Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-22

bottom they widened percepably- HIS
frst act on setting foot to the stone
flooring was 70 open the tarpaulln'
draw forth candle and box Of
matches and strike 3 light, The cham
be- Of granite IN which he stood was
indeed narrow. but full Of interest and
romance. The floor was abouT the
same width IN ali its length. wide
enough Tor. Wilcox. tai as he was, 70
stretch across the passage. T. extend
81 uerhans q hundred feet into the
heart q the rock, showing the same
smooth walls on either side 7 be cell
ing However. was varied SIS the out
ward examination mad promised Over
head the stars we're seen az easa
through the two feet y space at the
t9n. but rs be carried his candle for
ward this opening decreased. 10 be sue
ceeded presently by a roof. at first II
5umbled stones crushed. together hv
outward weight. then Of q smooth red
surface extending to the end
The floor was the same everywhere
save al its axtremines- At the point
Of wuiock.z descent Il dipped away in
q narrow line that would not have ad-
mftted s mans body At the other
end. where he now stood II suddenly
gave way 70 empty space. 1t came to
On end so abruptly that there was no
means Of discovering how deep was
the narrow abyss beyond Possibly it-
descended q sheer 800 feet. the depth
OF the ridge at that place. On the
smooth floor which melted TO nothing
ness with such sinister and startling
suddenness. the candiehrht revealed
the skeleton Of q man lying at she
margin Of the unknown depths Min
eled with the bones that had fallen
apart with the passing Of centuries
was 2 drawn sword of blacbeued hut
and rusred blsde-a sword Of old span
fish make-aud i'm the dust Of a rotted
purse lay 3 small heap Of gold coins Of
strange design
"Weu. nard" said Brick wilcox
er5mIy. "~ou come here first and much
obliged TO Tou You ve told me two
things that once ia here 10 getting out
unless YOU bring along your ladder
and what's better still nobody has
been here since rou come. or that
wouldn't be my money, And now hav-
ing told me all rou got 10 say INV
cavalier guess we'd better part. he
Fa6ed Jae BONES into a heap ana dash
ed Jaen INTO me 3lAee gun do a1l
acI near JAen "1eh t1eF struck Doll
7Hm- ana the sinister silence save MIN
ITO odd thrill HE sl07& his head
ever E".t aat a5 fea mere aa sala'
me "aa }a1 Will spend me rest oI tle
'iiLe together. HaIaaeF.
Ste o.a MOI niger |9E ia-e s1ee4-aFle1.
'al drew almsa- Go MS dangling rope.
and liz short time vas once more
outside the place Of refuge. Always
mn the lookout for possible watchers.
he sHat1aea up bis bread and meat and
are as ne Mastered over the outer ridge
and down the rugged side toward the
wagon. Here ne Hl.eh q box win cam
ned provisions ana e side Of bacon.
ana 90 top or fA.S lle secured Fl sack
of ao4r IT. made g heavy burden. but
his long sleep bad restored him 90 his
Tolted strength, and he could not be
sure but this trip to the wagon would
-t+--+ -'-
h05sred the doz 10 bis berculean slou.-
azF. and sraspiu= spade and app az
.s MS a-7easa7ed haaa. Toi-ed upward
20 his asylum.
On another "trip he brought mat
Tass blankets and dishes
1lea ne was beginning TO feel the
WEAKNESS OF me morning return. and
me -oa0 Fliai e.eane7 out the wagon
bed left linn SO exhausted Ehat be tel.
down On The ground beside the crer-ce, .
having thrown I'm his booty. Here,
Win ms gun al his side and . pistol .
TIC ms mana. he fa-l fa7F asleep.
be -ay Iaele IKE a 1aD or stone un-.
I'll some inner consciousness 6ezan .
7ea7 -A- at zoe door Of his senses. /
warning 451 tEaJ IN no great time the
moon would rise He started ap tn q .
state of dazed Hawiderment, staring
At the solemn stars the vague outlines
~ giant rocks about him and the linn
Mess sea OF darkness mat flowed away (.
from me mountain top indicating. but
-'s 9e4l--.= me s4lE'4H olh@ nTal1e-
Fal up from aere- wilcox com
E4a-GeL EtU-Eelf. lie GEaTpG ra frar F.