Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28

his way through the tunnel in the wake
of Perry Mason. the house was burn
ing hercely. Great parts OF the roo
crumbled In. and after ono particu'
z 1arly loud explosion mass Of wreckagt
= foil with roar on the walls OF the
concrete room In which lima and Harry
were about giving up the struggle fol
life in the steadily rising waters.
Before tho young people were aware
Z Of It the water had poured out, carry
ing them with 1t as IL rushed through
& a breach in the concrete. When they
came to they were lying against the
timbers that supported the gallery OF
the long. unused mine into which the
owner Of the house had retreated to
hide from the devastation he had In
aqEurated.
Harry Drake rubbed his eyes and
stared about him i,I the dark. 1t seemed
impossible that he was actually alive.
Suddenly he looked around: there be-
side him was lima, wet and showing
the effects OF the terrifying ordeal
through which she had passed. but
breathing and apparently unhurt
Tina! lima" called the young man.
Il She opened her eyes. Harry, is 1t
you? Where are we?"
as he saw that she was in reality only
a trifIe bruised he began TO whistle
cheerfully.
THAT was an escape! What do you
remember last? Weren't we drown
ing? i thought it was all over with
us; the last 1 seemed to see was tho
water closing over us. What do you
suppose happened?'
But lima could only shake her head
and thank Harry for his heroism in
holding her up when the waters began
to near the roof OF tho concrete room.
IF l ever catch that fellow" said
Harry.
Look" cried lima And following
the direction OF her pointing finger the
young man saw the subject of his i'm
precautions seated short distance
away, playing with n pistol by the light
of an electric torch which he had set
into the ground.
I've got him." cried Harry. starting
forward.
But lima seized his arm. wait a
minute" she whispered. Watch him.
There's something queer about him"
Sure enough. the former Perry Ma
SON seemed to have disappeared alto
sether The man who had planned the
terrible vengeance on the possessors Of
his secret was now acting like child
AS the two looked, he took from his
waistcoat pocket the pearl that had
been the cause of their present mis-
fortune and rolled IT along the ground
laughing meanwhile in silly gurgle
Hes lost his mind" said lima. Step
ping forward, she picked up the pearl
and then the torch. To the delight OF
both herself and Harry. the jewel
proved to be one Of the seven pearls
that once had foremd the Sultan's
! necklace.
Perry Mason looked on with fool
4 ish grin. lie showed no signs OF ro-
sentiment at being thus deprived of
his treasure. but played with the pistol
! regardless of danger.
Suddenly he pulled the trigger, q
shot reverberated through the gallery.
He looked amazed, and Harry made
haste to take the gun away.
Where are we?" he asked the star
ing Perry. The latter only shook his
head. Evidently there was no hope
OF getting any information from him.
Meanwhile. with lima. he felt the need
OF food. They wandered on, but only
to find that the gallery branched OF
of light. Evidently the unused mine
had been extensively worked at one
time, and the underground passages
stretched this way and that There
! was nothing to do after q while but
I rest The young man made his com
panion as comfortable as he could and
sank down beside her to snatch little
, sleep. Nearby Perry Mason leaned
oipct ,NiI1
land of dreams.
When the trio awaked it was day.
4 light in the outside world, but there
gallery was pitch dark. Harry was
slept on.
How do you account for him.
asked lima. pointing to the sleeping
: figure.
There's . bruise on his head.
suppose he was hit by piece OF tim
I Der or something" said Harry, and he
added with a smile: II can't say Am
Z sorry"
( faces came close together Harry
could not resist the impulse to kiss
& her, nor did the girl he had saved seem
/
q her appreciation. But. as before just
& before their lips met she started back
her eyes wide with terror. for. like ar
s omen. there appeared the Sultans dag
+ ger held in strong hand and standing
4 forth strongly in the light of torch
3 from the blsckness OF an adjoining
corner.
What is it?" cried Harry. Blu, lima
4 did not answer. The young man
stepped back. and Perry Mason opened
his eyes.
Come on" cried Harry roughly. Il
the man. We've got TO find some wa,
out Of this. or well starve TO death
! We must have slept all night. and il
ought to be about nine now"
Harry had made shrewd guess, ~
4 he proved by politely taking the watch
81 out Of Perry's pocket and winding II
y to make sure they had a check on The
y time. lima remained within speaking
distance while the two man explored
tfrzt.~