The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-07
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black space. The length Of the lariai
slipped through his fingers and the
rope was following when suddenly the
rock found Judgment at the bottom
On making this discovery he drew uu
ths lariat. opened the cloth containing
n food and beaan to eat rapidly and
with evident excitement
when the nrst cravings Of appetite
vvre partly satisfed he left his bakers
bread and bacon on a stone. tied up the
rest Of the food In its cloth. rolled this
In the tarpaulin and lowered It by
means Of the lariat into the crevice
Then. having tied the end Of the rope
b the gun barrel. he placed the gun
across the crevice and swung himself
down into the gloom.
The walls Of the crevice were 90 close
together that he was able to steady bis
knees against than. but as he neared the
bottom they widened percephbly. His
FIRST act on setting foot to the stone
flooring was to open the tarpaulin.
draw forth a candle and a box Of
matches and strike a light. The cham
Der Of granite In which he stood was
indeed narrow, but full of interest and
romance. The hoor was about the
same width I'm all its length. wide
enough for Wilcox. tall as he was. to
stretch across the passage. 1t extend
ed perhaps hundred feet into the
heart Of the rock. showing the same
smooth walls on either side. The CELL
ing. however, was varied. as the out
ward examination had promised. Over
head the stars were seen at ease
through the two feet Of space ut the
top, but as he carried his candle for
ward this opening decreased. to be sue
ceeded presently by a roof. at first of
jumbled stones crushed together by
weight, then Of a smooth red
surface extending to the end.
The floor was the same everywhere
save at its extremities. At the point
Of Willock's descent 1t dipped away in
a narrow line that would not have ad-
mitted mans body. At the other
end, where he now stood. II suddenly
gave way to empty space. 1t came to
an end SO abruptly that there was no
means of discovering how deep was
the narrow abyss beyond. Possibly 1t
a sheer 800 feet the depth
Of the ridge at that place. On the
smooth floor which melted to nothing
ness with such sinister and startling
the candlelight revealed
the skeleton Of a man lying at the
margin Of the unknown depths. Min
gled with the bones that had fallen
apart with the passing Of centuries
was a draw sword of blackened hilt
and rusted blade-a sword Of old Span
sh make-and in the dust Of rotted
purse lay a small heap Of gold coins of
strange design.
well. pard." said Brick wilcox
grimly. you come here first and much
obliged to you. You've told me two
once In here no getting out
you bring along your ladder.
and what's better still nobody has
been here since you come. or that
be my money! And now hav-
Ing told me all you got to say. my
cavalier. guess we'd better part" He
raked the bones into a heap and dash
ed them into the black gulf. He did
not hear them when they struck bot
tom, and the sinister silence gave him
an odd thrill. He shook his head. IF
ever roll out of bed here" he said.
me and you will spend the rest of the
lime together. pardner."
He did not linger for idle speculation,
but drew himself up his dangling rope,
and I'm a short time was once more
outside the place Of refuge. Always
IN the lookout for possible watchers.
ne snatched up his bread and meat and
lite as he hastened over the outer ridge
md down the rugged side toward the
wagon. Here he filed box with can
ned provisions and a side Of bacon,
II -four. 1t made a heavy burden, but
his long sleep had restored him to his
Sonted strength. and he could not be
sure but this trip to the wagon would
De his last With some difficulty he
loisted the box TO his herculean shout
Ter, and. grasping spade and an ak
n his disengaged hand. tolled upward
% his asylum.
On another trip he brought a mat
ress. blankets and dishes
Then he was beginning to feel the T
Of the morning return, and
he load that cleaned out the wagon
ed left him so exhausted that he fell
iown on the ground beside the crevice. I
laving thrown In his booty Here. (
With his gun at his side and a pistol ,
n his hand. he fell fast asleep
He lay there like man OF stone I'M
II some inner consciousness began
)eating at the door OF his senses.
warning him that In no great time the
noon would rise. He started up In a
tate Of dazed bewiderment. staring
Il the solemn stars. the vague outlines !
II giant rocks about him and the lin,
tless sea OF darkness that flowed away
rom the mountain top indi ating. but
rot defining. the surrounding prairie.
Get up from here Wilcox com
handed himself lie obeyed rather
uffiy, but when he was on his feet.
4 In hand. he made the trip 10 the