Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-12

CHAPTER xXII-CContlnued).
EiINALLY II occurred to him to look NJ
j. and there above him he saw through
round opening a tiny circular patch o
starry sky. Feeling UP along the sides o
the shaft as far as he could reach, tn,
ape-nian discovered that SO much of th
wall as he could feel converged towart
the centre OF the shaft as Il rose. Thi
fact precluded possibility OF escape II
that direction
As he sat speeulatlng on the nature anc
uses OF this strange passage and it's ter
minal shaft the moon topped the openinI
above, letting flood OF soft silvery ligh
Into the shadowy place. Instantly tn,
nature OF the shaft became apparent e
Tarzan. for far below him he saw tn,
shimmering surface of water. He haC
come upon an ancient well--but what wal
the purpose Of the connection between tht
we'll and the dungeon in which he had
been hidden7
As the moon crossed the opening OF the
shaft it's light flooded the whole interior
and then TArznn saw directly across from
him another opening In the opposite wall
He wondered II this might not be the
mouth Of a passage leading to possible
escape. II would be worth investigating,
at least and this he determined to do.
Quickly returning to the wall he had
demolished TO explore what lay beyond II,
he carried the stones into the passageway
and replaced them from that side. The
deep deposits OF dust which he had
noticed upon the blocks as he had first
removed them from the wall had con-
WINGED him that even II the present occu-
pants OF the ancient pile had knowledge
of this hidden passage they had made no
use OF II for perhaps generations.
The wall replaced. Tarzan turned to the
shaft which was some fifteen feet wide
at this point. To leap across the inter-
vening space was a small matter to the
ape-man. and a moment later he was pro-
seeding along a narrow tunnel, moving
cautiously for fear of being precipltated
into another shaft such as he had just
IroHsed.
He had advanced some hundred feet
when he came 10 a flight OF steps leading
downward into Stygian gloom. Some
twenty feet below, the level floor of the
tunnel recommended. and shortly after
ward his progress was stopped by a heavy
wooden door which was secured by mas
Blve wooden bars upon the side of Tar
Ean's approach This fact suggested TO
the ape-man that he might surely be in
passasewa leading to the outer world.
for the belts, barring progress from the
opposite side. tended to substantlate this
hypothesis. unless II were merely prison
TO which Il led
layers OF dust-a further Indication that
the passage had lain long unused. AS he
pushed the massive obstacle aside. It's
great hinges shrieked out In weird protest
against this unaccustomed disturbance
For a moment Tarzan paused TO listen
for any responsive note which might in
dicnte that the unusual night noise had
alarmed the inmates of the temple; but
as he heard nothing he advanced beyond
the doorway.
Carefully feeling about. he found him
self within a large chamber, along the
walls Of which. and down the length OF
The floor. were piled many tiers of metal
Ingots of an odd though uniform shape.
70 his cropping hands they felt not unlike
Double e-headed hootjacks The ingots were
heavy. and but for the enormus number
Il them he would have been positive that
hey were gold: but the thought Of the
'hbulous wealth these thousands of
pounds OF metal would have represented
we're they In reality gold almost con-
'inced him that they must be some baser
METAL
AZ the far end OF the chamber he dis
covered another barred door. and again
he bars upon the inside renewed the
lone that he was traversing an ancient
nd forgotten passageway to liberty, Be
Iond the door the passage ran straight as
war spear, and Il soon became evident
o the ape-man that Il had already lea
lim beyond the outer walls OF the temple.
Z he but knew the direction Il WAS lead
NJ him. II toward the west. then he
must be beyond the city's outer walls.
With increasing hopes he forged ahead
e rapidly as he dared. until at the end
lf half an hour he came 70 anothe flight
lf steps leading upward. Al the bottom
bits night was concrete. but as he as
ended his naked feet felt a sudden
hange IN The substance they were tread
lg The steps OF eoneTete had given way
3 steps OF granite. Feeling with his
ands. the ape-man discovered that these
liter were evidently hewed from rock,
oT there vas no crack "a indicate joint.
FOR a hundred feet the steps wound
.,il alls so until - sudden turning
afsan came into q narrow cleft between
~ raeky walls. Above him Ehone the
,alry slfg and before him a steep incline |
sr aced the steps that had terminated |
/ its foot Up 20 this pathway Tarzan
esteHed. and ne upper end came out |
pom ne rough top Of a huge granite
"A mlls away lay The ruined city Of Opar, /
o doaes and turrefs bathsd in the soft /
ett q fhe equatorial moon Tarzan /
lopped his eyes q The insot be had 1
rculHf aHaF WITH him. For d moment !
6 esamEaasl q by the moons bright rays I
iel he raised his head 10 look upon the 4
ncienf piles Of ciumbllhs srandeur n the /
'ffnnfe
oraf he unused. Opal the enchanted /
f1 y aead ana forgotten past Ihe I
fF 81 fha teautles and the heasta city
horrors ani dtsihs hat-city 81 fabu-
lf ,ehza fhe iueql yes of virgin gold.
hf taaltef or which TarEan found
ias sell out ia the plain between I
aaa ihe distant eilns he aud his
af4Iols had seaisd the mornius
fIe - DESCEND g rough ana pre-
|Iola aee ne4 task ~ indeHaite
ana considerable neFl even - tie
- 81 .asi - leii ina aofI soii
h feel ana eIEa
seq Nee ar ~ taEaed