The Delta independent., 1914-11-27

II 1t were in truth no more than ten
minutes 1t seemed upward of an hour
before the bonds grew slack and Bar.
Gus with an effort that COST him much
Of the skin on one wrist worried
hand free. then loosed the other. re.
moved and spat out his gag, and set
hastily about freeing his friend. That
took but few instants-little more
than was needed to rid Rose OF her
bonds.
That much accomplished. a pause
Of profound CONSERVATION followed.
The darkness was absolute In the tun-
mel. Jimmy having taken the candle
away with him. and its silence was
rendered uncanny by the sobs and muir
murs of the lovers. that sounded some
how fearfully remote and inhuman to
Barcus-who had turned Immediately
to the bulkhead and was. without the
slightest hope. cropping about its joints
and crevices in search Of some way
OF forcing 1t.
'Barcus-old mani"
"Yes?"
Have you any idea"
Devil a onei"
! n pause
did you notice what that black
/ guard had fixed up7"
What do you mean?"
'Why-at the bottom OF the shaft
| Sot only a glimpse coming in-the
door of the powder room was open.
and | saw a fuse set to the top of q
keg OF blasting powder :"
What's the good of that7 We're
fast enough as 1t Isl"
Simply to make assurance doubly
sure by causing a cave-in
81 seem to remember hearing or
reading, some place. that tunnels have
two ends. II that's true. the far end
OF this ought to be about the safest
place when that explosion happens
II 1t ever does"
Something in that!"
Got any matches?" Barcus In
quired. as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
to her feet.
Never one
Nor I. Well have to feel our way
along. Let me lead. II step over the
brink OF a pit or anything. I'll try TO
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 Bar
Gus for taking their peril lightly. or
pretending to. for the sake of Rose
A ticklish business. that-groping
their way through blackness so
opaque that 1t seemed as palpable as
q pool OF Ink. And haste was indi-
Gated; they stumbled on with what
caution was possible against pitfalls
! a gingerly scramble. Then an elbow
in the tunnel-sensed rather than felt
or seen-cut them OF from direct
communication with the bulkhead.
and at the same time opened up a
shaft OF daylight. striking down
through that pitchy darkness like a
column OF fine gold
Cries OF Joy. amazement, incredulity
choking in their throats. they STUN
bled forward. gained the spot immedi-
ately below the shaft, looked upward,
dazzled, to see blue sky like a coin OF
heavens minting far above them. at
the end OF long and almost perpendi-
cular tunnel. wide enough to permit
the passage OF mans body. and lined
with wooden ladders.
The end OF the lowermost ladder
hung within easy reach from the floor
of the 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 apprehension. he hesi-
tated: Marrophat was up there. he lit
tie doubted: hardly like that one to
overlook the ladder-shaft in preparing
the tunnel to be living tomb.
What is IT." Rose demanded at his
elbow. in shaken whisper.
Nothing" he lied instantly. and
seizing the bottom rung, swung him
self up But wait for me till l signal
the coasts clear" he warned before
committing himself finally to the as
cent
Marophat or no Marrophat at the
top. there was nothing for him to do
but to grasp the nettle danger with =
steady hand. unfiinching. Even though
he were shot dead on emerging from
the shaft It were better than TO die
down there. like q rat in a trap
He had climbed not more than half
q dozen rungs when q voice hailed
from above:
"LAw-Oh. Mister Law. say-don't
come up-here's a present for you"
Pausing without answer. he looked
pp. A few drops OF water splattered
his face. like heavy rain. Almost i'm
mediately the blne sky was per
uanently eclipsed: q heavy cascade of
gYunt.
Then roll over on your face and
0vV me . chance TO work them free
that way. given time :"
SrfmAys waa the mfYthleas shou shfy