The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-09-10
CHAPTER ~.

l / SFIU9 6H I've
The Altar Of the Flaming God.
1t was at the moment that Tarzan
turned from the closed door to pursue
his way to the outer world. The thing
came without warning. One instant
ali was quiet and stability-the next,
; the world rocked, the tortured sides of
the narrow passageway spit and crum-
bled, great blocks of granite, dislodged
from the ceiling, tumbled into the mar
row way, choking 1t, and the walls
bent inward upon the wreckage. Be
meath the blow OF fragment OF the
roof, Tarzan staggered back against
! the door to the treasure room, his
weight pushed it open and his body
rolled inward upon the floor.
There was but the single shock, no
other followed to complete the dam
age undertaken by the first. Werper,
thrown to his length by the sudden
ness and violence of the disturbance.
staggered to his feet when he found
himself unhurt. Cropping his way to-
ward the far end of the chamber, he
sought the candle which Tarzan had
left stuck in its own wax upon the
protruding end of an ingot.
By striking numerous matches the
Belgian at last found what he sought,
and when, moment later, the sickly
rays relieved the Stygian darkness
| about him, he breathed nervous sigh
of relief for the impenetrable gloom
: had accentuated the terrors of his
situation.
AS they became accustomed to the
? light the man turned his eyes toward
3 the door--his one thought now was OF
J, escape from this frightful tomb-and
e as he did so he saw the body Of the
J. naked giant lying stretched upon the
e floor just within the doorway. Werpel
d drew back in sudden fear of detection
!, but second glance convinced hin
that the Erglishman was dead. From
I great cash in the mans head q poo
] Of blood had collected upon the con
crete floor.
i Quickly, the Belgian leaped over ths
\ PROSTATE form of his erstwhile host
| and without thought of succor fol-
| the man in whom. for aught he knew
l life still remained, he bolted for tht
passageway and safety.
But his renewed hopes were so0r
/ dashed. Juat beyond the doorway hi
| found the passage completely clogget
/ and chvked by impenetrable masses ol
| shattered rock. Once more he turned
i and re-entered the treasure vault. TAX
ing the candle from its place he com
! menced a systematic search of the
\ apartment. nor had he gone far before
1 he discovered another door in the op
\ posite end of the room, door which
gave upon creaking hinges to the
weight of his body. Beyond the dool
lay another narrow passageway. Alont
this Werper made his way. ascending
a flight of stone steps to another CORR
dor twenty feet above the level of the
4 first.
4 Before him was a circular shaft. He
d held the candle above it and peere(
downward. Below him, at great dis
tance. he saw the light reflected bach
from the surface of pool of water
It He had come upon a well. He raised
the candle above his head and peeret
across the black void. and there upor
e the opposite side he saw the continu
q alton of the tunnel; but how was he tt
e span the gulf?
n As he stood there measuring the dis
y tance to the opposite side and wonder
q ing if he dared venture SO great leap
g there broke suddenly upon his startled
ears a piercing scream which dimin
n ished gradually until it ended in {
y series of dismal moans-
Ell The Belgian shuddered and looked
d fearfully upward, for the scream hat
L. seemed to come from above him. Al
d he looked he saw an opening far over
n head, and patch of sky pinked will
% brilliant stars.
IT He listened fearfully, but the CT.
D. was not repeated, and at last spurree
to desperate means. he gathered him
II self for the leap across the chasm. Go
lg ing back twenty PAGES, he took run
IL. ming start, and at the edge of the well
le leaped upward and outward In an at
Sc tempt to gain the opposite side.
" In his hand he clutched the sput
IL terlng candle. and as he took the leal
le the rush of air extinguished 1t. Il
sd utter darkness he flew through space
u clutehing outward for hold shoul,
II his feet miss the invisible ledge.
e He struck the edge Of the floor o
III the opposite terminus of the rocky tun
mel with his knees, slipped backward
III clutched desperately for a moment
ct and at last hung half within and hal
ne without the opening; but he was safe
u Cautiously, he drew himself well with
IS in the tunnel, and again he lay at ful
III length upon the floor, fighting to re
gain control of his shattered nerves.
e'' When his knees struck the edge @