Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-09-18

1t was decided that the girl should
take the inner OF the house,
John the second and Morgan the Out.
side rOom. The Spider was to sleep
with the men In the auxiliary shacks.
This arranged and all being tired from
the strenuous day just passed, they
babe each other good night and re-
tired. There being no bed or bunk In
Johns room, he spread a blanket upon
the floor. and bringing a saddle for a
pillow. stretched himself for the night
Twenty minutes later he was sleeping
peacefully.
The hour of midnight came and 81
lence brOOded close over the camp.
The door Of Morgan's room quietly
opened and the plOtter crept out, to be
Joined u moment later by Spider and
the mine boss. otherwise the fake
doctor" Fream. Passing to the back
of the house they disclosed the ell
trance to a deep cellar which ran i'm.
mediately under the middle cOmpart-
ment Of the house wherein John was
deep in slumber, and into this hole
they disappeared.
II arranged 1t this afternoon before
you came" whispered Bellns as they
were safely underground. "She works
as slick as grease and without a
Lighting a lantern he led the
way to the cellar. on the sides of which
were revealed two wheels with ropes
wound about them and which led to a
lowering and hosting. arrange.
ment connected with the ceiling above.
which also composed the floor Of the
sleeping mans room. The Spider TAX.
ing hold of one of these wheels and
Morgan the other, they began letting
them slowly unwind. AS they did so
the floor upon which John lay sank
foot by foot into the cellar until it
came to a rest on the earthen floor. So
slow and silent had been the process
that the weary slumberer had not
With a spring the three were upon
him. Caught asleep and covered by
blanket he was half stifled and
bound before he was fairly awake, and
before he could gain his breath a gag
WINS placed in his mouth and a sack
drawn over his head. Then laying him
aside, the floor was holsted back into
place and securely prOpped from be-
low, leaving no sign that it had ever
been tempered with which could be
observed by anyone who should now
the room above.
BY the first morning light Ethel
Hastily dressing herself for
the day, she went to the door Of Davis
and knocked. There was no re-
Spouse and she repeated her tapping,
louder this time. There still being no
:. and feeling assured that he
already had arisen and gone out, she
opened the door a little way and
peeped In. The room was empty. As
she turned away she encountered Nor
just arisen, yawning sleepily and
In the act Of going to the basin outside
for his morning wash. She accosted
him.
where Is JOhnT
Haven't seen him yet, Miss Ethel.
In fact l just this minute rolled out.
II he isn't In his room you'll find him
somewhere around camp" But when
breakfast had been eaten and still no
all admitted that it had begun
to look queer. An examination Of his
room revealing nothing, Morgan sug-
that he probably had seen n
deer and was stalking It In the hills.
Anyway. We have got to get these
men on their way and start them at
work, so we will go along, leaving the
boss and one Of his men to wait for
That Is all we can do just now"
Ethel, secretly protesting, was COM
PEELED to admit that 1t would be folly
for the whole party to remain behind
md await the return Of II man.
Leaving the pair named by Morgan to
lInger about the place until the van.
lshed one came back from his hunt,
the remainder Of the party continued
Its way into the mountains and toward
The mine. That Rainface had disap.
worried Ethel but little. She
knew the Indian and his strange, silent
ways, and felt suresthat he would re-
turn u%nerrlngly home whenever the
mood came upon him.
As the departing party wendell It's
way out Of sight around a bend In the
trail the boss and his helper got upon
heir feet.
We'll wander around for a while,
hen slowly follow the bunch and
catch up with them tonight at the
nine. We can tell them that we wait
I'd all day and no signs Of him, and let
do what they like" announced
Mounting their horses they
vent riding ~leisurely away.
In the cellar. John had once more
managed to free himself by means Of
he secret knife which he carried con.
,ealed In his waistband. This done,
,e emerged from the pit, and u no.
nent's inspection showing him that
he party had left, he took a foot trail
hat led In the direction Of the mine.
I mile further on he came to.a house,
vhere he raped atsthe door. A woman
1t. Briefly he told her who he
vas, adding that an accident had sepa-
ated him from his party and asked for
he loan Of a horse and some weapons.
my man has gone to town, but you