: on what
appeared to be solid masonry. 70
Kings surprise section Of the wall
suddenly opened before them. He was
seized from above by strong hands and
literally jerked through the hole, M
narrow steps ana then into Il long dim,
ly lighted room. in the center OF which
stood a 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. infa med
mouth.
Fetch him some water" said
voice that he was sure he recognized
Il high, querulous voice.
Hello, SpantZ." articulated Truxtoni
turning to the black bearded. bent fig
ure.
There was m instant of silence
Then Spantz spoke. with soft laugh
you will not know so much tOlnor
row. Herr king. Give hin water
man. He cannot talk with dry
throat"
King was pushed out into the larger
room. where he was confronted by
crowd of bev hisl;ered men and snGkv
eyed women with most intellectual
nose glasses. 1t required hut glanca
to convince him that the whlskers
We're false.
Tor nearly an hour he was prObed
with questions concerning his business
in Edelweiss. Threats followed close
upon his unsatisfactory answers,
though they were absolutely truthful.
We'll find way to make you tall
tomorrow. my friend. Starving is not
pleasant"
you would not starve me.' he cried.
"No You vii! have the pleasure If
starving yourself" said thin eyed
fellow whom he afterward knew ~
Peer Brutus.
lie was thrown back into the little
room. TO his surprise and gratiiica'
ton the bonds on his wrists were re-
moved.
He found a match in his box and
struck it. Where was To article OF
furniturc. The floor was bare, the
walls green with age. \ chimney hole
in the ceiling was perhaps the only
means by which fresh air could reach
this GroNry place Sleep was claiming
his senses lie made Il pillow OF his
coat and stretched his weary bones
upon the relentless floor.
NO one will ever know he MUIR
his last waking thought being
Of a dear one at home.