The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-16

eTARIN0 INTO THE BbACKNESS OF THE OPEN FIREPLACE. bird fascinated by a snake, but had
 the revolver in my hand and pulled
 the trigger. See-there is where the first ball went, straight down into the
 floor! I thought you would hear and
 come, but the sound of the shot nerved
 me, and the second time I fired straight at her. and-and-she cried
 out sharply and seemed to fade into
 that blackness there like ghost"
 We dropped into the hole one by one was first to reach the earth floor and
 stood there holding the lantern high
 above my head.
 "This tunnel runs directly west.
 lads," I explained briefly. '"There are
 no turns and nothing to fall over. All
 you've got to do is walk straight and follow me"
 The whiteness of the girls face was
 conspicuous. I smiled back into her eyes, but met with. no response. The dull thud of the feet behind. naturally falling into marching step. awoke muf- fled echoes, and I flung the light as far
 ahead as possible down the channel.
 It was bare, unOccupied. What had become of that woman?
 In the darkness could not see where
 the wounded man lay. but I managed to touch O'Brien, whispering to him to
 take her at once to Donald. I heard a
 kiss. the murmur of low voices con
 versing, and, with gritted teeth. turn ed back to hasten the movements of the men below.
 "Up with you, lads-no talking, but come up one at time" leaned over, counting as they came
 up. their forms outlined by the flame
 of the lantern in the channel. The last
 one clambered through the opening
 and found room to stand in the mar
 row space. The soldier below, the light on his upturned face, still held
 the lantern level with his head.
 Shall I put 1t out now, sir, and
 come up?" he questioned "Yes-they are all here" saw him turn down the wick and
 blow out the flame. In the dense
 blackness below heard him set the
 lantern down and place his foot on | the first rung of the ladder. Then there was single sharp cry-startled. agonized-a moan. and the heavy fall of body. Without a thought I 1eaped through the hole down into the darkness. I struck against prostrate figure, stumbled slightly, rattling the
 lantern with my foot; my extended hand gripped at something, which gave way, and stood groping blindly about without sound to guide me.
 knew what had happened, and now, the first mad rush over, my heart was
 in my throat. I felt for the lantern with my foot, found it at last, and managed to apply match to the wick. At the foot of the ladder lay the soldier. a knife thrust in his
 throat. his head bent back. his dead eyes staring up at me. In the grip of my fingers was rag. a strip of red
 calico.' evidently ripped from a dress. That was all.
 With heart beating rapidly re- traced my steps. moving backward. the lantern held before me. Corporal Masterson. with two troopers, was at tue AOOI OA tuc IhQucr D6QQlQR OVCT the Smohonless form. The corporal strengthened up. his face white "Somers is dead. sir" he said, his
 voice full of horror-"knifed in the l throat"
 tYes, corporal. It is a part of the | mystery of this house."
 "Take the body up the ladder" I commanded. < Qy
 They went at the grews9me job re-
 luetantly. yet evidently glad enough to get out of the hole, two of them lift ing from above, with Masterson help ing below. AS the corporal's legs dis appeared I mounted close behind, holding the lantern beneath and lay ing hold of the trap before I extin- | guished the light It was with dis tinct feeling of relief that closed the
 heavy door and stood upon it. "OBrienv'
 "Yis, sor."