The Holbrook news., 1921-07-08

1 can get a few shots out there we'll block their little game. You hear"
 "Yes; think one or two are crawl ing closer through those weeds"
 Likely enough, young bucks who can't hold back; keep your eye on them, an let them have it, as soon as you are sure. Call out if you need me-"
 He groped his way as far as the in- ner door, helped by the almost contin- uous flash of the rifles outside; he had even crossed the threshold, his heart choking him as he perceived glare of red flame, already visible here and there through narrow chinks between the logs. Perhaps he was already too late-those devils had fired the cabin, the licking flames even then beginning to eat into the dry bark. He had no time in which to act, or even think. Before he might venture another step forward, Olga fired twice rapidly, the flare of her revolver lighting up the entire interior. What followed he scarcely knew; there was a sharp cry, the crash of the overturned bench, and the sound of body falling heavi- ly on the floor. A revolver went spin ming noisily across the room, and then all was still. and black once more.
 Shelby could see nothing; only the blurred memory of that single instant had scared itself on his brain. She had been shot-his wife; this girl he had learned to lovel Some stray shot from an Indian rife, fired blindly in the dark, had found fatal passage through that broken shutter. and struck her down. His first helpless daze changed into a rage of revenge, mingled with a wild yearning that he might yet find her alive.
 "OlgaI" he cried out, "Olga"
 There was no answer, no movement. All was black, soundless; even the rifle fire without had ceased. He dropped to his knees. and crept | forward, feeling along the floor with outstretched hands, dreading each in- stant to touch her body. Suddenly his searching fingers encountered an open ing in the puncheon floor.
 Shelby dared not move, except to feel downward into this mysterious opening. Yet he realized instantly what must have occurred-the miracle which had so swiftly disclosed this se- cret passage. The girl, in falling, had dislodged the very block in the floor she had been endeavoring so vainly to discover. It had suddenly swung downward to the heavy blow of her body, and she had fallen with it into the unknown darkness below. But was she dead, or alive? Had the fall stunned her? He drew himself to the very edge listening. What was down there? Macklin perhaps; the two bodies might be lying there together in common grave. But wait, some thing moved surelyl
 "Olga speak to mel"
 He couldn't restrain the agony with which he uttered the words. Fright ened as she was, dazed by the fall, scarcely conscious even yet, or able to actually comprehend what had oc- cured, his cry penetrated her mind, brought her back to life.
 "Yes, IT am here, Tom" she man. aged to say weakly.
 And you are not hurtT' his voice thrilling now with a sudden return to hope.
 "Oh, IT don't know. I cannot even tell what has happened. I stepped back quickly, the bench over turned and I fell. It is all earth around me-where am I?'
 "In the passage beneath the cabin" he explained quickly. Tt has been a miracle; your fall opened the. trap. Perhaps we may escape from these devils yet. Make room for me to come down; the cabin is already on fire. Is the hole deep?"
 Not very, I think, and there is room"
 He lowered himself, but 1t was not necessary to drop; his feet struck the earth floor, and, as he turned his hands came in contact with the slab still dangling, just as 1t had fallen. Obeying the first impulse, aware of a sudden outburst of red flames some where above him, he forced the block upward, back into its place, tanning it there with all his strength, until a sharp click convinced him the punch con again was securely held. They were alone, isolated, in the black depths, underneath the burning cabin, buried deep in the protecting earth. He reached blindly out through the darkness until he touched her, his fin gers closing convulsively on a fold of her dress. In the sudden reaction he felt as weak as child, unable even to control his speech.
 'It was God who helped us" he said humbly, mo one else could. You are sure Olga, you are unhurtT
 q must be bruised, I suppose; 1t was an ugly fall, and-and I really | think I lost consciousness at first. | Then I seemed to hear you call me a | long ways off. Is the cabin afire?"
 "Yes; those devils started it 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 i flames above, scarcely a glimmer of | red light succeeded in penetrating to | where they were hidden. A very | slight glow found entrance through a narrow crack above them, yet Shelby | was compelled to learn their immedi- ate surroundings more by sense of | +o,1ob than Sfpht