Gunnison news-champion., 1921-02-25

Which be uttered the worta Fright
ened A. she vas. cazed BY the fall
scarcely conscious even yet. or able to
actually comprehend what had oc-
CURED his cry penetrated her mind
brought her back 20 ffe.
Yes IL am here. Tom. she man
aged TO say weakly
-And you are not hurtr- his voice
thrilling nov with . sudden return to
hope.
'-Oh. IL don't know cannot
even tell what has happened.
stepped back quickly. the bench over
turned and I fell II Is all earth
around me-where am II
In the passage beneath the cabin
he explained quickly. 1T has been O
miracle; your fall opened the trap
Perhaps we may esrap. from these
devils yet Make room for me 10 come
down; the cabin Is already on FIRE. Is
the hole deepf'
mot very. I think. and there II
ROOM
He lowered himself. but II was not
necessary to drop; his feet struck the
earth door. and, as he turned his
hands came In contact with the slab
still dangling. just as II had fallen.
obeying the FIRST impulse. aware of Q
sudden outburst Of red flames some
where above him. he forced the block
upward. back into It's place. jamming
II there with all his strength, until Q
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 I'm
gers closing convulsiveiy on q fold Of
her dress. In the sudden reaction hs
felt as weak AZ q child, unable even
to control his speech.
''1t was God who helped us," he said
humbly, mo one else could. You are
sure. Olga. You are unhurtr
Il must be bruised, suppose; Il
vas an ugly fan. and-and ! really
think lost Consciousness at drst-
Then ! seemed to hear you call me Q
long ways OF. Is the cabin afireT
Yes; those devils started II at tho
rear. You Gao 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
names above. scarcely glimmer Of
red light succeeded In penetrating to
where they were hidden. very
slight glow found entrance through u
narrow crack above them. YET Shelby
was compelled to learn their immedi-
ate Surroundings more by sense Of
touch than sight.
They were In mere hole scoopetI
out from the soft earth, hardly wider
than the trap door which led to II. the
other puncheons of the cabin floor
resting soiidly upon the ground Shell
by leading the way. feeling his pas
sage along inch by inch, was suddenly
halted by an earth barrier which
seemingly blocked all further progress.
he could feel that Il did not wholly
reach the top. leaving space there
through which II might be possible to
crawl Yet what would there be be-
yond? Why should they venture fur
ther at present? Laud was outside
with his Indians. the whole scene liz
up with the glare OF flames They
dare not venture to expose them
selves. Here they were beyond reach,
protected from both flames and saw
ages. Unless some among those as
saiianfs knew the existence of this
tunnel. or accidentally stumbled upon
It's outer entrance. they could scarcely
be exposed. Even II one or two found
their way in. this barrier OF earth
would block them. and. If necessary,
form the best possible defense. Con-
hdent that they had perlshed. 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 al escape. He
reached out and grasped her hand.
drawing her down beside him.
What Is it?" she asked In whis-
per-
"A fall OF earth nearly blocking the
passage" he explained. u have no
Idea where the tunnel leads to- and.
/ 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 be some
chance for US to get away"
"But they will search the ruinsr
Not for some time: those logs will
be glowing embers for hours. That
sounded like the roof falling In then.
1t was-see! 1t has crushed its way
down through the floor. There is q
caldron Of fire IN that hole we just
left. but It can't reach us here-only
the smoke"
SVQfl1 n pot sho- thos, xvhoro 49,