The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-11-25

N aA~s- saituSIi aCCVAtppnIleu, pause
of profound consterna tion 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
Earcus-who had turned Immediately
to the bnlkhead and was, without the
slightest hope. cropping about its joints
and crevices in search of some way
of forcing it.
"Barcus-od mani"
"Yes?"
"IIave you any idea"
Devil a one"
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 a fuse Sc. to the top OF a
key Of blasting powder -
WHATS the good OF that! were
fast enough as it is"
Simply to make assurance doubly
sure by causing cave-in
II 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
if it ever does
Something in that"
Got any matches?" Barcus in
quired. as Alan hurrledly helped Rose
10 her feet.
Never one"
Nor I. Well have to feel our way
along. Let me lead. If step over the
brink of pit or anything. Ill try 10
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 ticlslish business, that--groping
their way through hlackness so
opaque that it seemed as palpable as
| 4 pool of ink. And haste was indi-
! Gated: they stumbled on With what
caution was possible against pitfalls
a glngerly scramble. Then an elbow
! in the tunuel--sensed rather than felt
| or seen---c,lt them off from direct
communication with the bullihcad.
| and at the same time opened up q
shaft of daylight. striking down
through that pitchy darkness like a
column Of fine gold,
| Cries of joy. amazement, increduity
choking in their threats, they Stun
bled forward. gained the spot immedi-
ately below the shaft, looked upward,
| daZZled to see blue sky like coin or
heavens minting far above them. at
the end OF Il long and almost perpendi-
cular tunnel. wide enough to permit
the passage CT a mans body. and lined
With wooden ladders
The end of the lowermost ladder
hung within easy reach from the floor
of the tunnel.
| Eut 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: Marropllat 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 a shaken whisper.
Nothing he lied instantly, and
Selling the bottom rung, swung HIM
self up. But wait fer me till signal
the coasts. clear" lie warned before
committing himself finally to the. as
cent
Marrophat or no Marrophat at the
| top, there was nothing for him to do
but to grasp the nettle danger with 4
| steady hand. llntlinching. Even though
| he We're shot dead on emerging from
! the shaft it were better than to die
| down there, like 4 rat in 4 trap.
| He had climbed not more than half
a dozen rungs when voice hailed
| from above:
l-aW-On. Mister Law. | SaE-dOn [
| come up-heres Il present for YOU
Pausins without answer, he looked
! up. \ few drops OF water splattere'l
! his face. like heavy rain. Almost I'M
mediately the blue sky was per-
manently eclipsed: Il heavy cascade OF
/ water, almost a solid column. shot
| down the shaft with terrific force.
! Halfdrowncd and wholly dazed. he
! felt himself picked up and dragged
/ away from the waterfall.
Then. as his senses cleared. he COM
| pretended the fact that the tunnel
was already filling: that where they
stood it was already ankle deep: while
| the water continued TO fall without
hint OF letup.