The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-12
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.. HIS LAST MATCH s..
BY ISABEL FROST.


The professor had noticed his fell
low travellers but slightly on the trip
to the caves from his hotel at Staun-
ton. He was deep in a description Of
the famous caverns, and making notes
OF special features he was anxious to
see.
Another thing, the professor was not
susceptible to feminine influence, how
ever proximitous. He had been q
guest at the Mountain View hotel for
five weeks, jaunting hither and yon on
his research work, and never had even
the suspicion Of romance crossed his
path; but just as they reached the end
of the road leading to the caves he had
closed his notebook. placed it in his
inner pocket and glanced up to meet
the most interesting eyes he had ever
seen, gazing at him Questioningly.
There were two persons before him
the owner Of the eyes and her COM
panion, evidently a relative. The first
was about twenty, her travelling suit
was a dark brown linen, her hat of
close brown straw, her waist Of pom
gee and her eyes and hair were brown.
Her companion, the professor noted
hastily, was somewhere in the uncer-
tain years OF spinsterhood.
At the entrance to the caves the two
went ahead, as the professor fingered,
lured by the printed description in the
guide-books for sale at the door.
The professor received his torch and
tucked it under his arm, absent-mind
eddy, quite as If it had been a baton.
He ignored the little box Of safety
matches held out by the man, and
made way into the caves jubilantly.
Far in advance rambled Mollie and
Miss Annabel. It was Mollie's first
trip in vacation time; in fact, it was
her first year as teacher, and now
instead Of keeping her mind firmly on
Miss Annabels dissertation on stag
malites and stalactytes, she was Won
dering whether every one was inter-
ested In such things, whether that nice
blond boy with the eyeglasses who had
sat opposite to them In the stage really
and truly enjoyed going through
caves on midsummer day.
She hardly caught what Miss Anna
bel was saying when all at once the
lights went out and they were in pitch
darkness.
'Thank goodness we have our
torches !" exclaimed Miss Annabel
thankfully. BE careful where you
step. The bottomless lake is just be-
yond us-or was 1t the pool Of the
Gnomes? Do you remember, Mollie"
II don't remember anything" re-
piled Mollie desperately, "and / haven't
any matches. What do you suppose
has happened?"
Just then guides voice sounded
far at the end Of the cavern. Some
thing had happened at the power
plant. The lights would be turned on
at any instant. Every one was to stay
on the exact spot where they were and
move at their own peril. Even as he
said this there came splash. Not
loud one, but just as II stone had
been tossed into the lake, and then
voice almost within a few feet Of
them.
"It's all right" said the professor,
ut was my match safe. I was nerv-
Gus, and 1t fell from my hands, but
I've one last match left. I think Wen
have to risk 1t for our torches"
Haven't you any paperT asked
Miss Annabel sharply. 1--WE could
twist tapers and conserve the light
supply in this way"
The professor shuddered. He had
only his notebook, filled with precious
data for several magazine articles. He
struck the match as a last hope, and
1t caught the pitch-dipped tow on the
end Of his torch. The flare Of light re-
vealed the two on the rocks below him.
The lights failed to go up, and
guides came through the caverns to