The Republican journal., 1914-05-14
A Came Of Chance.
Bv DR.. w. H. Winslow.

! CROPPED along the side of the passage.
slipping and stumbling over the rough,
wet stones, lighting matches frequently.
when suddenly / saw glimmer of light
ahead and heard noise in that direc-
ton. lighted another match and was
advancing cautiously, though noisily,
when a man appeared in fiashtof light
ahead, carrying gun, and fired at me
Just as my feet slipped and fell sprawl
ing into the little stream. I lay still
and grasped my revolver, but there was
nothing to fear. The enemy appeared
soon in the passage from one side with q
lighted candle and fled along the black
way until the light disappeared.
GAN was dark and silent except the
babbling rivulet. shook off the water
like a spaniel after swim, and conclud-
ed had had enough for one night and
Spinoza might be lonesome. The man
thought he had killed me and was seek
ing to escape by some other entrance,
and would not pursue nor hinder him
this tlme."
"What a wonderful adventure! 1t
seems more like an Arabian Nights
story, than anything that could happen
in our period of civilization and law.
What did you do then, Fink"
II got out as quickly as possible. l
dared not take any chance with gnome
of the mountains, who was SO well &C.
quainted with the subterranean regions. "
''Were you hurt?"
''Not at all, but l was scared by the
darkness and the squeaking bats around
me. l found Spinoza quaking with dread.
had been killed. l explained what had
thn n,1f1
the man.
"It ees the man of the chug-wagon,
said he quite confidently. ordered him
the nights work, and had tiresome
walk back to town."
81 should say you had; about three
miles, is it not?'
1T seemed double that distance. That
cave, Mr.. Bemis, is where Wendell and
his friends found refuge from the SUM-
burst and saved their lives"
"By George! SO it is. They entered
the cave from the Golf Ground and came
out at the foot of the mountain"
Exactly! ana where they entered my
would-be assassin escaped"
"And you didn't follow him; ha, ha,
ha!'
| saw NIL w cuucIl Luc AcAC 0oy oHN
he told me about the cave and his advent
ure. We stationed, yesterday, guard
at each entrance of the underground pas
flashlights and explored the cavern
thoroughly. We did not see or hear any
human being or spook 1t is a wet,
gloomy, uncanny, bat-infested freak of
Nature, and wonder it has remained so
! little known by the people.
1.-THE room near the north end was in
the same condition as when vacated by
Wendell and his party, except picked
up this empty twelve calibre shell near
the fireplace and the gun had disap-
peared."
81 think it is well you did not follow
the proprietor, who gave you such an in
hospitable reception
"Probably; but we want those bonds,
Mr.. Bemis, and my strange and start
chain of evidence which may lead to their
recovery. Have you heard anything
about the assault which Spinoza report
ed, from anyone except myself"
"No; it is up to you to find the lady
and the man. l think, if my daughter
knew of the affair, she would have told
me. Do you suspect any one?"
"Not exactly; have good descrip-
ton of the man.
81 would advise you to interview Mrs.
Dyer, she knows everything; but do not
mention me i'll connection with your eff
/ forts"
The detective was about to take leave,
when the maid brought in a card and
handed it to Bemis, who exclaimed, as
tonished, "Hambright! What brings
him here? Fink, quick! get behind the
parlor portieres and note our interview,
but do not show yourself unless | call
you"
"All right said he, getting behind
the drapery.
"Hello! Hambright, how are you? |
thought you were out of the city"
greeted Bemis suavely, shaking hands.
''How are you, sir? was away, but
| concluded it would be proper for me to
return to help straighten the bank af-
fairs, especially, as you were still weak
from your recent illness. l heard you
had a directors meeting this morning.
Has anything new developed since we
held the last one?"
"Who told you about our meeting?"
"McDonald's chauffer.
"Have you talked with any of the
members?"
mo; just came from the Exchange"
How is the market since mornlng?"
''Dull, strong and rather spotty. l
think the worst is past. Bonds are in
demand''
$50? any Orc sulphides changing
hands?"
"a few" replied the Vice pal,ng
slightly.
''We have lost some.''
Lost some? When and howl"
81 do not know, do you? They were
deposited in the vault and are not there
now," said Bemis, observing his caller
sharply.
Incredible! They must have been
mislaid, or placed in different drawer
than the others. How many are miss
ing?"
zone hundred thousand-dollar bonds"
Heavens! is it possible? l was GER
tain they were in the vault -
''They ought to be. We have notified
brokers and bankers of the loss and Civ
en- them the numbers and descriptions as
customary, requesting them to keep the
matter confidential that the thief might
not be warned and the detectives him
dered."
"Indeed l had not heard of it. l am
in serious trouble, Mr.. Bemis. I have
lost great deal of money and do not
I'm bov I -Mrc