The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-21

II 1t were In truth no moro than ten
minutes 1t seemed upward Of an hour
before the bonds grew slack aud Bar
Gus with an effort that cost him much
of the skin on one wrist worried a
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. 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
murR Of the lovers, that so,Slded some
how fearfully remote and inhuman to
Barcus-who had turned Immediately
to tho bulkhead and was, without the
slightest hope, cropping about It's joints
and crevtces in search OF some way
OF forcing 1t.
"Barcus-old mani"
"Yes?"
Have you any idea"
Devil one!"
A pause
Did you notice what that black
guard had fixed up?"
What do you mean?"
''Why-at the bottom of the shaft
got only a glimpse coming in-the
door Of the powder room was open,
and ! saw fuse set to the top of O
key OF blasting powder
!; whats the good OF that1 We're
fast enough as it isl"
4 Simply to make assurance douoly
sure by causing cave+in
II seem to remember hearing or
readings some place, that tunnels have
two ends. II that's true, tho far END
of this ought to be about the SAFEST
place when that explosion happens-
If 1t ever does"
Something in that!"
"Got any mntches?" Barcus In
quired, as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
to her feet.
Never one.".
"Nor I. We'll have to feel our way
along. Let mo 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 1t 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 tickllsh business, that-groping
their way through blackneas 80
opaque that It seemed as palpahle as
a 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 or 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, Management, incredultty
choking in their threats. they STUN
bled forward, gained the. spot immed1-
ately below the shaft, looked upward,
dazzled, to see blue, sky like coin OF
heavens minting far above them, at
the end of long and almost perpendt-
GUAR tunnel, wide enough to permit
the passage Of q 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 hest:
tated: Marrophat was up there he lit
tie doubted; hardly like that one to-
overlook the ladder-shaft In preparing
the tunnel to be a living tomb.
What is 1T" Rose demanded at his
elbow, in a shaken whisper.
Nothing" he lied instantly, and
selling the bottom rung, swung him
self up. "But wait for me till signal
the coasts clear" he warned before
committing himself finally to the as
cent. I
Marrophat, or no Marrophat at the
top, there was nothing for him to do
but to grasp the nettle danger with a
steady hand, unflinching. Even though
he were shot dead on emerging from
the shaft, It were better than to die
down there, like a rat In a trap. !. ;.
He had climbed not more than half
q dozen rungs when voice hailed
from above: ss;5S. ...Ss Y Y. ~,
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