The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-02-05

They were just settling down for a
quiet smoke when a meagerly clothed
messenger beckoned excitedly through
the window, and Ellis went out. When
he came back he had the old careworn
look.
That settles it." he said "The
man who threw that ball ut me last
night was found dead In the mine to-
day, with lantern smashed and his
head beaten in"
He picked up his broad-brimmed hat
and put 1t on with jerk.
The two men started rapidly along
the plateau to where the rickety shaft
house marked the entrance to the
mine.
This Is an unholy neighborhood,"
said Cartwright, who was himself COM
Ing under the spell Of the place. For
general cheerfulness l prefer the New
York morgue In comparison"
They had reached the mouth Of the
smart now and stood looking into Its
cavernous depths.
Jolly place." said Cartwright.
Into the jaws of death. into the
mouth of hell"
Come on" said Ellis. 81 know
almost every inch of the way, and our
four lamps will last, one after the 9th
er, for hours. I'd like to settle one
thing for more than one reason; the
ore In those balls is almost pure silver.
and 1t ought to mean"
1.-THE girl?"
"The girl, yes; and home and civili-
cation again. Look out; here's lad
der"
Here and there narrow openings IN
the rock led off on either hand.
For two hours they tramped. ex-
ploring. listening, sounding the rock
for hollows, watching in vain for am
buscade. Then they turned, defeated,
and slowly retraced their steps.
Ellis led the way, dozen feet ahead,
swinging his lamp into every SUSPECT
Gus corner, while Cartwright brought
| up the rear. What happened as they
turned into the main shaft again was
never afterward clear to either of
them. The first warning they had
was wild shrek, close beside them
| followed by the rush of d heavy body.
Neither man had time to brace him
self or to draw his revolver Cart
wright In the rear, had glimpse OF
a dark form which threw itself head
long on the nan ahead, bearing him
| fiercely to the ground aud extinguish-
ing the light.
He drew his revolver. but dare not
fire for fear Of hitting his companion
He approached the struggling pair
and watched his chance to end the
monsters life. At length the oppor-
| tunity came, and he brought down the
butt Of his revolver heavily on the
bristling head again and again.
When at last the awful grasp re.
Taxed, Ellis lay in white heap, red
stain of blood on his forehead, while
beside him, kicking in the last agonies
Of death. lay the spirit Of the mine
Cartwright. weak and giddy from
the shock. went back for his lantern
He examined Ellis carefully and de
cided that he was not badly hurt. Their
he inspected the body, stretched now
to a gaunt six feet of horror.
From head to foot the creature was
covered with growth Of long, fine
hair, even the face, except the eyes
being thus hidden, while the nails
were long and claw-like.
Cartwright shuddered.
"a wild man." he said slowly
"Some poor devil gone to the bad"
He picked up the huge piece Of silver
ore which formed rude weapon, and
looked at It curiousiy.
1T oughtn't to be hard to find thai
| vein now" he unused, as he poured
some whisky from his flask down thu
injured mans throat AS he did SO
something on the dead creatures lef
hand--if hand It could indeed b.
called--caught his eye.
He took the lantern close, then witt
1 a gasp rose to his feet, looking witt
horrifed eyes at the thing before him
Ellis was moving now, and with all hi.
strength Cartwright dragged the deat
body into the gloom Of nearby
passage and left It there.
| He piloted the injured man. still
somewhat dazed, into the air again
and got him home to bed. Then. Of
fering liberal brides to half-dozer
| Indians. he had the body decently
wrapped In a blanket and buried.
| But II was not until Ellis was sleep
Ing heavily under the influence of al
opiate that night that he took from
his pocket a gold ring, worn am
Scratched ring which he had takeI
from the hand OF the murderous crea
ture in the mine, and which bore, en-
vraved inside. the name Henry NJ. El
isl
i I nAAssDAn