Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-03
THE GHDED MAN
By CLIFFORD SNYTH

OF opinions; but how to act on Miranda's
obviously excellent plan was not clear. II
they got on their feet again they would prob
ably be shot-and even If the enemy failed to
brlng them down right away, they could not
make up their minds in which direction TO
make their escape. To retrace their steps
INTO the depths of the outer cave would bring
them between two ires. and. aside from other
tragic possibilities, would certainly arouse
the suspicious of Anitoo and his cavemen
To seek safety in the other direction, to pass
within the section of the cave guarded by the
condor Gate. was to court unknown danger
IN region that loomed dark and mysterious
enough. II was the latter course, however,
that Miranda chose.
This Anitoo take us to his queen" he
argued. Perhaps she is good woman 1t
is better we go alone. Senor Anitoo. he come
after"
So they made up their minds to set out at
once in search of this unknown queen She
might. or might not. be friendly But any
way. she would be better than lying on one $
stomach between two opposing rows of fight
ing men. Luckily for the carrying out of their
plan. they had extingushed their torches
They were thus in comparative darkness
hidden alike from friend and foe Indeed
II any one had been able to see them in their
present PROSTATE position they would have
been taken for dead. and escaped further
notice. This view OF the situation becoming
clear to Miranda. he cautiously raised his
head and peered into the darkness before
him, A few feet farther on he could dimly
make out the body of.the huge caveman who
had fallen before his revolver a few moments
ago-and at the side Of the caveman Law his
victim. General Herran. The sight stirred
Mirandas grief for the loss Of his friend to
fresh outburst, leading him to abandon,
with one or those'impulsive changes charac-
teristic of him. his plans for escape
"Ah. Caramba :" he walled, with the
nearest approach to tears he had ever been
guilty of; he was one great hero He was a
man ! not leave him 4! He die for me -
And then he fell to stroking his friends
face-wet from the blood pouring from bis
wounds as he supposed-caressing him
somewhat roughly, indeed in the Sehemence
of his grief, and absent -mindedly tugging at
his great beard, he had so often seen the
General do himself. The more he Wondered
his loss. the more doleful II appeared to him i.
and this feeling grew until he reached such
a pitch of pathos that he resolved never to
leave Herran. dead or alive. Better To die
right there with him. he said. than to aban
don his mortal remains to the canaille who
had killed him.
These lamentations and mea ncholy vows
however. aroused some feeble objections
among Mirandas companions who were
growing restless in their uncomfortable po-
sitions. and relief In the idea Of
staying indefinitely where they we're Bur
Miranda paid no heed to what they said
except to growl out an expetiVe or two he
tween his walls of grief. and to stroke his
fallen hero's face with an increased vieor
of affection. And then, in the midst OF this
lugubrous occupation. he suddenly jumped
to his feet, regardless of whatever lurking
enemy there might be near him, and started
capering around Herran's body
This hero. he Is not dead" he cried in a
sort of whispered ecstasy. when | rub tho
nose of hm-Caramba he try to breat the
And he cough and say some words In
Spanish"