The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-07-15

on It's axis. 1noy nasned their ian
terms full on II and, as IL moved, they
could see disclosed huge piles OF gold
and silver coins and bars aud orna.
ments, n chest literally filled with
briliiants. set and unset. rubies, EN-.
.ralds. precious stones OF every con.
ceivable variety. a cave that would
nave staggered even Aladdin.
For a moment they could merely
stand In avaricious exultation.
Painfully and slowly we managed to
trail Long Sins footprints, until we
came to a road where they were lost
In the hard macadam.
Kennedy chose the most likely direc-
ton. for the trail had been at an angle
TO the road and Long Sin was not like
ly to double back. We had not gone
many rods before Kennedy paused a
minute and looked about in the moon.
light.
IT'S right, Walter" he cried. DO
you recognize IT."
looked about. Then II fash ed over
me. This was the back road that led
past the entrance &c the treasure vault
at Aunt Tabby's.
We went or now more quickly, lis
tening carefully to catch any sounds.
but heard nothing. Al last Kennedy
stopped, then plunged among the
rocks and bushes beside the road.
We were at the cave.
"You 60 this way. Walter" he di.
rected. "Tll go around and down
where IL caved in"
had gone only a yard or two when
IL seemed as though something had
grasped my foot.
With n great wrench I managed to
pull II loose. But the weight on my
other foot had imbedded II deeper in
something. struggled 10 free this
foot and got the other caught. My re-
volver which I had drawn. was Jared
from my hand, and in the effort to re-
cover II. I lost my balance. Unable
TO move n foot in time to catch myself
! fell forward. My hands we're now
covered by the Shiny. sticky stun, and
the more | struggled, the worse I
seemed to get e~ntangled
WI and Long Sin paused only n
minute in establishment. Then they
literally fell upon the wealth that lay
before them.
Suddenly they paused. There was
the slight tinklo OF a Chinese bell.
Kennedy had reached Aunt Tabby's
garden. outside the roof OF the subter-
ranean chamber where II had given
way, had gone down carefully over the
earth and rock. and IN doing so had
broken n string stretched across the
passaCeway. The tinkle OF n bell at
tached 10 II aroused his attention and
he stopped short. a second. to look
about. WI Fang had arranged n
primitive alarm.
Quickly. WI and Long Sin blew out
their lanterns while WI gave the rock
n push. Slowly. as It had opened. II
now closed and they stood there listen
ing.
] was still struggling in the bird
lime. getting myself more and more
covered with II. when the reverbera-
ton OF revolver shots reached me.
WI and Long Sin had opened fire on
Kennedy. and Kennedy was replying
in kind. In the cavern II sounded like
a veritable bombardment. AS they re-
treated, they came nearer and nearer
to me and ! could sec the revolvers
splitting fire in the darkness.
watched them fearfully as they
hoppod deftly from one store 20 an
other 10 avoid the lime-and were
gone.
Craig Craig" I managed to cry
feebly. BE careful. Keep to the
stones
Stepping from stone 10 stone. he fol-
lowed the retreating Cinnamon. But
they had already reached the mouth
OF t.e cave and we're making their
way rapidly down the road 10 a
bend, in the opposite direction from
which we had cOvne. There Wu's auto
mobile a waiting.
a m later Kennedy appeared,
but they had made their getaway.
Baiied, he turned and retraced his
steps 10 the cave.
They got away, Walter" he said,
lighting n lantern they had dropped.
by George" he added. think a lit
tie veXed that | had not been able TO
intercept them, you are a sight"
He was about 10 laugh. when I faint
cd. ! can remember nothing until I
woke up over by the wall OF the cham
Der where he dragged me.
Kennedy had been working hard 10
revive me, and, as | opened my eyes.
he Strengthened up. His eye suddenly
caught something on the rock beside
him There was a little slot carved
In II, and above the slot was a peculiar
inscription.
For several minutes Kennedy puz-
2led over II, as WI had done. Then
h" discovered the little cup near the
ground.
The ring" he suddenly cried out.
was too muddled to appreciate at
once what he meant. but | saw him
reach into his fob pocket and draw