The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-03-11
PAGE TEN
!. Haven't we got all eter-

III III were In truth no more tnan tel
minutes IL seemed upward of an hour
before the bonds grew slack and Bar
u with an effort that cost him much
of the skin on n wrist worried a
hand free, then loosed the other, re
moved and spat out his gag. and SET
hastily about freeing his friend. That
took but a few instants-little more
than was needed TO rid Rose of heI
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 its silence was
rendered uncanny by the sobs and muir
murs of the lovers, that sounded some
how fearfully remote and inhuman TO
Barcus-who had turned Immediately
to the bulkhead and was, without the
slightest hope. cropping about It's Joints
and crevices in search OF some way
OF forcing 1t.
"Barcus-old mani"
"Yes?"
IiaVe you any idea
Devil a 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 a glimpse coming in-the
door of the powder room was open,
and | saw a fuse set to the top of a
keg of blasting powder :"
whats the good of that? We're
fast enough as 1t Isl"
Simply to make assurance doubly
sure by causing a cave-in
IL seem to remember hearing or
reading, some place, that tunnels have
two ends. II that's true, tho far end
Of this ought to be about the safest
place when that explosion happens
II II ever does"
Something In that"
Got any matches?" Barcus In
CURED, as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
to her feet.
Never one"
Nor I. Well have to feel Dur way
along. Let me lead. II I step over the
brink of q 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. or
pretending to. for the sake of Rose.
A ticklish business, that-groping
their way through blackness so
opaque that 1t seemed as palpable az
q pool Of ink. And haste was indi-
Gated; they stumbled on with what
caution was possible against pitfalls
q gingerly scramble. Then an elbow
In the tunnel-sensed rather than felt
or seen-cut them OF from direct
communication with the bulkhead,
and at the same time opened up q
shaft OF daylight, striking down
through that pitchy darkness like q
column Of fine gold
Cries Of Joy, amazement, ~incredulity
choking In their throats, they STUN
bled forward, gained the spot immedi-
ately below the shaft, looked upward,
dazzled, to see blue sky like a coin Of
heavens minting far above them. at
the end of a long and almost perpendi-
GUAR tunnel, wide enough to permit
the passage of a mans body, and lined
with wooden ladders.
The end of the lowermost ladder
hung within easy reach from the floor
CT the tunnel.
But ven as Alan lifted his hands to
grasp the bottom rung the opening at
the top Of the shaft was temporarily
obscured.
Thrilled with apprehension, he hesi-
tated: Marrophat was up there, he lit
tie doubted; hardly like that one to
overlook the ladder-shaft in preparing
the tunnel to be a living tomb.
What is 1T" Pose demanded at his
elbow. In q shaken whisper.
Nothing" he lied instantly, and
seizing the bottom rung. swung him.
self up. But wait for me till I signal
the coasts clear" he warned before
committing himself finally to the as
cent.
Marrophat or no Marrophat at the
top, there was nothing for him to do
but to grasp the nettle danger with .
steady hand, u~nfiinching. Even though
he were shot dead on emerging from
the shaft. 1t were better than to die
down there. like a rat In q trap.
He had climbed not more than half
. dozen rungs when q voice hailed
from above:
"Law-Oh, Mister Law. / say-don't
come up-here's a present for YOU"
Pausing without answer, he looked
up. A few drops Of water s~plattered
his face. like heavy rain. Almost I'm
mediately the blue sky was per.
manently eclipsed: . heavy cascade OF
water, almost a solid column, shot
down the shaft with terrific force.
Half-drowned and wholly dazed, he
fat himself picked up and dragged
away from the waterfall.
Then, - his senses cleared, he com.
49, -