The Washington times., 1912-05-10
CHAPTER vi.
The Hon. Arthur Tremlett's Letter.

AID l known or imagined, dear
= - Mr.. Gettys, the events which
i i were to take place within
twenty-four hours of my de-
parture from New York, I am certain
1 should have stayed to see the thing
through. But as the immortal William
says: WHAT God proposes, man must
need abide"
/ am glad that you have given me
/ this opportunity to state what l know
! OF Mr.. Marcus Bellair, although 1 fear
tnat what / have to tell will not clear
up, but rather deepen, the mystery.
II hard to believe the news which you
have written to me, for I am ready to
swear that Bellair was a perfect
which you write was altogether too del
icste for me to have discussion with
He found me when. I was in trouble
not aware that he knew anything about
me beyond that. / certainly never told
him hin. that I was was Runellayne's son, or
| Trinidad
! There is one point, however, which
carries weight in view of what you tell
Of the hotel, as I walked away with
Bellair my companion turned to me
with queer smile and said:
nat fOrQ, ISM 1t?'
. The significance of the remark es-
+ capped me at the time, for l was a bit
! upset by meeting Rosalie in the role
or another mans wife. But l thought
to England and ! remember, one night
when i was smoking at the taffrail, be-
! ing hit fairly between the eyes by the
! memory Of, that remark. How did he
such a person in existence?
You tell me that Rosalie has fur
nished you with all the details Of my
life in Trinidad up to the fall down the
! sink hole. l must add word which
she has probably omitted
was In love with Rosalie, and on
! the night before the accident I let her
know 1t. J. learned, then, that she cared
neither of us need be ashamed-now.
Nevertheless, l would not blazon them
forth were 1t not that this mutual
knowledge had much to do. with my
seemingly strange conduct afterward.
Ford, l knew. was in love with Ro-
sale. He played the game fair, and
whatever anybody else may have to say
Of him. I'm not yet ready to believe It,
The fact that rival of his was killed
in the cave entitle him to more SYM
pathy and consideration than it seems
don't know all the facts. and write in
no contradictory spirit.
Now, about the cave: I know none of
the details of the accident above. I
terky, uncertain way. and I shouted
warning to those above Then I heard
yelling, and next minute the lamp few
out of my hands and went out and
found myself falling into a black
It Is of no use trying to tell you how
it felt. My spine creeps and my legs
curl round the chair as I write about It;
don't think I was conscious when I
hit bottom. At least do not remember
hitting anything that hurt much. There
was a kind of boom in my ears and a
sense OF having come to a standstill'
When I came to could not move,
but ! could breathe freely. The air
seemed pure enough, although 1t smelt
H around me it t. was I; So dark ark that could
not see my fingers when put
them before my nose. 1t was in this
salvation. was half buried in a soft
mold of rotted wood and guano.
clawed myself out and found that I was
practically unhurt.
match. The first object my eyes fell or
was a bright wire hoop sticking out OF
the mold. l pulled at it, and what ex'
tricated was the hurricane lamp. The
was undamaged. Once l had lighted ur
began to think that things might have
been a great deal worse.
The floor upon which l had landed
stretched away in level tunnel behint
me. Above me was the shaft dowr
which I had fallen. l held up the Ian
tern, but could not see beyond the hale
Of light. Presently, extinguished i
of course. to get glimpse of the gray
green daylight of the upper cave.
was surprised to find, even after my
dark, that the blackness above me re
mained unbroken.
1t occurred to me that, in falling.
might have struck ledge and ther
rolled down to the bottom, and tha
some jutting ledge cut across the line o.
vision. l shouted to my companions
above, but received no answer. I shout
ed louder. My voice doomed sepul
chrally through the tunnel behind me
I shouted until my voice split and m!
temples ached; then came to the con
clusion that II must be night, and tina
Ford had given me up for dead anC
gone back to Guanaboa with the sat
news.
The horror OF my position did no
dawn upon me for some hours. NJ.
principal grievance was that they woult
be holding a fearful, melodramatic ses
sion at the house. l wriggled under tn
embarrassment of Rosalies grief owe
one who was all alive and kicking, wit
Dlenty of tobacco and matches.
lit the lantern and filled my pipe
was dreary work sitting down ther
waiting for the dawn to light up tn
top OF the shaft. OF course, they woul
come in the morning with ropes an
boys TO get me out. I could not hel
grinning Silly at the thought of tn
undignified business To find me with
cut scratch would add to my ludicrou
humiliation. ! began to curse the luc
that hadn't even allowed me a broke
leg to weigh on the serious side of tn
matter. People who had been writin
my epitaph would feel that they ha
been imposed upon when l walked |
and ate hearty breakfast. ] felt quit
unworthy of the regret which I knGN
the accident was causing.
To add to my discomfort, hordeS G
bats were attracted by the light Il
the hurricane lantern. At first they ir
terested me. Then, the sinister fascinS
tion of the whirring, squeaking thing
began to jar upon my nerves. The
came in greater numbers, until the ligh
shone dimly through a perfect cloud c
them.