The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-01-06

an auctioneer's after week Of hare
work. I'd never recognize 1t as your
IL / didn't know
/. The well was hole In the GROUND
where Mr. Crandall was drilling for {
new water supply. Water had not yet
been reached, but indications were
that 1t was near.
| Marjorie promised to heed her IA
theirs warnings and he drove away
Until late In the night Marjorie sal
up and tried to read, then finally went
s0bbing to bed, reconciled to disap-
poiDtment on the morrow.
Nm the morning she arose early,
and her first action was to gaze down
the road in both directions. No cloud
of dust rewarded her wistful watch
/ ing-no indication Of the approach of
a racing car.
She sighed and went toward the
barn, but had not reached her desti-
nation when she stopped, startled. A
riderless horse stood by the hole In
the greund-a jet-black horse.
| Marjorie hurried to the well, and as
she neared it she heard faint, hoarse
| cries. She stood close to the edge,
but was careful to stand back out of
sight Of anybody that might be in the
depths. She was not anxious to be
the target for revolver.
"Help!" cried the voice, more rasp-
ing than her own. "Get me out |"
Marjorie patted the horse, and q
terrifying idea flashed into her mind.
tits Black Jim 70 she trembled.
'It's his horse and he was preparing
to rob the farm. Evidently he dis
mounted right into the well In the
dark. Let him out? 1 guess not.
Here's where / earn reward"
The prisoner of the well pleaded in
vain, in tones scarcely audible. He
endeavored to make explanations, but
a night of shouting which went I'M
heard evidently had all but robbed
him Of the power of speech. In the.
hole he remained. Marjorie lowered
food on the end Of a clothes line, but
she warned him she would let 60 II
he tried to climb out.
The day passed and Marjorie kept
busy. The duties about the farm con-
sumed considerable time, and. there
was the prisoner to feed and the road
to watch. She put the outlaws horse
in stall and looked after its wants,
as she did those Of its owner. The
hfs hnl &c,
but he accepted the food.
That night Marjorie cried herself
to sleep, because the big engagement
had not been kept. She felt secure.
in spite of the bandits proximity, be-
cause there was no chance that he
could climb out Of the well, but she
took care to bolt all the. doors.
The next day Marjorie continued to
feed the prisoner and watch the road,
but no motor car of any description
much less racer, appeared. She
wished some one would come, to re-
ieve her of Black Jim.
On the following day her father re-
Il have surprise for you," she
after he had kissed her.
Black Jim is my prisoner-in the
WE'LL"
Mr.. Crandall whistled and looked
'keptical, but he procured revolver
md went to the well, lowering a rope.
"Climb out /" he called. "But don't
ry any funny business or I'll shoot"
Marjorie and her father hauled
lway on the rope, and presently
lead appeared in the hole, and then
whole man appeared.
Harry" Marjorie rasped, her
dice still affected by the cold "Why
ow-the horse-your car"
Harry grinned ruefully, as he tried
o brush slime from his clothes. 81
ried to keep the date" he said, in
whisper, "but got lost. I came
cross your house, but didn't suspect
ou lived here. I thought I'd ask the
7ay, SO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS into the
yell. I've ridden hundred miles to
eep our engagement, md I've lost !
ny voice shouting for help. Car,
i'd you say? Why, don't you know |
m on vacation-and driving an au. {
omobile is work I" I