Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-07-11
NUMBER %.

end of the fuse almost at his feet. Sud.
denly his cropping fingers came In con-
tact with the cold steel Of bis pocket
revolver, and with q last hope he
snatched 1t forth. stretching down bis
pistol arm until the muzzle Of tho
weapon was within dozen inches OF
the deadly spark. At his first shst tho
spark leaped. but did not 60 out After
the second there was no longer the
fiery. creeping thing on the foor. and
crushing his head back against the
sacks, Rowland sat for many minutes
as II death had in reality come to him
In the moment Of his deliverance.
After q time, with tedious slowness,
he worked q hand into his trousers
pocket. where he carried a penknife.
It took him long time to saw through
the rawhide thong about his neck.
After that he cut the rope that bound
his ankles
He made an effort to rise. but no
sooner had he gained his feet than
his paralyzed limbs gave way under
him and he dropped In a heap on the
floor. Very slowly the blood began
finding its way through his choked
veins again. and with the change there
came over him a feeling Of infinite
restfulness. He stretched himself out,
with his face turned to the black wall
above. realizing only that he was
saved. that he had outwitted bis mys-
terious enemies again and that he was
comfortable. He made no effort to
think--tO scheme out his further de-
liverance. He was with the powder
and the dynamite. and the powder and
dynamite could not be exploded until
human hands came TO attach a new
fuse. Macdonald would attend to
that very soon. so he went Off into
doze that was almost sleep. In his
half consciousness there came to him
but one sound-that dreadful ticking
Of his watch. He seemed to have lis
tened to II for hours when there arose
another sound-the ticking Of another
watch.
He sat up. startled. wondering. and
then he laughed happily as he heard
the sound more distinctly. 1t was the
beating Of picks on the rock outside.
Already MacDonald's men were at
work clearing the mouth Of the coyote.
In half an hour he would be out in
The big. breathing world again.
The thought brought him to his feet.
The numbness was gone from his
limbs and he could walk about His
1rst move was to strike a match and
ook at his watch.
Half past 10"
He spoke the words aloud. thinking
II Meleese. In an hour and half he
was to meet her on the trail. Would
he be released In time to keep the
ryst? How should he explain his I'm
prisonment in the coyote so that he
could leave Macdonald without further
loss of time? AS the sound of the
picks came nearer his brain began
working faster. II he could only evadc
until morning and then
reveal the whole dastardly business to
Macdonald. There would be time thea
for those explanations. for the running
iown OF his murderous assailants, and
meanwhile he would be able to keep
ais appointment with Meleese.
He was not long In finding n way In
uhich this schema could lao worked
and. gathering up the severed ropes
and rawhide. he concealed them be-
tween two Of the powder sacks 80 that
those who entered the coyote would
discover no signs Of his terrible i'm.
pri5Onment. Close to the mouth OF the
tunnel there was a black rent In the
wall Of rock made by bursting charge
If dynamite In which he could conceal
himself. When the men were busy
examining the broken fuse he would
step out and Join them. II would look
Is though he had crawled through the
tunnel after them.
Half an hour later mass OF rock
rolled down close to his feet, and
lew moments after be saw shadowy
human form crawling through the hole
t had left. A second followed. and
hen a third. and the first voice he
heard was that Of Macdonald.
Give us the lantern. Bucky." he call
I'd back. and CLEAN Of light shot into
he black chamber. The men walked
cautiously toward the fuse. ard How
and saw the little superintendent fall
IN his knees. AS quietly as a cat
Rowland worked himself to the en-
rance and made a clatter among the
'ocks. 1t was he who responded to the
,oice.
whats up. MacDonaldr
He coolly Joined the little group.
Macdonald looked up. and when he
Jaw the new chief bending over him
his eyes stared in unbounded wonder.
"Howland" he gasped.
II was all he said. but in that one
word and In the strange excitement In
he superintendent's face Rowland
'ead that which made him turn quick
3 to the men. giving them his first
command as general In chief Of the
IOad that was going to the bay.
Get out Of the coyote. boys" he
aid. I'VE won't DO anything more
Until morning"
To Macdonald as the men went out
lhead Of them be added in low voice:
Guard the entrance to this tunnel
With half dozen Of your best men to-
light, Macdonald. know things
which will lead me to investigate this
omorrow. I'm going to leave you as
'oon as I get outside. Spread the re-
,ort that It was simply bad fuse.
JnderstandT
He crawled out ahead Of the superin.
endent, and before Macdonald bad
'merged from the coyote he had al.
eady lost himself In the starlit gloom
4 the night and was Fastening 10 his
tryst with the beautiful girl, who, he
believed, would reveal to him at least
a part of one Of the strangest and most
diabolical plots that had ever original.
cd In the brain Of man.
lTo BIZ CONTINUED