The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-11-13
CHAPTER KIN.
In Which We Enter the Place of Horror

kind of terrace a foot or so
above the level of the platform,
paved as before. They formed
sort of cloister. or colonnade. around
fhe central platform. which rose twen.
ty or twenty-five feet above On the
center of the raised platform or altar
stood three or more of the same mon
ster heads. placed one after another.
the largest one being In the middle
They were In line. all looking in the
same direction which my compass told
me was due west They We're staring.
therefore toward the setting sun
| AT the front end or west end the
great platform was approached by
Aight of steps The stones of the pave
nent were SO cunningly fitted together
hat only here and there had seed
odged and grass grown. The stones
VI the platform or altar were also laid
Up without mortar and fitted in the
same way The altar was in perfect
:epair
Standing so high the fierce winds
that swept over the plateau and plat
form had probably assisted in keeping
1t clear of vegetation, of anything in
fact, for save for few scattered lines
Of grass 1t was as bare as the palm of
my hand.
| Well. we stood upon the platform
and surveyed the scene In silent awe
Nothing in the parchment had led us
to suspect all this, although recollect
the stone Goodies" looking toward the
niche with the big palm tree, the spot
in the wall by which we were to To-
cate the treasure cave.
Gomez said | at last, breaking the
silence. I'VE will have a nearer look
at these gentry"
"It seems like the temple of a van
ished race" breathed my lady softly
staring about her in growing wonder.
AYE, and of vanished Godp
said. extending my hand.
There was something weird and eerie
about the plateau, and we felt better
for the touch of each others hand, at
least did. always felt happier
when I touched her little hand. but In
this instance the feeling was some
! what different In a certain sense it
seemed like proclamation for us to be
there, yet we went oD steadily. If slow
| ly. We passed by the colonnade of
statues around the inner platform and
deliberately mounted the stairs.
Something, | know not what, made
me bid my mistress pause before we
| reached the top, and | looked to my
pistol and loosened my sword in its
sheath as l did SO, although why | did
SO and what anticipated l cannot say.
At any rate, | mounted to the top
alone. There before me lay platform
which was sunk beneath me for a
depth of two feet and which was sur
! rounded by low wall. on the top of
which stood The three images rose
from a smaller platform on a level
with the top of this wall in the midst.
and the whole place was filed with a
horrible and frightful mass of human
bones. Skulls. legs, thighs and small
er bones. heaped in terrible confusion,
lay bleaching before me. and the space
between them was filed with a fine
dust. doubtless the dust of earlier
bones which had mouldered away
through centuries. Those that still
preserved their shape were the top
layer and were bleached perfectly
white. They lay in all directions, as
III they had been cast aside carelessly
and at random. yet there were indica-
tions that there had been path from
where / stood to the platform Of the
three images. which perceived was
| just about long enough to lay human
body on.
l stared apprehensively. l must con-
fess. at this frightful charnel house OF
the centuries The only evidences OF
humanity we had discovered were
these frightful skeletons would
have prevented 1t. but my mistress
suddenly came and stood by my side
Then ! thought she would have faint
ed as the full horror of the scene burst
upon her
"Men have been here" she faltered
Horrible. cruel men,"
YES" said l. but centuries ago.
Look, the bones are bleached white,
You have naught to fear"
LET us leave this frightful place"
she said.
Presently" answered. but you
will remember the directions of the
chart l must stand upon that altar
and get my bearings. The treasure
cave should be in line with the statues
and nick or depression in the wall on
the farther side"
] "Yes," she replied. 81 remember"
"Well, then" said. "will you &c
down to the platform out of sight Of
this horrible place and wait for ineT
NO" she answered nervously
"Master Hampton. wherever you go
must go can never be left alone"
tried gently to dissuade her. but
as usual, she would have ber way. SO
that at last gave in.
ITO be Continued.)
| Gabe. The doctor has or ere(