The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-05-15

U1H< 80 71tNtt - ~ - -
whats the good OF that1 We're
fast enough ~ II lei
Simply 10 mako assurance doubiyi
sure by causing q cavein
II seem to remember hearing OF
reading, some place, that tunnels have
two ends. II that's true. tho far end
Of this ought TO be about the SAFEST
place when that explosion happens---
II II ever does"
Something in thatl"
"dot any matcheBr Barcus IN
quired, as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
TO her feet
Never one"
Nor I. Wen have to feel our way
along. Let me lead II ! step over the
brink OF a pit or anything. I'll try 70
yell and warn you IN time"
Alan caught his friends hand IN
passing and pressed II warmly--a ca
ress eloquent OF his gratitude TO Bar
Gus for taking their peril lightly, or
pretending TO. for tho sake OF Rose.
A ticklish business, that--groping
their way through blackness so
Opaque that II seemed as palpable ms
pool OF ink. And haste was indi-
Gated; they stumbled on with what
caution was possible against pitfalls
a gingerly scramble Then an elbow
IN the tunnol--senBed rather than felt
or Heen--cut them on from direct
communication with the bulkhead.
and at the same time opened up
SHAFT OF daylight. striking down
through that pitchy darkness Ike a
column OF fine gold
Cries OF Joy. amnzemcnt, increduiity
choking In their throats. they STUN
bied forward. gained the spot immedi'
ately below the shaft. looked upward.
dazzied. to see blue sky like n coin OF
heavens mintlng fur above them. ut
the end OF n long and almost perpendi',
culur tunnel. wide enough TO permit
the passage OF Il mans body and lined
with wooden ladders.
The end OF the lowermoBt ladder
hung within easy reach from the fioor
OF the tunnel.
Hut even as Alan lifted his hands 10
grasp the bottom rung the opening Mt
the top OF the shaft was temporarily
obncured.
Thrilled with apprehension. he hesf-
tatcd: Marrophat was up there. he III.
tie doubted: hardly like that one TO
overlook the laddcrshat In preparing
the tunnel TO be- living tomb.
What Ia ~" Rose demanded at his
elbow. In u shaken whisper.
Nothing" ho lied instantly, and
seizing the bottom rung. swung him.
self up hut wait for me I'LL ! signal
the coasts clear" he warned before
committing himself finally TO the as
cent
Marrophat or no Mnrrophat at the
top. there was nothing for him 20 do
but TO grasp the nettle danger with
steady hand, unilnchlug, Even though
he were shot dead ON emerging from
tho shaft. II were better than to dlo
down there. like u rat IN trap,
lie had climbed not more than half
dozen rungs when voice hailed
from above.
"Law-oh. Mister Law, l say--don't
come up-hero's present for you"
Pausing without answer. he looked
up, A few dropn VI water splattered
his face. like heavy rain, Almost i'm
mediately the blue sky was per.
manently eclipsed. heavy cascade OF
water. almost II solid column. shot
down the shaft with terrific force,
Haif.drownaJ mud uhoiiv hag.d ha
felt himself picked up and dragged
away from the waterfall
Then. ms his senses cleared. he com.
pretended the fact that the tunnel
was already nlling. that where they
stood II was already ankle deep. while
tho water continued TO fall without
hint OF letup.