The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1914-11-21
CHAPTER VIII (ContiDued)

The shot brought everything back 70
her She was here. not to sympathize
even with one wounded to death. but
to save her sweetheart's honor. She
found the sack and looked back to
where she could see Loubeque ad-
vancing.
For just a second she paused. Then,
some impulse governing her. she thrust
the burning knot Of wood between the
interstices of nearby latticework OF
vines and skunk stealthily to the right.
knowing the spy would follow the
light instead OF herself. Even as she
watched his movements. glorying In
the success OF her strategy, her hand
pressed against something cold and
damp. She looked swiftly down at
the stone ruins beside her. along which
she had been walking, ruins covered
with thick tropical vegetation. She
passed her fingers over the stone she
had 1rst encountered. rubbing away
the mud and creepers that covered II
30 completely.
Suddenly. without the slightest warn
ing. she saw the ground moving, NOV
ing restlessly as Il would move had
some monster mole been burrowing
beneath its surface. IL was moving.
moving directly under Loubeque. She
started back, wide eyed at the spec
tacle Of n great stone door suddenly
springing wide and hurling the man
who had stood upon It to one side COM
pletely out Of her sight. She advanc-
ed timidly, staring about for sign Of
the spy, but he was not to be seen.
She peered down the black hole that
had opened, wonderingIy. balf inciin-
ed to believe herself In a trance. for q
Night OF stone steps reached up TO her.
reached up from the blackness.
blackness which her eyes could not
pierce. try though they would.
A bit terrified. yet with curiosity ir-
resistible. Lucille timidly put a foot
upon the nrst step. then halted. She
waited a moment. then followed her
right foot with the left As though
some giant hand urged her down, ner
reluctant feet moved slowly. step by
step. down the long flight. And always
would she stare in nameless terror lest
the door be suddenly closed and her
means Of exit barred. And even as she
looked her premonition OF evil was
verified.
Slowly. very slowly. the stray light
that opened down 10 her through the
passage narrowed, disappeared. To
her ears came the sound OF feet, swift.
'ure About her was such blackness
rs she had never even Imagined be-
'ore.
Slowly she groped her way back to
he steps. fnding the last one and feel
ng about for some means OF throwing
'ack the opening. The steps beneath
Ier feet were slippery, worn as though
he feet of thousands and hundreds OF
housands had passed that way for M
many years. And always about her.
ct never 30 close as to come In con-
act with her. were the owners OF the
eet that slipped and glided sure foot
dly upon the steps. Above her that
olid wall; beneath her steps that led
own Into the bowels OF the earth;
bout her human beings whom sbe
'uld not see.
Curiously clawlike hands. but human
ands, sought out her wrists. drawing
er down the steps, silently, with un-
syiating purpose, but never harBhly.
ealizing the futility Of resistance, her
ter helplessness. Lucille numbly al
wed herself to be conducted down
% long flight. A veritable army seem
to swarm before and about her. I
dying from the footballs. The hands 6
ION her wrists were cold, unhealthy.
iiry. yet the sounds OF the voices OF I
n captors were harsh gutturals, In 3
mprehensible. yet human.
This Ii the end OF all for mep she .
Id In her terror. c