The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-11

left carelessly thrust into the wall by
Marrophat's lieutenant, and gutterings
had dropped a flaming wick into a lit-
tie heap OF bone.dry debris. This last
famed, licked hungrily at the timber
ing that upheld the falls OF the tunnel
The timbcring caught fire without de-
lay. In n space OF time incredibly
brief the flames were spreading right
and left, tho tunnel was q vault of
blistering fury.
As Alan said his last mute farewell
10 Rose and Darcus. the fire spread
out In the bottom OF the shaft and In
vaded the powder room.
Alan had guessed Alright at Marro-
phat's design; the keg OF blasting pow
der was less than an eighth full, its
explosion could not possibly have eff
fected the cave.in Alan had at nrst
feared.
But what Marrophat had overlooked
was the proximity to the keg Of some
several sticks OF dynamite. masked by
a flrA 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 tho
dynamite took It's cue without the
least delay.
fhe resultant defamation was ter
rife. The bulkhead was crushed in
like an eggshell barrier. Part OF tho
walls fell in, but the tunnels and shaft
remained intact. The released food
streamed out and spread swiftly TO the
farthest recesses OF the burning tun,
mel. Dense clouds OF steam filled that
place OF terror as the fres were extin-
guished.
Swept with the stream as It poured
out OF tho tunnel, Alan contrived
throughout to retain his hold round
the waist OF Rose. Barcus shot past
him unseen In the darkness. II was
not until Alan had contrived to catch
an uI&urned timber and stay himself
and his almost whless burden beneath
the mouth of the shaft hat he discov-
cred Barcus alive, II almost unrecog-
nizahle in his mask OF mold and SCOT.
battling back toward tho shaft against
the knecdeep tide.
Half blinded and stiied as he was by
the rcek OF steam and powder fumes.
Alan struggled with himself until his
wits were passably clear.
Immediately before him dangled the
hosting bucket and rope,
Surrendcrlng the care OF Rose to
Barcus, Alan climbed into the bucket
and stared upward, examining the
walls OF the shaft for Il way to the
top.
There was none other than the most
difficult: gaps too great to be bridged
by climbing showed in the wooden
ladders.
The one feasible route was via the
rope. And there was nobody ut the
top 10 work the windlass-and Alan
hoped there would be nobody TO op-
pose his essay.
He addressed himself TO the task
without murmuring-lifted himself up
on the rope, wound II round one leg.
and began that heartbreaking climb.
How he accomplished II he never
knew. That II must be accomplished
wus his one, all-absorbing thought
And somehow, by some almost super
human effort. II was eventually accom-
plished.
lie arrived at the top Of the shaft
far too exhausted to show surprise
whom. falling In %half.fainting condi-
ton within W feet OF the brink. he
saw Judith Trlne running like mad
across the clearing.
But without her aid he wouli not
within hours have been able TO work
the windlass and lift Rose ara Bar
Gus to the surface.
y CTO BE CoNTINuEDJ