Charlevoix county herald., 1920-06-25
They Advanced Slowly, Keeping Close
Iy Against the Wall.

They Advanced Slowly, Keeping Close
Iy Against the Wall.
measures to outwit them, and we will
have to make desperate breaks to OBJ
tain our freedom"
The girl nodded.
'Mr. Cavendish." she said with wom-
anly courage. you will not find me
wanting. / am ready for anything,
even shooting. / do hope you're good
shot"
Cavendish smiled.
II have had some experience" he
said.
"Then," the girl added, "you had
better take the revolver"
"All right then; I'll go st, and you
follow as close as possible. There
mustn't be the slightest sound made"
Cavendish thrust his head cautious
ly through the door, the revolver
gripped in his hand; Miss Donovan
struggling TO keep her nerves steady,
touched the coat of her companion,
fearful Of being alone. The passage
way was dark, except for the little
bars of light streaming out through
the Sits In 1.-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
step. A few yards plunged them
into total darkness, and, although
Cavendish had been conducted along
there 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 her
heart, the slight rasplng Of Cavendish's
feet on the rock floor. The slightest
noise seemed magnified, The grade
rose sharply, until 1t became almost
a 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 Cay.
endish, leading, halted to- peer about
the corner. An instant they both re-
NAMED mOtionless, and then, seeing
and hearing nothing, she could re-
strain her impotence no longer.
"What is it?" she questioned. as
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, 1t
seemed long distance up that mar
row tunnel, a lantern glowed duly,
the light so dim and Pickering as to
scarcely reveal even Its immediate
surroundings; yet from that distance,
her eyes accustomed to the dense
gloom, she could distinguish enough to
quicken her breathing and cause her
to clutch the sleeve Of her companion.
The lantern occupied niche In the
side wall at the bottom Of a flight OF
rude steps. Not more than a half
dozen of these were revealed. but at
their foot, where the passage had been
widened somewhat, extended stone
bench on which lounged two men.
Even In that dim light the two were
clearly Mexican.
"What shall we dOr she asked, her
lips at Cavendish's ear ave cannot
pass them-they are on guard"
II was wondering how close 1 could
creep I'm before they saw me-" he an
swered, using the same caution. III
was only sure they were alone, and
could once get the drop, we might
make ii"
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"
Eyes, 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
nowT
A gray CLEAN Of light struck the
steps from above, recognized instantly
as a reflection of day, as though some
cover had been upllfted connecting
this underground labyrinth with the
clear sky. A dim shadow touched the
illumined rocks for brief moment,
a moving shadow uncertain In its out
lines, grotesque. shapeless; and then
the daylight vanished as suddenly as
II dawned. The two guards below
came to their feet, rigid in the glow