The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-11
CHAPTER Xcv.--LIKE RATS.

gene noneo mine but with Judith's assistance.
CHAPTER NCN.--LIKE RATS.
Then you've got little on me. Eut
seem TO remember hearing or read
ing, some place. that tunnels have two
this ought to be about the safest place
when that explosion happens-ir it ever
does"
Something in that!"
Got any matchcs?' Barcus inquired
as Alan hurricdly helped Rose to her
Never one"
Nor I, Well have to feel our way
along. Let me lead. IL step over the
brink OF q pit or anything, I'll try
10 yell and warn you in time"
Alan caught his friends hand in
passing and pressed it warmly--a ca
ress eloquent OF his gratitude to Rarcus
tending TO for the sake OF Rose.
A ticklish business. that-groping
their way through blackness SO opaque
that II seemed as palpablo as a pool
OF INK: And haste was indicated: they
stumbled on with what caution was
possible against pitfalls-a Eingerly
scramble. Then an elbow in the tun-
nel-seused rather than felt or seen
cut them OF from direct communication
with the hulkhead. and ut the same
t,me opened UP shaft of daylight.
striking down through that pitchv
darkness like column OF fine gold.
Cries OF JOY. amasemcn,, incrcduli,y
choking In their threats. they stumble
forward. gained the spot immediately
below tho shaft, looked upward. daz-
zled ito see blue sky like coin OF
heavens minting far above thom. al
the end of long and almost per
pendicular tunnel, wide enough to per-
NIT the passage Of mans body, and
lined With wooden ladders.
The end of the lowermost ladder
hung within easy reach from the floor
Of tho tunnel.
But even as Alan lifted his hands
to grasp the bottom rung the opening
at the top OF the shaft was temporarily
! obscured
Thrilled with appreh cnsion, he hcsi-
tated: Marrophat was up there. he
little doubted; hardly like that one to
overlook the ladder-shnft in parin,;
the tunnel to be a living tomb.
What is it," Rose demanded at his
elbow, In shaken whisper
Nothing" he lied instantly. and seiz-
/ ing. tho bottom run, swung himself up.
But walt for me till signal the
coasts clear he warned before COM
hitting himself dnally to the ascent.
Marrophat or no AIarrophat at the
top, there was nothing for him to do
but TO grasp the net.le danger with
steady hand, unninching Even
though lie were shot dead on emery
ing from the shaft. it were better than
to die down there. like rat in a
trap. =.
lie had climbed not more than half
dozen runEs when u voice hailed
! from above:
'Law-oh. Mister Law l say-don't
come up-here's q present FOR you"
Pausing without answer. he looked
up. few drops OF water spattered his
! face. like heavy rain Almost tmmc-
dfately the blue Sky was permanently
, eclipsed: heavy "a cadc OF water.
almost solid column. shot down the
shaft with terrific force. Alan sought
rainly to escape it. to mount against
II. Seeming To gain in strength and
volume with each instant. Il beat upon
his head AMI shoulders with Irresistible
power. Before he knew II. his grasp
had been wrenched away from the lad.
ders and lie was shooting feet FIRST back
Into tho tunnel.
Half-drowned and wholly dazed. he
felt himself picked up and dragged
away from the waterfall
Then. hs his scnsca cleared, he com
nrehended the fact that the tunnel was
already hlling: that where they stood
Il was already ankle deep: while tile
water continued to fall without hin,
OF lotup.
Screaming to make himself heard
apoHc the roar of the dclugc, Barcus
hammered in Alan's car:
That dcvil' He's found the rcser-
voir--opened the siuicegatcs-turncd IL
into that shaft. We're done for!'
Alan had no argument with which
TO Eainsay him. Silently getting on
MS feet, silently he CROPPED for Hos.
in the darkness. inomcntarily becoming
more dense as the fall OF water sriit
our the light. and drew her away with
MIN. UP the slight inclino that led bnc,>
to the b,lhhend.
The hour that followed lived ever in
his memory ~ an hour in hell No
ray OF hope liEhtcned It's impcnc,rablc
0lacknesS. Ele could sag nothing 10
comfort the girl: bravcly though she
stroVc TO Keep up her heart time and
again she shook II his arms like
mad thing. when panic dread caught
her by the neck as II terrier catches -
:at.
TO die there, in the darkness like so
many noxious animals trapped in a
The water mounted rapidly. within
i've minutes It drove them back to In.
elno~ In tnc tunnel: within ten IL
Tapped their ankles as they fingered
there, doubling which was the creator
peril. TO advance to stand fast ma
let tho noodine tide SNUFF out the .ti,cs
OF life. To return to the nciCbborhood
OF the bulkhead was to court the DEAN
indicated by the fuse and the kcu Of
blasting powder
CONTINUED To- Morrow