The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-10-07
LahOna.
Continued from Page One.

SecoHu TiuSc was uoL 50 uiSu DIS
the outer wall. and he paused here.
feeling more secure.
The fugitive was not interested IN
the dimly defined shapes about him.
His attention bad been attracted by
creyice in the smooth rock ledge at
his feet. This ledge. barren Of vegeta-
ton and as level as slab of rough
marble, showed a long black line like
Il crack in a stone pavement. At the
mans feet the crevice was perhaps
two feet wide.
Presently he set the keg and the
tarpaulin ball on the ground. not to
rest his shoulders. but in order to sink
on his knees beside the crevice. lie
put his face down over it. listening.
peering. but making no discovery.
bis waist, tied it to the rope that had
been halter and. having fastened
stone to one end, lowered it into the
black space. The le1gth of the lariat
slipped through his fingers and the
rope was following when suddenly the
On making this discovery he drew up
the lariat. opened the cloth containing
the food and began to eat rapidly and
with evident excitement.
When the first cravings of appetite
were partly satisfied he left his bakers
bread and bacon On a stone. tied up the
rest of the food in its cloth. rolled this
| in the tarpaulin and lowered it by
means of the lariat into the crevice
| Then. having tied the end of the rope
to the gun barrel. he placed the gun
across the crevice and swung himself
down into the gloom.
| The walls Of the crevice were so close
together that he was able to steady his
knees against them. but as he neared the
bottom they widened perceptibly, Els
first act Oh setting foot to the stone
| flooring was to open the tarpaulin.
| draw forth candle and box Of
| matches and strike light. The cham
Der of granite in which he stood was
indeed narrow. but full Of interest and
romance. The floor was about the
same width in ali it's length. wide
enough for Wilcox. tall us he was to
stretch across the passage 1t extend
ed perhaps Il hundred feet into the
heart of the rock. showing the same
| smooth walls Oh either side. The CELL
ing. however. was varied. as the out
ward examination had promised. Over.
head the stars were seen at ease
through the two feet Of space at the
top, but as he carried his candle for
ward this opening decreased. to be sue
ceeded presently by roof. at first 0!
jumbled stones crushed together b3
outward weight. then of smooth RED
surface extending to the end
The floor was the same everywher.
save at its extremities. At the poinl
of Wiilock's descent it dipped away il
@ narrow line that would not have al
mitted mans body. At the Other
end. where he now stood. it suddenly
gave way to empty space. 1t came tt
an end so abruptly that there was NJ
means of discovering how deep was
the narrow abyss beyond. Possibly i
descended a sheer 300 feet. the deptl
Of the ridge at that place. On thi
smooth floor which melted to nothing
, ness with such sinister and startlin:
suddenness. the candlelight revealed
!. the skeleton Of u man lying at thu
: margin Of the unknown depths Min
gled with the bones that had fallel
apart with the passing of centuries
! was Il drawn sword of blackened hill
and rusted blade-a sword Of old Span
ish make-and in the dust Of rottet
purse lay a small heap of gold coins o
strange design.
"Well. pard." said Brick Willocl
grimly. won come here first and mucl
obliged to you You've told me tw
things-that once in here no getting on
unless you bring along your ladder
and what's better still. nobody ha
been here since you come. or tina
wouldn't be my money: And now har
ing told me all you got to say. m
cavalier. guess we'd better part" Fl
raked the bones into a heap and dasI
ed them into the black gulf He di
not hear them when they struck bot
tom, and the sinister silence gave hiI
an odd thrill. He shook his head. Il
| ever roll out of bed here" he sait
me and you will spend the rest of tn
time together. pardner.'
He did not linger for idle speculation
but drew himself up his dangling rops
and in short time was once NOR
outside the place Of refuge. Away
on the lookout for possible watchers
he snatched up his bread and meat an
ate as he FASTENED over the outer ridg
and down the rugged side toward th
! wagon. Here he filed a box with cal
ned provisions and il side of bacol
and on top Of this he secured sac
of flour. 1t made a heavy burden. bu
his long sleep had restored him to hi
wonted strength. and he could not b
sure but this trip to the wagon woul
be his last. With some difficulty b
hoisted the box to his herculean shou
der, and. grasping spade and an a
in his disengaged hand. toiled upwar
to his asylum.
On another trip he brought a ma
tress. blankets and dishes
I Then he was beginning to feel th
WEAKNESS Of the morning return. All
the load that cleaned out the WACO
bed left him SO exhausted that he fe
! down on the ground beside the creric
having thrown in his booty Her
with his gun at his side and pist,
in his hand. he fell fast asleep
He lay there like man Of stone III
til some inner consciousness bega
beating at the door of his sense
warning him that in no great time Ii