The Lamar register., 1920-06-09
CHAPTER xi.
The Cave In the Cliff.

The Cave IN the Gin.
Dazed. helpless, yet continuing to
struggle futilely, Stella realized little
except giving a glance at the hated
faces of her captors. What occurred
was not clear to her mind; but sud
denly what appeared to be an open
fireplace seemed to swing aside. leav
ing revealed Il great black opening in
the rock To the leutenant's snnrl of
command. one of the men released his
grip Of her arm, and lit lantern
which he took from nearby shelf,
The dim flicker Of light penetrated
Jew feet into the dark hole. only sery.
ing to render the opening more grim
and sinister. The girl shrank back,
but the fellow still holding her tight
cned his grip. Cateras' thin lips
smiled. and he bowed. hat In hand,
hatetulIy polite.
Go ahead with the light, Silva: not
too fast my man; the room beyond the
senors. Now, Merodez, release the
girl.
"Ah. 50 you can stand alone. senor-
ita: that is well. Step In here. ahead
of me. and follow the Iantern-there
is nothing to fear"
She hesltated. and the smile on the
dexican's lips changed into cruel
grin.
"Shall | make you againr'
'No. senor"
"Then you will do as / bid"
ayes, senior; I cannot resist"
The passage was clean and dry. and
seemed to lead directly back into the
cliff. The faint light revealed the side
walls and low roof. and the girl. again
partially mistress OF herself. recog-
nized the nature of the rock to he lime
stone.
Her view was limited to the slight
radius illumlned by the lantern, and
even within that small area, her own
shadow. and those OF the three men,
helped render everything indistinct.
They had turned a sharp corner. and
advanced Il few feet beyond when the
man with the lantern stopped sudden
~, and held II up to permit the light to
stream full or the exposed wall to the
right. Another of these odd slits Ia the
rock was visible here. and the girl was
able to perceive more clearly Its nature
beyond question 1t was an artificial
opening leading into a space on the
farther side Of the wall. Cateras push
ed past the girl, his body interfering
with her view. and bent down. FUN
bling along the rock surface.
"Hold the light Closer" he command
ed. AYE, that's 1t. 'Tis some trick
to find the thing All now have it"
1t seemed like bit of wood, so re-
sembllng the color Of the rock as to
be practically imperceptible to the eye
in that dim light-a bit Of wood which
slid back to reveal a heavy iron bolt.
shot firmly into the stone. This the
yawned in the side wall. the rays Of
the lantern revealing the Interior of a
black cave. Cateras stepped within.
Bring the woman" he commanded
shortly. 'and you, Merodez. see first
to the light"
Silva thrust her forward, his grip
no light one. while the other struck a
match and applied II to the wick Of a
lamp occupying a bracket beside the
doorway. AS this caught the full In
terror was revealed beneath the sickly
glow, a cell-like place, although Of a
fair size. unfurnIshed except for a
rude bench, and one three-legged stool,
the floor of stone. and the sides and
roof apparently Of the same solid struc-
ture. II was gloomy, bare. horrible
in Its drearlness-a veritable grave.
The girl covered her face with her
hands. appalled, at the sight, unnerved
at the thought of being left alone In
such u place. Cateras saw the move