The Calumet news., 1911-04-14

sh-~--zI
main shaft. Hand over hand | wen
down. first feeling the rope with my
feet 20 make certain that ! was not Al
the end OF il. then feeling the wall, moi
10 miss the opening | sought for
Hand over hand, then my feet dan
Cling below me-there was no moro
rope. For an instant l felt inclined tc
let go and fall TO death, so ending my
troubles. Then | went up hand over
hand I'm desperate haste. and. having
got the rope between my knees again,
] hung. swinging. and steadied myself
10 think. Either | had missed the hole
or O'Ryan was mistaken; the rope was
not long enough. Perhaps It was be-
cause the first solution was the most
acceptable that / believed It 10 be the
correct one. | took courage and
climbed upward. stretching my legs to
right and left searching for the hole.
I might have missed it even then had
/ not heard a sound that made me
listen intently. Yes; it was distinct
from the kissing of the water below
me, the murmur of n mans voice
Was IL above me I'm the dungeon had
escaped from? If so. had only to wait
few moments. should feel the rope
jerked, or else it would be cut. and so
an end to me. hung. waiting. and
still in dull monotone the voice went
on. Suddenly little below me and "a
my left the rocky wall seemed 10 grow
luminous. a flickering light that shone
for a moment, then died. then shone
again.
"ls that n good way out of lifeT
The voice sounded low, yet the
words were distinct. The light flicker
ed and then slowly went out. low.
cred myself TO the level where 1t had
been and then, holding the rope with
one hand, worked my way along the
face of the wall with the other. /
made slow progress, but presently ]
grasped the side of the slip. Cautiously
felt for the door Of it with my foot
After some minutes | succeeded in
finding IL, but ii was, If anything, OF
sharper angle than the slip from my
dungeon. How to get a footing upon
1t was a matter for consideration. AS
1t 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, as O'Ryan
had led me to suppose, this opening
was a good ten feet to one side of
1t. Fortunately the walls of it were
rough hewn, and, clinging TO the rope
with my knees and feet, | managed to |
drag myself inward with my hands, |
my nails and fingers suffering in the
operation. BY letting the rope slide !
between my knees gradually as I ad. /
vanced brought myself to the floor |
some feet from the edge OF the slip /
chose the spot and then dropped |
forward on my hands and knees. The |
released rope swung back and was
gone. There was no return now. |
had dropped very cautiously, and all
my energy had been centered on what
was doing. Now l was aware that |
above me, at the top of the steep as
'ent, there was a light. O'Ryan had
lot deceived me. The trap in the dun
,eon was open.
There was n pillar in the middle of
he dungeon, supporting the low vault.
"a roof. and in ring in the pillar
orch was fixed A breeze from the
pen trap caught the flame, making
flicker weirdly and cast strange
hadows. On couch at the foot of
he pillar sat Daria, her hands clasped
\ her lap. She hardly seemed to
isten TO Vasca, who was standing
lose to her, talking rapidly.
II have been ambitious. / have de.
eived you. l crave your pardon. ]
ave not done it for myself alone. !
ave done it for you. My love has
purred me on. They would make me
Ing. 1t has been your ambition TO
eign in Yadasara. Now your ambi-
lon may be realized"
"You are not a king"
Tonight: no, tomorrow He broke
IF excitedly. "Say that you will be
ueen of Yadasara. my queen, and
ow. this instant, this dungeon door
open TO you. In n few hours you
hall have the nation at your feet
raving your favors. Your word shall
ring death or grant life. Your will
hall be law in Drussenland and he
ho speaks the humblest yet the hap.
lest of your slaves"
"A pleasing prospect most easily
loken Of"
ut Is true. Tomorrow at this time
shall be king. The last obstacle is