Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-07-20

but the shadows there might have
concealed a dozen men. Evidently
the shaft did not go to the basement.
and there was black opening at the
ladders foot. which would likely
prove the entrance to a tunnel
went down swiftly
was at the bottom. finding myself
in a small. rock walled room some six
feet square. tunnel leading Off from
it of barely sufficient height 10 per-
NIT me TO enter IT'S mouth without
stopping. before O'Rrien ventured
upon the ladder. ! hardly knew what
to expect what danger TO guard
against. not only felt a strange
horror at suddenly confronting that
mysterious woman. but | expected
every instant to hear the noise of adj
vancing men. We could make fair
defense in that narrow space. it is
true. yet even here. and amid dark
ness. numbers would possess an ad-
vantage. while any attempt at re-
treat up that ladder would mean al
most certain death. By the time
O'Brien reached me had determined
on exploring the tunnel to its end.
l held the lantern In my left hand.
throwing the rays OF light as far in
advance as possible With the other
l drew a revolver from my belt. hold
ing it cooked and ready. 1t was a
perfectly straight passage. walls and
roof OF stone. smoothly matched, evil
IDENTIFY thus arranged so any one
could pass that way In the dark with
no danger of injury.
The floor was earth. but leveled as
il by a transit, sufficiently hard to
leave no impression of feet passing
over it 1t seemed to me the tunnel
must run directly beneath the ell
kitchen. and / doubted IL the roof
was two feet below the surface of
the ground. This directness gave us
confidence, as 1t permitted the rays
Of the lantern to penetrate consid-
cradle distance. and. although alert
and watchful, my thought drifted to
the girl 1 had left locked In the room
above. 1 wondered If 1t was possible
for her to escape, to sound an alarm
without or even to close the open
ing fireplace and thus securely trap
US in this black hole underground. l
felt no doubt as to her doing so IL
opportunity came. and she was not
one to yield weakly and make no eff
fort I began questioning my judg-
ment in not leaving O'Brien on guard
in the hall, when the fellow sud
denly gripped my arm. advancing the
black barrel OF his carbine until il
pointed straight down the tunnel.
BE all the saints, sor," he whis-
pered hoarsely, 'ain't that the body
OF a manY'
1t assured1y was or my eyes de-
ceived me. 1t was lying head toward
US against the side wall, with limbs
extended half across the passage
The face was turned away, a wide
brimmed soft hat still on the head.
helping to render the entire shadow
shapeless- The light barely revealed
the outlines, yet there could be no
doubt as to its being the figure Of
human being.
Two hours before Donald had
passed through this tunnel on his
way into the house and had found
the path unobstructed. An hour
later he had gone out again. The
first trip had been made without
light, and yet he never could have
passed the body without touching IT.
Already from the massive figure y
suspected the truth; now my eyes
confirmed 1.-THE man lying there was
Colonel Donald. 1 saw the wound in
his throat, the blood stains on the
stones. He had been stricken exactly
as those others-pounced upon in the
dark without the slightest warning,
the deadly knife driven home by
cunning hand.
O'Brien was the first to recover him
self. for he had experienced less OF
the nights mystery, and the inert
body lying before us was to him mere
iy that of strange man. He dropped
upon his knees, turned the CHASTITY
face up to the light and pressed his
ear against the gray jacket
Hes not clane dead yit, sor," he
declared.
1 caught up the limp hand. feeling
eagerly for the pulse. 1t was throb-
afforded me hope. I liked this Dom
aid Whatever he might be to Jean
Denslow he had won my respect. and
L would save his life If possible--saTe
it even though he stood between me
and the one woman. L tore the neck
erchief from about my throat
/ bathed the white face, washing
away the blood upon his throat, thus
the nature OF the wound.
1t was not deep. not even dangerous.
Evidently the knife had slipped, in
ficting a jagged scratch. yet missing
the vital point aimed at. O'Brfen lift
ed the head on his arm, his hand
pressing back the thick hair. streaked
with gray
Hes got humpin' crack here
sor," he said IAN it's bled a lot"