The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-03-04
purpose
to throw,

| he wasted look OF appedl OA Zig
fr&en mask of villainy that was Mar
rcrnat's (who bore the burden of Bar
Gus head and shoulders) and got
laughed at for all his pains.
Then he was left to himself once
more. but only for a few moments;
the interval ended Wien the :wo ap-
peared again, this time bringing Rose
In similar fashion.
Not until she had been put down be-
side him did he discover that Alan
was likewise q captive-trussed to q
tree at some distance.
The remaining arrangements OF
their captors were swiftly and deity
contaminated, though their design re-
NAMED obscure to Mr.. Barcus until
he, after Rose, was dumped like bale
into a huge bucket. and therein by
means Of rope and windlass lowered
to the bottom Of the shaft-a descent,
he estimated shrewdly, Of something
! like hundred feet. ... -
A hideous screeching followed, the
protests Of rusty and greaseless ma
chinery. Twisting his neck, Barcus
saw the dim opening Of the shaft
slowly closing, as If curtain were
being drawn down over it. Jimmy
was closing the bulkhead door, leav'
ing them definitely prisoners, beyond
human aid, there in that everlasting
black hole.
With final squeal and thump the
bulkhead settled into place. A con-
fusion of remote sounds thereafter in
dicated that Jimmy with, perhaps.
Marrophat's assistance) was making
the bulkhead fast beyond question
weaglng and blocking 1t with timbers.
These ceased-and the silence was
broken by Alan's voice.
"Barcus!"
The latter grunted soulfully by way
Of answer: he could DC DC no more.
Tive worked my gag loose. Alan
pursued in hurried whisper, but my
hands are tied behind my back. Are
yours? Grunt once for 'yes'."
Dutifully Bracus grunted solitary
grunt.
"Then roll over on your face and
give me a chance to work them free
luat way, given time -
"Time!" was the E1jrthless thought
Of Barcus. Haven't we got all eter.
nity"
For all that, he wasted no time
whatever in obeying Alan's suggestion
then lay for upward Of ten minutes
with his face in the mold Of the tunnel
while Alan chewcd and spat and
chewed and spat and chewed again at
the ropes round the wrists of his
friend.
II it were in truth no more than ten
minutes 1t seemed upward Of an hour
before the bonds grew slack and Bar.
Gus with an effort that cost him much
Of the skin on one wrist worried q
hand free. then loosed the other, re-
moved and spat out his gag, and set
hastily about freeing his friend. That
took but few instants-little more
than was needed to rid Rose of her
bonds.
That much accomplished, a pause
Of profound CONSERVATION followed.
The darkness was absolute in the tun.
mel, Jimmy having taken the candle
away with him; and it's silence was
rendered uncanny by the sobs and muir
~ hn hot a.
how fearfully remote and inhuman to
Barcus-who had turned Immediately
to- the bulkhead and was, without the
slightest hope, cropping about its joints
and crevices in search Of some way
Of forcing it. :. -
"Barcus-old mani"
"Yes?"
"Haye you any idea"
Devil one!"
A pause
did you notice what that black
guard had fixed up?' -
what do you mean?"
"Why-at the bottom of the shaft
{ got only glimpse coming in-the
door of the powder room was open
and saw fuse set to the top Of q
keg of blasting powder 1. :"
whats the good Of that? We're
fast enough as 1t Isl"
Simply to make assurance do'lbly
sure by causing a cave-in =.
II seem to remember hearing OF
reading, some place. that tunnels have
two ends. If that's true, the far end
Of this ought to be about the safest
place when that explosion happens
If 1t ever does"
Something in that"
Got any matches?" Barcus IN
quired, as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
to her feet.
Never one."
"Nor l. Wen have to feel our way
along. Let me lead. If ! step over the
brink Of a pit or anything, I'll try to
yell and warn you in time"
Alan caught his friends hand IN
passing and pressed it warmly-a ca
ress eloquent of his gratitude to Bar
Gus for taking their peril lightly, OF
pretending to, for the sake Of Rose.
A ticklish business, that cropping
<boir NOV %hrouoh h1ackneas 40