The Arizona copper camp., 1920-11-20

way was Qdrk, except Tor the little
bars of light streaming out through
the Sits in the stone above the cell
doors. These, however, were sufficient
to convince Cavendish that no guards
were in the immediate neighborhood.
He felt the grip of the girls fingers on
his coat, and reached back to clasp her
hand.
"All clear" he whispered. Hurry,
and let's get this door closed"
They advanced slowly, keeping
closely against the wall, and testing
the floor cautiously before venturing
q step. A few yards plunged them
into total darkness, and, although
Cavendish had been conducted along
there a prisoner, he retained small
recollection of the nature of the pas
sage.
Their progress was slow but silent,
neither venturing to exchange speech,
but with ears anxiously strained to
catch the least sound. Stella was
conscious of the loud beating of ner
heart, the slight rasping Of Cavendish's
feet on the rock floor. The slightest
noise seemed magnified. The grade
rose sharply, until it became almost
climb, yet the floor had evidently
been leveled, and there were no OBJ
structionS to add to the difficulty of
advance. Then the passage swerved
rather sharply to the right, and Cav
endish leading, halted to peer about
the corner. An instant they both re-
mained motio1less, and then, seeing
and hearing nothing, she could re-
strain her impatience no longer.
''What is it?" she questioned. SIS
there something wrong"
He reached back and drew her
closer, without answering, until her
eyes also were able to look around
the sharp edge of rock. Far away, it
seemed a long distance up that mar
row tunnel, a lantern glOwed DULY,
the light so dim and Pickering as to
scarcely reveal even it's immediate.
surroundings; yet from that distance,
her eyes accustomed to the dense
SAOOlll, SllG COulu U1ol1 CAOuSh W
quicken her breathing and cause her
to clutch the sleeve of her companion.
The lantern occupied a niche in the
side wall at the bottom of flight of
rude steps. Not more than half
dozen of these were revealed, but at
their foot, where the passage had been
widened somewhat, extended stone
bench on which Iounged two men.
Even in that dim light the two were
clearly Mexican.
''What shall we do?" she asked, her
lips at Cavendish's ear. ''We cannot
pass them-they are on guard
II was wondering how close I could
Green in. before they saw me-" he an
swered, using the same caution. 'If
1 was only sure they were alone, and
could once get the drop, we might
make it."
Even if you succeeded in overaw-
ing these two, we would have no way
of securing them. An alarm would
be given before we could get beyond
reach. Our only hope of escape lies
in getting out of here unseen"
"Yes, and before Cateras is discov-
cred"
''Then, let's go back and try the 9th
er way out" she urged. '"That opens
directly into the valley and is prob
ably not guarded. What is happening
DowY
A gray gleam of light struck the
steps from above, recognized instantly
as reflection of day, as though some
cover. had been uplifted connecting
this underground labyrinth with the
clear sky. A dim shadow touched the
illumined rocks for a brief moment,
a moving shadow uncertain in it's out
lines, grotesque, shapeless; and then
the daylight vanished as suddenly as
it dawned. The two guards below
came to their feet, rigid in the glow
of the lantern, their faces turned up
ward. Then man came slowly down
the last few steps and Joined them.