Washington telegraph., 1921-02-25

~ ''t' JUS lla't, lulumluE
1t there with all his strength. until a
sharp click convinced him the punch
con again was securely held. They
were alone, lsolated. i'm the black
depths, underneath the burning cabin.
buried deep in the protecting earth.
He reached bllndly out through the
darkness until he touched her. his fin
gers closing cOnvulsively on fold of
her dress. In the sudden reactIon he
felt as weak as child, unable even
to control his speech.
ut was God who helped us" he said
humbly' no one else could. You are
sure, Olga, you are unhurtY"
II must he bruised, l suppose: It
was an ugly fall, and-and really
think lost consciousness at first.
Then ] seemed to hear YOU call me a
long ways on Is the cabin afire?"
yes; those devils started il at the
rear. You can hear the wood crackle
even down here, and we must get far
ther back out Of the way When the
roof falls this part Of the floor may
cave IN also"
In spite Of the increasing volume Of
flames above, scarcely a gllmmer of
red light succeeded in penetrating to
where they were hidden. A very
slight glow found entrance through a
narrow crack above them. vet shelby
was compelled TO learn their immedl-
ate surroundings more by sense of
touch than sight
They were in a mere hole scooped
out from the soft earth, hardly wider
than the trap door which led TO II. the
other puncheOns Of the cabin floor
resting solidly upon the ground. Shell
by Leading the way, feeling his pas
sage along inch by inch, was suddenly
halted by an par.h barrier which
seemingly blocked all further progress.
He could feel that Il did not wholly
reach the top, leaving a space there
through which It might be possible to
crawl. Yet what would there be be-
yond2 Why should they venture fur
ther at present? Laud was outside
with his Indians, the whole scene lit
up with---sRes Of flames. They
dare not venture 10 expose them
selves. Here they were beyond reach,
protected from both flames and saw
ages. Unless some among those as
sailan-Tv the existence of this
tunnel or accidentally stumbled upon
It's outer entrance, they could scarcely
be exposed Even If one or two found
their way in, this barrier Of earth
would block them, and, If necessary,
form the best possible defense. Con
iident that they had perished, and that
their charred bodies were lying in the
midst OF the still smoking embers Of
the cabin, there would be no guard
watching for an attempt at escape lie
reached out and grasped her hand,
drawing her down beside him.
What is it?" she asked in a wills
per.
"A fall of earth nearly blocking the
passage" he explained. 81 have no
idea where the tunnel leads to, and,
II I did, we would never dare creep
out into the open at present"
"You-you think we had better re
main hereT" doubtfully.
Until the fire dies down; perhaps
even longer. Let them believe we died
in the cabin; then there may he some
chance for us to get away"
''But they will search the ruinsY
mot for some time; those logs will
be glowing embers for hours. That
sounded like the roof falling In then.
It wNs-see 1t has crushed its way
down through the floor There is a
caldron of fire in that hole we Just
left. but it can't reach us here-only
the smoke"
"Wlll 1t not show them where we
have gomez"
81 hope not; probably the smoking.
blazing timbers will choke up the
opening, leaving it so filed with part
Iy burned wood as to conceal It entire
Iy. Anyhow, this is our one chance.
We would be shot down mercllessly
outside
The glare from the burning rubbish
revealed their faces, and the smoke
began to swirl past them in clouds,
yet did not choke the tunnel, showing
there must be an opening somewhere
beyond to the outside. Shelby fast
aned his neckerchief over the girls
nose and mouth, and protected her, as
wen ms himself, by means Of his coat.
Scarcely conscious Of the action they
sat thus, their hands clasped. gazing
At the leaping figures of fame. and
listening TO the variety Of noises
reaching their ears. The position.
while one OF broo9irE horror. did not
apparently involve Immediate peril.
The flames could not reach them. and
{ was already evident that those
lensn Volumes Of smoke. while dis
.greaahle and suffocating. could still
b, endured. But being cooped up
here in that hole underground, un-
.ble to venture forth. choked by the
umes. their faces smarting from the
Ieat. the earth walls holding them in
,rlson death waiting for them which
.vcr way they turned. brought a
train TO Olga she could no longer