The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-14

sued ana former battles with foes TO
enable others to escape.
tuTed. Henry ana Jsns Descend into
pit to play q strange game FraneiS
hnds custodian Of pirate treasure. They
fall into trap.
Leoncia advanced gravely and
kicked at q decaying deposit OF
leaves and twigs evidently blown
there by tropic gales.
Then the mouth ought to be
where a mouth belongs, here under
the nose" she said.
In a trice Henry and Francis had
kicked the rubbish aside and ex-
posed an opening too small to admit
a mans body. 1t was patent that
the rock-slide had partly blocked
the way. A few rocks heaved aside
gave space for Francis to insert his
head and shoulders and gaze about
with a lighted match.
Look out for snakes" warned
Leoncia.-
Francis grunted acknowledgment.
and reported:
This is not a natural cavern.
It's all hewn rock, and we'll done,
IL I'm any Judge" A muttered ex-
pIetive announced the burning OF
his fingers by the expiring match
stub. And next they heard his
voice in accents OF surprise: Don't
need any matches. It's got a light
ing system Of its own-from some
where above-regular home goers.
wouldn't be surprised il we found
an elevator. hot and cold water
furnace and a Swede janitor. Well
so long"
His trunk and legs and feet dis-
appeared, and then his voice issued
forth:
Come on in. The cave is fine"
And aren't you glad you let me
come along Jeoncia tWittered. as
she Joined the two men on the level
floor OF tie rock-hewn chamber,
where their eyes, quickly accustom-
ing to the mysterious gray percola-
ton OF daylight, they could see
next, the mouth. II 1 hadn't been
along, most likely by this time
you'd have been a mile away,
going around the cliff and going
farther and farther every step you
took.
but the place Is bare as old
Mother Hubbard's cupboard" she
added the next moment.
Naturally" said Henry. This
is only the ante-chamber. Not so
silly would the Mayas hide the
treasure the conquistadOres were
so mad after. I'm willing to wag-
er right now that we're almost as
far from finding the actual treas
ure as we would be if We were not
here but in San Antonio"
Like the Egypt1ans.
Twelve or fifteen feet in width
and OF an unascertainable height,
the passage led them. what Henry
judged, forty PAGES, or well over .
hundred feet Then it abruptly
narrowed, turned at a right angle
to the right, and, with q similar
right angle to the left, made an ell
bow into another spacious chamber.
Still the mysterious percolation
of daylight guided the way for their
eyes, and Francis, in the lead,
stopped so suddenly that Leoncia
and Henry, in single fle behind,
collided with him. Leoncia. in the
center, and Henry on her left, they
stood abreast, and gaZed down a
long avenue OF humans, long dead,
but not dust.
Like the Egyptians, the Mayas
knew embalming and mummifying,"
Henry said, his voice unconsciously
sinking to a whisper in the pres
ence of so many unburied dead, who
stood erect and at gaze, as If still
alive
All were European-clad and all
exposed the impassive faces OF Eu-
ropeans. About them, as to the life,
were draped the ages-rotten habili-
ments OF the conquistadores and of
the English pirates. Two OF them,
with Visors raised, were encased in
rusty armor. Their swords and cut
lasses were belted to them or held
in their shriveled hands, and through
their belts were thrust huge flint
lock pistols of archaic model.
The old Maya was right" Fran
els whispered. They've decorated
the hiding with their mortal re-
mains and been stuck up in the lob
by as a warning to trespassers.
Say! II that chap isn't a real her
ian. I'll bet he played haislai. and
his fathers before him."
And that's a Devonshire man il
ever 1 saw one" Henry whispered
back. Perforated dimes to pieces of
eight that he poached the falIow
deer and fed the kings wrath in
the first forecastle for the Spanish
Main"
"Br-r-r!" Leoncia shivered, cling
ing to both men. The sacred
things OF the Mayas are deadly and
CHASTITY. And there is a classic VEN
geance about il. The would-be rob-
bers of the treasure-house have be-
come its defenders, guarding Il with
their unperishing clay"
They were loath to proceed. The
garmented specters of the ancient
dead held them temporarily SPELL
bound. Henry grew melodramatic
Even to this far. mad place." he