The state herald., 1913-01-03

oiu mortimer nau Dullt niS tuuuei we'll
and through all the years 1t had held
safely. except where water had soaked
through, rotting the timbers. The
candle was sputtering with final ef-
fort to remain alight when l came to
the first serious obstruction. had
barely time in which to mark the ma
ture Of the obstacle before the hame
died In the socket. leaving me In a
blackness SO profound 1t was like a
weight. For the moment was prac-
dcally paralyzed by fear. my muscles
limp. my limbs trembling. Yet to en-.
deavor to push forward was no more
to be dreaded than to attempt retrac-
ing my steps. In one way there was
| hope; In the other none.
With cropping fingers I verified the
situation. as that brief glance ere the
candle failed had revealed 1t. A beam
had fallen. letting down mass Of
earth, but was wedged in such a way
as to leave small opening above the
floor. barely sufficient for a man to
wiggle through. How far even this
obstruction lay hidden beyond was all
conjecture. 1t was mere chance In
which l must risk life in hope Of saw
ing it-I might become helplessly
wedged beneath the timbers. or any
movement might precipitate upon me
mass Of loosened earth. 1t was a
horrid thought, the death of a burrow-
Ing rat; and dare not let my mind
dwell upon the dread possibility. Slow
ly, barely advancing an inch at time.
l began the venture, my hands blindly
cropping for the passage, the cold per-
spiration bathing my body. The far
ther l penetrated amid the debris, the
greater became the terror dominating
me. yet to draw back was next to I'm.
possible. The opening grew more con-
tracted; could scarcely force myself
forward. digging fingers and toes into
the hard earth floor, the obstructing
timber scraping my body. 1t was an
awful, heartrending struggle. stretched
out fat like snake in the darkness.
the loose earth showering me with
each movement. There was more than
one support down; had 10 double
about to find opening; again and again
| seemed 10 be against an unsurpas-
sable barrier; twice | dug through a
mass OF fallen dirt, once for three sol
Id feet. throwing the loosened earth
either side OF NE, and pushing 1t back
with my feet. thus utterly blocking all
chance OF retreat Scarcely was this
accomplished when another fall from
above came. half burying head and
shoulders, and compelling me to do
the work over. The air grew foul and
sluggish. but was toiling for life, and
dug at the debris madly. reckless OF
what might fall from above. Better
to be crushed than to die OF suffoca-
tion, and the very desperation with
which | strove proved my salvation.
For what remained OF the roof held,
and ! struggled through into the firmer
gallery beyond. faint from exhaustion.
yet as quickly revlving in the fresher
air. uad reached the end OF the pas.
sage before comprehended the truth.
II opened In the side OF n gulley. com.
ing out between the roots OF n great
tree,
was wreck in body and mind. my
face streaked with earth, my hair
hfed with dirt, my clothing torn and
disreputable. Laboring for breath. my
fingers raw and bleeding, | lay there,
with scarcely enough strength remain.
Ing to keep from rolling to the bottom
OF the rayine. For some moments
was Incapable OF either thought or ac.
uon' every ounce OF energy having
been expended In that last desperate
struggle. lay painting. with eyes
closed. hardly realizing that was In.
deed alive. Slowly, throb by throb
my heart came back into regularity OF
beat. and my brain Into command. My
eyes opened. and shuddored with hor.
ror, as ! recognized that dismal omen.
ing into the side OF the hill. ClingInr
to the tree trunk | attained my feet,
atill swaying from weakness, and was
thus able to glance about over the
edge OF the bank, and gain some con.
eoption OF my immediate surroundlngs
II was early dawn. the eastern sky
that shade OF pale gray which pre.
oedes the sun. n few. white, feecy
clouds sailing high above. already
tinged with red reflection. mus,
have been In that earth prison aimee
tho morning OF tho previous dny, 4,
seemed longer. yet even that ospira.
ton OF time proved that those who
had imprisoned mo there had Iof, mo
10 die. Godl couldn't believe that
not OF herl Clear as tho evidence an.
peared, yet fought down the though,
bitterly. creeping on hands and knees
over tho edge OF the bank. TO wbcro
could sit on tho grass. and y.,o
about In tho growing light. Tho hon,o
was to the left, an apple orchard ho
tween. and a low fencc onelosln, I,
garden. could gnin bu, eIlmnacs -,
the mansion through tho in,oryon,n.
trees, but It was isyse. imponlnv !
square. oldfashioncd house pnln,oG
white. with green shut,ors 4, aa
ponrcd deserted. and no spirni. y,
smoke usocndod from tho L,,s,a ~