The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-08
CHAPTER xc1L.

With infinite pains he had contrlved
to bridge the distance by half, or pos
ably not quite so much, when a dark
body put the sunlight OF tho open door
way into temporary eclipse. Another
followed it. Boots dumped heavily on
the flooring. The laugh sounded again,
apparently In ironic appreciation OF
Mr.. Barcus's efforts. Two pair Of
hands seized him. one beneath tho
shoulders the other beneath tho knees,
and he was logged laboriously out into
the sunlight, carried a considerable dia-
lance. and deposited unceremoniously
within few feet Of the mouth OF the
abandoned mine just ut the moment
when he had satisfied himself that the
purpose OF his captors was simply to
throw him into that black we'll and-if
he survived the effects or the fall-to
leave them to die of starvation-if not
to be eaten alive by mine rats.
He wasted a look OF appeal on the
frozen mask of villany that was Mar
rophats twho bore the burden of Bar
cugs head and nhoulders) and got
laughed at for all hrs pains.
Then he was left 10 himself once
more. but only for n few moments: the
interval ended when the. two appeared
| again, this time bringing Rose in SINH
. lar fashion.
Not until she had been put down be-
aide him did he discover that Alan was
likcwisc a captive--trussed TO "a tree
at some distance.
The remaining arrangements OF their
captors We're swiftly and dcftly con-
summated, though their design re-
mained obscure to Mr. Barcus until he.
after Rose, was dumped like n bale into
huge bucket, and therein BY means
OF rope and windlass lowered to the
bottom of the shaft--a descent. he esti-
mated shrewdly, Of something like 100
feet.
Marrophat operated the windlass, his
first assistant "a boyish body never
known to Barcus by any other name
than Jimmy having accompanied Rose
down the shaft and waiting there to
receive and dispose of Barcus and Alan,
In turn.
His handling of them. without assist
ance from Marrophat. was much like
the treatment n single baggage smash
er accords an exceptionally heavy and
unwieldy trunk. Barcus was partly
dragged. partly thrown, tumbled. and
kicked. some ten feet or so along n
tunnel that struck away from the foot
6of the shaft. then left shoulder 10
shoulder with Rose In darkness, only
Emphasized By the feeble flicker of n
candle in miners candlestlck. which
Jimmy had thrust into the wall OF the
tunnel near Its mouth, while Alan waH
lowered. brought in. and thrown
roughly down across the body OF Bar
9cus.
a hideous screeching followed. the
protests of rusty and greaseless ma
chincry. Twisting his neck. Barcus
paw the dim opening OF the shaft slow
8y closing, rs II q curtain were being
lrawn down over it. Jimmy was clos
ing the bulkhead door. leaving them
definitely prisoners. beyond human aid,
there in that everlasting black
nolc.I.
With final squeal and thump the
bulkhead settled into place. 4 con-
uston OF remote sounds thereafter indi-
;ated that Jimmy with, perhaps. Mar
rophats assistance) was making the
- bu!khead fast beyond question
Tedsing and blocking 1t with timbers
These ceased-and the silence was
sroken by Aian's voice.
.Barcus."
The latter Grmnted soulfuily by way
II answer: he could do no more.
rive worked my gag loose" Alan
pursued in a hurried whisper. "but my
lands are tied behind my back. Are
ours? Grunt once for yea"
Dut!fully, Barcus grunted a solitary
,ruht.
';Thcn roll over on your face and
give me chance ut your bonds with
. my teeth I ought To be able to work
hem free that way. given time -
Time was the mirthless thought
4 Barcus. Haven't we got all eter-
3ity?"
For all that. he wasted no time what
yer in obeying Alan's suggestion
hen lay for upward of ten minutes
- 5ith ,his face in the mold Of the tunnel
lille Alan chewed and spat and chew ed
gain at the ropes round the wrists of
is friend.
IL il were in truth no more than ten
- linutes il seemed upward OF an hour
. efore the bonds grew slack and Bar
us with an effort that cost him much
the skin on one wrist worried n
and free then loosed the other. re-
ioved and spat out his gag, and set
astily about freeing his friend. That
ook but few instants--little more
- IAN was needed to rid Rose of her
onds.
- Continued To-Morrow.