Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-11

He was working furiously to take sdvan-
tage Of the fifteen minutes or so before
the next car would pass
The tunnel had been widened out at this
point into small subterranean chamber.
1t was dug out OF the earth and the roof
was roughly propped up. most of the
weight being borne by one main wooden
prop which, in the dampness, had now
become old and decayed.
On one side II Yves evident that Long
Sin had already been at work, digging
and drilling through the earth and rock
He had gone so far now that ne had dis
closed what looked like the face OF a
small safe set directly into the rock.
A ne worked. he would stop from time
10 tinc and consult the map. Then he
would take up drilling again
He had now come to the point on which
Bennett had written his warning. Quickly
he opened the bag end took the oxygen
helmet, which he adjusted carefully
over his head. Then he set to work with
redoubled energy.
1t was that drill as well as his pound
ing on the rock which had~so alarmed
Elaine and Aunt Tabby the night before
and which now had been the signal for
Kennedy's excursion OF discovery.
As spoke my hand loosened a piece Of
rock that jutted out and before knew Il
there was crash
"confound H. Walter exclaimed Ken
needy.
Down the passageway the figure was
now Thoroughly on the alert. staring with
his gogsle-like eyes into the blackness IN
our direction. 1t was not the roof above
him that was unsafe He was watched
and he did not hesitate minute 20 act
He seized the bag and picked his way
quickly through. the passage as IL thor
oughly familiar with every turn of the
walls and roughness OF the floor.
We were discovered and II we were to
accomplish anything 1t was now or never.
Kennedy dashed forward and I followed
close after him.
We were making much better time than
our strange visitor and were gaining on
him rapidly. Nearer and nearer we came
to- him. for in spite Of his familiarity with
the cavern he was hampered by the out
landish headgear that he wore.
II was only another instant when Ken
1900 WHNtN nave AoA1 us manu- on MIN.
Suddenly ne half turned. raised his arm
and dashed something to the earth, much
as child explodes toy torpedo I fully
expected that It was bomb: but, as a
moment later ! found that Kennedy and
were stlll unframed. knew that Il
must be some other product Of this devil
ish genius.
The thickest and most impenetrable
smoke seemed to pervade the narrow
cavern.
"A Chinese smoke bomb" sputtered
and coushed Kennedy. as no retreated a
minute, then with renewed rigor endeav-
ored to penetrate the dense ana opaque
fumes
We managed to so ahead still, but the
intruder had exploded one after another
OF his peculiar bombs, always keepins
ahead of the smoke which he. created, and
we found that under its cover he had
made good hls escape. probably reachinr
the entrance Of the cave IN the under,
brush
At the other. end OF the passageway ui
in the living room OF the cottage. the
draught had carried large quantities Of
the smoke. Elaine. Aunt Tabby and
Joshua, coughing and choking, saw Il and
iopened window. which seemed TO cause
a current OF air to sweep through tbs
whole length OF the passageway and
helped to clear away the fumes rapidly
Long sin. meanwhile. had started Il
work his way through the bushes L
reach the waiting car. with WI, ther
paused and listened. Hearing no sound
he replaced the helmet. which he hac
taken off.
Pursuit was now useless for us. witt