The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-10-22

draw forth a candle and a box of
matches and strike Il light. The cham
Der Of granite in which he stood was
romance. The floor was about the
same width in all it's length. wide
enough for Wilcox, tall as he was. to
stretch across the passage. 1t extend
ed perhaps a 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 seer ut ease
through the two feet Of space at the
top, but rs 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
outward weight. then of a smooth red
surface extending to the end.
The floor was the same everywhere
save at it's eXtremities. At the point
of Willock's descent it dipped away in
a narrow line that would not have adj
mitted a mans body. At the other
SAN ~ AC " oNOONs ~ SuOOC41ly
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 it
descended a sheer 300 feet. the depth
Of the ridge at that place. On the
smooth floor which melted to nothing
ness with such sinister and startling
~suddenness. the candlelight revealed
the skeleton Of a mar lying at the
margin of the unknown depths. Min
gled with the bones that had fallen
apart with the passing of centuries
was a drawn sword of blackened hilt
and rusted blade-a sword Of old Span
ish make-and in the dust Of a 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
things-that n in here no getting out
unless you bring along your ladder,
and what's better still. nobody has
been here since you come, or that
wouldn't be my money! And now hay
ing told me all you got to say. my
cavalier, l 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
l ever roll out of bed here" he said,
m and you will spend the rest Of the
time together, pardner."
He did not linger for idle speculation.
but drew himself up his dangling rope,
and in a short time was once more
outside the place Of refuge. Always
on the lookout for possible watchers,
he snatched up his bread and meat and
ate as he fastened over the outer ridge
and down the rugged side toward the
wagon. Here he filled a box with can
ned provisions and a side of bacon.
and on top Of this he secured n sack
Of -four. 1t made Il heavy burden. but
his long sleep had restored him to his
wonted strength, and he could not be
sure but this trip to the wagon would
be his last. With some difficulty he
hoisted the box to his herculean Shout
der, and. grasping a spade and an AK
in his disengaged hand, toiled upward
to his asylum.
On another trip he brought a mat
tress. blankets and dishes.
Then he was beginning to feel the
WEAKNESS of the morning return, and
the load that cleaned out the Wagon
bed left him SO exhausted that he fell
down on the ground beside the crevice,
having thrown in his booty. Here,
with his gun at his side and a pistol
in his hand. he fell fast asleep.
He lay there like a man of stone I'M
beating at the door of his senses.
warning him that in no great time the
moon would rise. He started up in a
state of dazed bewilderment. staring
at the solemn stars, the vague outlines
Of giant rocks about him and the lim-
itless sea Of darkness that flowed away
from the mountain top indicating, but
not defining, the surrounding prairie.
Get up from here!" Wilcox COM
manded himself. He obeyed rather
stif1y, but when he was on his feet,
ak in hand, he made the trip to the
wagon nimbly enough. AS he drew
neal he saw gray shadows slipping
away. They were wolves. He shout.
ed at them disdainfully and without
pause began removing the canvas from
I'VE the wagon. When that was done
his terrific blows resolved the wagon
bed to separated boards. somewhat
%splintered, but practically intact. BY
means Of the wrench he removed the
wheels and separated the parts Of the
wagon frame. Always. when he had
obtained enough for a load, he made
that toilsome journey to his retreat
He took the four wheels at one time
rolling them one by n lifting then
singly from ledge to ledge.
When he awoke a bar Of sunshin,
which at first he mistook for an out
cropping of Spanish gold glowet
against tho granite wall Of his mOun