The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-05-01
Ccontinued from Saturday. }

found the r1ng.zand TO It / tied the
rope tested TIE security of the knots
at least hale dozen times before I
let the rome go. It swung cut to- its
length with Jerk. I fastened the
sword tightly round me. and then 1
stood for a moment. It was n short
prayer I mnttered- too short perhaps.
for the great matter was entering
upon, but It was m earnest one, Then
l sat upon the edge OF the slip and.
graspIng the rope with both hands. let
myself so, dropping to my full length
II was the way that only dead men
took. yet l. n living one. was about to
take it
1T hat-seemed pitch dark In the dun
geon. yet I hung inn greater blackness
and could discern the opening above
my head wasted no time now had
begun my Journey. It was simply a
matter OF sliding down the slip and
steadying myself by the rope. This
was easy enough.
I must have traversed nearly the
dfty feet OF rope. yet my feet hnd al
ways met the wall. had come TO no
other hole. no other slfP Joining the
main shaft. Hand over hand went
down. first feeling the rope with my
feet to make certain that was not at
the end OF It, then feeling the wall. not
to miss the opening ] sought for.
Hand over hand, then my feet dan.
Cling below me-there was no more
rope. For an Instant felt inclined TO
let go and fail to death. SO ending my
troubles. Then I went up hand over
hand in desperate haste. and. having
got the rope between my knees again.
I hung. swinging. and steadied myself
to think. Either / had missed the hole
or organ was mistaken: the rope was
not long enough. Perhaps It was be
cause the first solution was the most
acceptable that believed 1t to be the
correct one. took courage and
climbed upward. stretching my legs TO
right and left searching for the hole
might have missed It even then had
not heard a sound that made me
listen intently. Yes; It WIS distinct
from the Kissing of the water below
me, the murmur OF a mans voice.
Was it above me in the dungeon hnd
escaped from? If-so. had only to wait
n few moments. / should feel the rope
ierked. OF else it would be cut, and so
an end to me- I hung, waiting, and
still in dull monotone tho voice went
ON. Suddenly little below me and to
my left the rocky wall seemed to grow
luminous, flickering light that shOne
for n moment. then died. then shone !
again
ais that good way out of life?"
The voice sounded low. yet the
words were distinct. The light hicker-
I'd and then slowly went out low.
"red myself to the level where Il had
heen md then holding the rome with
one nand, worked my way along the |
face of the wall with the other. / i
made slow progress, but presently I /
grasped the side OF the slip. Cautiously /
I felt for the door of It with my foot
After some minutes succeeded in
finding st. but 1t was. II anything. at
4 sharper angle than the slip from my
dungeon. How to get footing upon
it was matter for consideration. AS
lt was, had to hold on to the side of |
the slip to prevent the rope swinging
back with me, for instead OF being
directly under my dungeon. MS Organ
had led me to suppose. this opening
was good ten feet to one side of
It Fortunately the wallis OF II were
rough hevn. and. cIinging to the rope
With my knees and feet. niunuged 10
drag myself inward with my hands. d
my nails and fingers suffering Ia the
1peration. BY letting the rope slide
my knees gradually as ] nd
ranced brought myself to the floor
some feet from the edge Of the slip a
chose the spot ana then dropped Z
lorward on my hands ana siiecs. The s
4 q af