The Monticellonian., 1919-10-24

lihe tue inner room 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 hade each other good night and re 1 tired. There being no bed OF bunk in Johns room, he spread blanket upon the floor, and bringing a saddle for d i pillow, stretched himself for the night. l Twenty minutes later he was sleeping peacefully.
 The hour of midnight came and si- lence brooded close over the camp. The deer ef Mergans room quietly opened and the plotter crept out. to be joined moment later hy Spider and the mine boss, otherwise the fake Doctor Fream. Passing to the back of the house they disclosed the eH- trance to a deep cellar which ran inn mediately under the middle e0mpart- ment of the house wherein John Was deep in slumber, and into this hole they disappeared.
 
 you came" whispered Bella7 as they were safely underground. "She works as slick as grease and without sound. Lighting 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 simple lowering and hoistng arrange ment connected with the ceiling above which also composed the floor of tho sleeping mans room The Spider talk ing hold of one of these wheels and Morgan the other, they began fettin@ fhem slowly unwind As they did so the floor upon which John Lay sank foot hX foot into the cellar until it came to rest on the eafthen floor So slow and silent had been the process that the weary slumberer had not awakened
 With T spring the three were Upon him. Caught asleep and covered hy his blanket he was half stifled and hound before he Was fairly awake, and before he could gain his breath q gag WAS placed in his mouth and q sack drawn over his head. Then laying him aside, the floor was hoisted back into place and securely propped from be- low. leaving no sign that it had ever heen tempered with which could be observed by anyone who should now enter the room above.
 By the first morning light Ethel aWoke Hastily dressing herself for the day. she went 10 the door of Davis room and knocked. There was no re- sponse- and she repeated her tapping, louder this time. There still being no ansW :, and feeling assured that he already had arisen and gone out, she opened the door little way and peeped in. The room was empty. As she turned away she encountered M0r- gan. just arisen, yawning sleepily and in the act of going to the basin outside for his morning wash. She aecosted 1 him.
 Where is John?"
 "Haven't seen him yet Miss Ethel. In fact I just this minute rolled out. If he isn't in his room you'll find him somewhere around camp But when breakfast had been eaten and still no l Davis, all admitted that it had begun to look queer. An examination of his room revealing nothing, Morgan sug- gested that he probably had seen q 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 him. That is all we can do just now" Ethel. secretly protesting, was com pelled to admit that it would be folly for the whole party to remain behind and await the return of one man. Leaving the pair named by Morgan to finger about the place until the van iShed one came back from his hunt, the remainder of the party continued it's way into the mountains and toward the mne That Rainface had disap- peared worried Ethel but little. She knew the Indian and his strange, silent ways, and felt suresthat he would re turn unerringly home whenever the mood came upon him.
 As the departing party wended it's way out of sight around bend in the trail the boss and his helper got upon their feet.
 Well wander around fer while, then slowly follow the bunch and catch up with them tonight at the mine We can tell them that We wait ed all day and no signs of him. and let them do what they like" announced Fream. Mounting their horses they went riding leiSurely away,
 In the cellar John had once more managed to free himself by means of the secret knife which he carried con cealed in his wastbaud. This done, he emerged from the pit, and mo- ment's inspection showing him that the party had left, he took foot trail that led in the direction of the mine. A mile further on he came to ! house. where he rapped at,the door. A woman opened it. Briefly he told her who Ire was. adding that an accident had sepa- rated him from his party and asked for the loan of horse and some ~eaPanss
 My man has gone to town, but yoH