The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-09
cHAprER Nc111--1MMuREp.


That much accomplished. a pause of
profound CONSERVATION followed. The
darkness was absolute in tho tunnel,
Jimmy having taken the candle away
with him; and It's silence was rendered
uncanny by the sobs and murmurs OF
the lovers, that sounded somehow fear
fully remote and inhuman to Barcus-
who had turned Immediately TO the
biukhead and was. without the slight
est nope cropping about it's joints and
crevices I'm search Of somo way of
forcing II.
In tho tunnel that branched off from
the main shaft beyond the bulkhoad.
some thirty minutes before this juno
ture. candle had guttarod in It's
stick left carelessly thrust into tho
wall by Marrophat's lieutenant. and
guttering. had dropped Naming wick
Into little heap OF bone dry debris.
This last famed licked hunsrily at
the timbering that upheld the walls OF
the tunnel. The tlmbering caught fire
without delay. In a space of time in
credioly brief the flames were spread
ing right and left. the tunnel was a
vault of blisterlng fury.
AS Alan said hu last mute fare
well to Rose and Marcus, the Are
spread out In the bottom Of the shaft
and invaded the powder room
Alan had guessed Alright at Marro-
phat's design; the key OF blasting pow
der was less than an eighth full; it's
explosion could not possibly have ef-
fectcd tho cnve-in Alan had at frst
feared.
But what Marrophat had overlooked
was the proximity to the keg Of some
several sticks OF dynamite masked by
n film Of earth that had fallen from
the crumbling walls.
When the blazing fuse dropped
sparks into the blasting powder this
last exploded right willingly. and the
dynamite took Its Que without tho
least delay.
The resultant defamation was tor
rife. The bulkhead was crushed in
like an eggshell barrier. Part Of the
walls fell in, but the tunnels and shaft
remained intact The released food
strcamed out and spread swiftly to
the farthest recesses Of the {. burning
tunnel. Dense clouds Of steam filled
that place of terror az the fires wore
extingulshed. ASSIST
Swept with the stream as 1t pour
ed out of the tunnel. Alan contrived
e't' Ob6hooS " iCtaiU uOiu
the waist OF Rose. Barcus shot past
him unseen In the darkness. II was
not until Alan had contrived to catch
All unburned timber and stay himself
and his almost witless burden, be-
meath the mouth OF the shaft that he
discovered Barcus alive, II. almost un-
recognizable in his mask of mold and
SCOT, battling back toward the shaft
against the kneedeep tide.
Half-blinded and stiled as he was
by the reek of steam and powder fumes.
Alan struggled with himself until his
WIS were passably clear.
Immediately before him dangled tho
hosting bucket and rope.
Surrcndering the care OF Rose. to
Barcus. Alan climbed into the bucket
and started upward, examining the
walls Of the shaft for way ito the
top.
There was none other than the most
difficult; gaps too great to be bridged
by climbing showed In the wooden
ladders.
The one feasible route was via tho
rope. And there was nobody at the
top to work the windlass-and Alan
hoped there would be nobody to oppose
his essay.
He addressed himself to tho task
without murmuring-lifted himaelf
upon the rope. wound 1t round one leg,
and began that heartbreaklng climb.
How he accomplished 1t he never
knew. That 1t must be accomplished
was his one, all-obscuring thought.
And somehow, by some almost super
human effort, 1t was eventually accom-
plished.
He arrived at the top OF the shaft far
too exhausted to show surprise when.
falling in half-fainting condition with
in two feet of the brink, he saw Judith
Urine running like mad across tho
clearing.
But without her aid he would not
within hours have been able to WORK.
the windlass and lift Rose and Barous
to the surface.
Continued To-Morrow)