The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-02-18

handle Of this strange door. Diligence
rewarded her, and she soon foun,
herself in large, musty. earth-smell
ing cave Loot was scattered about
and there were boxes and chairs AM
large chest Men evidently me-
here. possibly after some desperate
adventure against society. She found
nothing to reward her hardihood, and
as she was In the act OF moving to
ward the caves door she beheld with
terror that 1t was moving!
She was near the chest at that mo
ment The cave was not deep one.
There was no tunnel, only q wall.
Resolutely she raised the lid Of the
chest, stepped inside. and drew the
lid down. She was just in time. The
door opened and three men entered.
talking volubly. They felt perfectly
secure in talking as loudly as they
pleased. To Florence 1t seemed al
most impossible that they did not
hear the thunder Of her heart? Strain
her ears as she might. she could gath
er but little Of what they said, except:
IF Hargreave had this paper we
might all be put on the defensive. To
an outsider 1t is blank paper But
the boss will be able to read it, =. ;"
The speaker moved away from the
vicinity Of the chest and she heard
no more.
Very deftly Florence raised the lid
just enough to peep out. The man
who had been talking was putting the
note in his hip pocket. AS he turned
toward the chest he sat down on the
soapbox Immediately in front of the
chest. An inspiration came to the girl,
an exceedingly daring one. She took
her liberty in her hands as she ex-
ecuted the deed. But the dimness Of
The cave aided her. When she crouch
I'd down again the magic paper was
lers. |
1t seemed hours to her before the |
men left the cave. AS she heard the
hidden door jar in closing she raised
he lid and stepped out. breathing
leeply. The paper she had purloined
vas indeed blank, but Jones or Jim
would know what to do with it. And
wouldn't they be surprised when she
cid them what she had accomplished
II alone? Her exultation was of short
nration. She heard the whine Of the
ccr on its hinges. The men were re.
drning. Why?
They were returning because, they
I'd discovered a woman's shoeprint
Inside. 1t pointed toward the cave,
'eshly, and there was none coming
Aay. To reenter the chest would be
olhardy. 1t would be the first place
lie men would look She glanced
bout desperately. She saw but one
lance, the we'll. And even while the {
'or was swinging inward. letting the
'illiant sunshine enter, she sum.
oned up the courage and let herself
'wn into the we'll, which proved to u
nothing more nor less than an un. f
river!
The men came in with a rush. They h
set boxes. looked into the chest, and "
e man who was evidently in com. y
md gazed down the WE'LL. shaking
! head. Their search was Thorough,
they found no one. And at length 81
" began to reason that perhaps ii
man had got as far as the door and T.,
n turned away, walking on the b,
{. IN
deantfme Florence was borne along N
the swift current of the river. which
ned in swiftness every moment. hi
I'M time to time she bumped along
rocky walls, but she chung to life
lantly. In ten minutes she was q,
'pt to the other side of the hill, in M
the rapids: but the blue sky was Tn
rhead. she was out in the familiar tn