The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-04-29

| and crevices in search Of some way
Of forcing it.
"Barcus-old mani"
"Yes?"
Have you any idea"
Devil a one!"
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
What's the good of that? We're
fast enough as 1t Isl"
Simply to make assurance douDly
sure by causing a cavein
II seem to remember hearing or
reading. some place, that tunnels have
two ends. II that's true, the far end
OF this ought to be about the safest
place when that explosion happens
II 1t ever does"
Something in that"
Got any matches" Barcus In
uuired, as Alan hurriedly helped Rose
| to her feet
Never one"
Nor l. Well have to feel our way
along. Let me lead. II / 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 1t 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 it seemed as palpable as
a pool Of ink. And haste was indl-
Gated; they stumbled on with what
caution was possible against pitfalls
a 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 a
shaft of daylight, striking down
through that pitchy darkness like a
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 long and almost perpendi-
cular tunnel, wide enough to permit
the passage Of mans body, and lined
with wooden ladders.
The end of the lowermost ladder
hung within easy reach from the floor
Of the tunnel.
But even 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 hest
tated: Marrophat was up there, he lit
tie doubted; hardly like that one to
overlook the ladder-shaft in preparing
the tunnel to be living tomb.
What is it?" Rose demanded at his
elbow, in shaken whisper.
Nothing" he lied instantly, and
selling the bottom rung, swung him.
self up. But wait for me till 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 a
steady hand, unflinching. Even though
he were shot dead on emerging from
the shaft, 1t were better than to die
down there, like a rat in trap
He had climbed not more than halt
dozen rungs when a voice hailed
from above:
"Law-Oh, Mister Law. l say-don't
come up-here's present for you"
Pausing without answer, he looked
up. A few drops of water splattered
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
, felt himself picked up and dragged
away from the waterfall.
: Then, as his senses cleared, he com.
pretended the fact that the tunnel
was already filling; that where they
stood 1t was already ankle deep; while
the water continued to fall without
: hint of letup.