Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-02

WAS temporarily Obscured.
Thrilled with apprehension, he hesitated Mar
rophat up there he little doubted; hardly like
that one TO overlook the ladder-shaft in preparing
the tunnel to be living tomb.
Marrophat or no Marrophat at the top there was
nothing for him to do but to grasp the nettle dan
ger with steady hand, unninching Even though
he shot dead on emerging from the shaft It
were better than TO die down there, like a rat IN
trap.
He had climbed not more than half dozen rungs
when voice hailed from above;
"Law-oh Mister Law say-dont come up
here's a present for you"
Pausing without answer he looked up. few
drops OF water spatered his face like heavy rain.
Almost Immediately the blue sky was permanently
eclipsed; heavy cascade OF water almost a solid
column shot down the shaft with terrific force
Alan sought vainly TO escape Il, to mount against
IT, Seeming to gain in strength and volume with
each instant It beat upon his head and shoulders
with irresistible power Before he knew H. his
grasp had been wrenched away from the ladders
and he shooting feet FIRST back into the tunnel
Halfdrowned and wholly dazed, he felt himself
picked up and dragged away from the waterfall
Then, his senses cleared, he comprehended
the fact that the tunnel already filing that
where they stood II was already ankle deep; while
the water continued to fall without hint Of letup.
Iv-FLooD AND FIRE.
Screaming 10 make himself heard above the roar
Of the deluge, Barcus hammered IN Alan's ear:
the slucegates-turned It into that shaft We're
done forl"
Alan had no argument with which to gainsay
him Silently getting his feet silently he
CROPPED for Rose IN the darkness momentarily be-
coming more dense the fall OF water shut out
the light. and drew her away with him. up the
slight incline that led back to the bulkhead
an hour In hell
To die there in the darkness like so many nox.
ious animals trapped in a welil
The mouutpd rnnidlV Within mi
Il drove them back to the elbow in the tunnel;
within ten II Tapped their ankles as they fingered
there, doubling which the greater peril. TO
advance OF to stand fast and let the flooding tide
snuf out the fires OF life. To return to the neigh
borhood Of the bulkhead was to court the death
indicated by the fuse and the key Of blasting pow
der
or a sudden the thought crossed Alans mind
that MaHophat had arranged the latter solely to
keep them away from the bulkhead
He decidedly OF the opinion that Il were bet
ter TO be extingushed once and for all time, in
the space OF second, ennihiated by explosion.
than 10 die thus lingeringly.
on this consideration he drew Rose with him.
back to the bulkhead
When they had been some fifteen minutes be-
side the bulkhead. the water mounted the head OF
slight rise perhaps ten feet behind them, and
poured down in ever deeper volume to back up
against the barrier
In fifteen minutes more Il had reached their
chins And they stood with heads against the roof
OF the tunnel
Holding Rose close to him. Alan kissed her lips
that were as cold death.
Then, fumblng under water he found the hand
OK the man at his side
The water Tapped his lips like a blind hand 4.
In the tunnel that branched on from the main
shaft beyond the bulkhead, some thirty minutes
before this iuncture candle had guttered in its
stick left carelessly thrust into the wall by Mar
rophats lieutenant and guttering had dropped a
flaming wick into little heap OF bOne-dry debris.
This last famed, licked hungrily at the timbering
that upheld the walls Of the tunnel. The timber
ing caught fire without delay. In a space OF time
incredibly brief the flames we're spreading right
and left, the tunnel vault OF blistering fury
As Alan said his last mute farewell to Rose and
Barous the fire spread out in the bottom OF the
Shaft and invaded the powder room.
Alan had guessed Alright at Marrophats design;
the key OF blasting powder was less than eighth
full its explosion could not possibly have effected
the cavein Alan had at first feared.
But what MarrophAt had overlooked was the
proximity to the keg OF some several sticks OF
dynamite masked by film OF earth that had fallen
from the crumbling walls.
When the blazing fuse dropped sparks into the
blasting powder this last exploded right willingly
and the dynamite took fits cue without the least
delay.
The resultant defamation was terrific. The bulk
head was crushed in like an eggshe barrier. Part
Of the walls fell in. but the tunnels and shaft
Swept with the stream as It poured out OF the
tunnel, Alan contrived throughout TO retain his
hold round the waist of Rose. Barcus shot past
him unseen in the darkness
Halfblinded and stihed as he was by the reek
OF steam and powder fumes. Alan struggled with
himself until his Wits were passably clear.
Immediately before him dangled the hoistiug
bucket and rope
Surrendering the of Rose to Barcus. Alan
climbed into the bucket and stared upward exam
ming the walls Of the shaft for a way to the top.
There was none other than the most dihicult:
gaps too great to be bridged by climbing showed
in the wooden ladders.
The one feasible route via the rope And
there was nobody at the top to work the windlas,
-and Alan hoped there would be nobody to op
pose his essay.
He addressed himself to the task without mur
muring-lifted himself upon the rope wound Il
round one leg, and began that heartbreaking climb
He arrived at the top of the shaft far too ex
hausted to show surprise when. falling in half
fainting condition within two feet Of the brink he
saw Judith Urine running like mad the
clearing.
But without her aid he would not within hours
have been able TO work the windlass and lift Rose