Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-02-27

depths of the well, he rose upon all
tours and commenced { diligent search
for the little tallow cylinder, which
now seemed infinitely more precious
TO him than all the fabulous wealth Of
the boarded ingots of Opal.
And when, at last, he found it, he
clasped it to him and sank back Sob
bing and exhausted. For many min
utes he lay trembling and broken; but
finally he drew himself to a sitting
posture. and with the light he found
it easier to regain control of his
nerves, and presently he was again
making his way along the tunnel in
search of an avenue of escape. The
horrid cry that had come down TO
him from above through the ancient
Well-Shaft still haunted him, so that
he trembled in terror at even the
sounds of his own cautious advance.
A long, dark corridor showed before
him, but before he had followed it far,
his candle burned down until 1t
sco~ched his fingers. With an oath he
dropped it TO the floor where it sput-
tered for moment and went out.
Slowly he CROPPED his way along,
feeling with his hands upon the tun-
nelS walls, and cautiously with his
feet ahead of him upon the floor be-
fore he would take a single forward
step. How long he crept on thus he
could not guess; but at last, feeling
that the tunnels length was inter
mAnable, and exhausted by his efforts
by terror, and loss of sleep, he deter
mined TO lie down and rest before pro-
ceeding farther.
When he awOke there was no change
in the surrounding blackness. He
might have slept second or a day
he could not know; but that he had
slept for some time was attested by
the fact that he felt refreshed and
hungry.
Again he commenced his cropping ad.
vance; but this time he had gone but a
short distance when he emerged into
a room, which was lighted through an
opening in the ceiling, from which a
flight of concrete steps led downward
to the floor of the chamber.
Above him, through the aperture.
Werper could see sunlight glancing
from massive columns, which were
twined about by clinging vines. He
listened; but he heard no sound.
Boldly he assembled the stairway, to
find himself in a circular court. Just
before him stood stone altar, stained
with rusty-brown discOlorations. At
the time Werper gave no thought I'D
an explanation of these stains-later
their origin became all too hideously
apparent to him.
Besides the opening in The floor. jusr
behind the altar, through which ha
had entered the court from the sub.
terranean chamber below, the Belgian
discovered several doors leading from
the Enclosure upon the level of the
floor. Above, and circling the court
yard, was a series of open balconies
Werper felt relieved. He sighed, us
though a great weight had been lifted
from his shoulders. He took step
toward one of the exits, and then he
halted, wide-eyed in establishment and
a dozen doors opened in The courtyard
wall and horde OF frightful men
rushed in upon him.
They were the priests of the Flaln-
ing God of Opar-the same shaggy.
knotted, hideous little raen who had
dragged Jane Clayton to the sacrifcial
altar at this very spot years before.
Their long arms, their short and
crooked legs, their closest, evil eyes,
and their low, receding foreheads gave
them bestial appearance that sent
qualm of paralyZing fright through the
shaken nerves of the Belgian.
With a scream he turned to flee back
into the lesser terrors of the gloomy
corridors and apartments from which
he had just emerged. but the frightful
rlnn anticipated his intentions. They
blocked the way; they seized him, and
though he fell, groveling upon his
knees before them, begging for his life,
they bound him and hurled him TO the
floor of the inner temple.
The priestesSes came, and with them |
La, the high yriestess. Werper was
raised and laid across the altar. Cold
sweat exuded from his every pore az
La raised the cruel, sacrifcial knife
above him. The death chant fell upon
his tortured ears. His staring eyes |
wandered to the golden goblets from
which the hideous votaries~ would soon
quench their inhuman6 thirst in his
own, warm life-bloOd.
He wished ~ lie might be granted
before the Re OF the keen |
blade IS frightfn;
roar i'm his ears. |