Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-29
CHAPTER NNuI
THE WHITE uARUAHIANa

| IATATMTH. wetnoss and knowledge OF
| w great wcalgncBs-ihese. Joined with a
| singular lassitudr oppression Of the lungs
and stihing OF the breath, were Allan stern
sensations when conscious life returned
Pain there was az we'll illu body fell
sorely bruised and shaken. His iTat thought.
| his intense yeRrning wonder for the glrl'a
/ welfare and his aiCkcning fear lest she he
| dead. mingled with some attempt 10 analyZs
| his own suffering 10 learn. IN possible. what
damage he had taken IN fie8h and bone
lie tried to move, but found no could
not. Even lying inert, as no now found
| himself, so great was the cxertion 10 breathe
that only by a fight could no keep the
breath Of life In his shaken frame,
he opened his eyes.
Light Could II be2 Light In that place
Yes, the light was real, and Il was shin
Ing directly In hlH face
AZ frst all that HIS disturbed. half-deliri-
Gus vision could make out was confused
glare. But In n moment this resolved itself
into smoking, blazing cresset Stern
could now distinctly see the metal bands OF
the hro-basket In which Il lay as well as
supporting stan, about Ave feet long that
seemed 10 vanish downward In the gloom
And understanding nothing. filed with
vague. half-ins8no hallucinations and Wild
wonders. he tried 10 struggle upward with
a bahbling cry;
"Bear.ce oh. Beatrlce-whero are
you"
To his intense astonishment. human
hand blush In the strange glare. laid it.
self upon his breast and pushed him down
again
Above him he saw face. wrinkled,
bearded and Bhastly blue, And as he
struggled stlll he perceived by the unsarth-
- light that ngure was bending over him
"A man! 2" he gulped. Man Man Oh
my God AZ last--a man 70
He tried 10 raise himself upon HIS elbow,
for his whole soul was flooded with a sud
den gratitude and love and Joy In presence
% that lOng-sOught goal but Instantly.
as soon a. his dazod senses could convey
he terrible Impression to his brain his Joy
was euTdied into blank astoGishment ana
fear ana grief
For 10 his intense ehagrin. strive as he
might, he could move neither hand nor
foot
During his Inconsistencies. which had
lasted no could not tell how long. he had
been securely bound And now. awaken
Ing slowly. once more lighting his way up
into consciousness. he found himself pris-
oneri
prisoner with whomg Among what
peopla-with what purposaf After the long
qusN. the friEhtful hardahipa and the tfe-
mendous fall into the abyss. q prisoner
"Merciful God ?" groaued Stern and In
his audden anguish strained against the
bonds that drawn tight and fast were al
ready cutting painfully into his swollen.
flesh
Ia vain did he struggie. Terrible thoughts /
that Beatrice TOO. might b. subjected 10 /
this peril and humiliation branded them- /
selves upon his brain He shouted wildly
calling her name, With al the force of his /
spent lungs bat nausht avalied There |
came no answer but the shroudins foKa
The strange man bent above him. naer- |
ne from beneath wrinkied brQwa stern
heard q few words la 3 singular. cultural 4
.7ne--words rendered dull by the high COM /
lression ~ the sir. Wkaf The Wofda might 4
= ~ could not tell. yet thsir gener-l s5and 1
seemed strangely famiilaf aud tneif eom- 4
a4na W4a Lndatitabia
aat siiil haif 4ellr|gaa siarn tried as4iu I