The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-05
CHAPTER VIII
Death in the Cave


The return of the motor boat ar.
rested his reflections.
But Doria once more came back to
Crows Nest" alone.
After the time was up 1 ran in"
he said. THE cave was empty. Now
L am a good deal alarmed and I
come back to YOU
Much puzzled, Brendon delayed
only to get his revolver and an electric
torch. He then decended with Doria
to the water and they were soon afioat
again The launch grounded her prov
on little beach before the entrance
of Robert Redmayne's hiding place.
Both men landed and Giuseppe made
fast the launch. Then immediate evil
denoe of tragedy confronted them.
The lamp stood on a ledge and flung
a radius of light over the floor be-
meath. Here had been collected the
food and drink supplied to Redmayne
on the previous day, and il was clear
that he had eaten and drunk heartily.
But the arresting fact appeared on
the beaten and broken surface of the
ground. Heavy boots had torn this
UP and plowed burrows in it, At one
spot lay an impression, as though
some large object had fallen, and here
Brendon saw blood-a dark patch al
ready drying, for the substance of it
was soaked away in the sandy shingle
on which it had dropped.
Spots of blood and the dragged i'm
preston Of some heavy body stretched
along the ground to the stone steps
and there disappeared.
Pull yourself together and help me
II you can said Brendon.
Where does this place lead7"
There are many shallow steps
then a long slope and. after that
you have to bend your head and
scramble out through a hole. You
are then on a plateau half way. up
the cliff"
Lamenting the loss Of time. Mark
lent a hand and the launch was soon
above high water mark Then. with
Brendon in front and the light from
his torch upon the steps, they began
their ascent. Save for a drop of
blood here and there. the stone stair
way gave on clew; but when they
had reached it's summit and the sub
terranean path turned to the left
still in a tunnel of the solid rock
they marked On the ascending slope,
slippery with percolations from the
roof, straight smear dragged over
the muddy surface.
For the last ten yards of the tun-
mel Mark had to go on his knees and
crawl. Then he emerged and found
IL -
hung high between the earth and the
sea.
Here Brendon saw evidences that
the dead weight dragged from be-
meath had remained still a while.
Where is the path from here?"
Mark asked, and Doria, proceeding
cautiously to the east of the plateau,
presently indicated a rocky footpath
that assembled from 1t.
Brendon desired to be at Dartmouth
as swiftly as possible. so that a search
might be instituted at dawn. Doria
considered whether he might make
best speed by road or water, and de-
cided that he could bring Mark more
quickly to the seaport in the launch
than along the highway.
Brendon agreed and they descend
ed the Zigzag path and then, from
the plateau, re-entered the tunnel and
presently reached the step again and
the cavern beneath. Distinguishing
the lamp. which still burned steadily,
they were soon afloat.
Brendon directed Doria how to act
Tell Mrs. Pendean and the serv-
ant to lock up the house and then
join u.s." he said
Doria obeyed and in ten minutes
returned with Jenny, dazed and pale,
and the frightened domestic still
fumbling at her bodice buttons.
Doria's work was now done and,
having directed him to take the wom-
en- back, Mark babe them all keep
the house until more news should
reach them.
In half an hour the news had
spread, search parties set out by land,
and Brendon himself, with Inspector
Damaren and two constables, put to
sea in the harbor masters swift
steam launch.
Then began a laborious hunt in
the cave and the tunnel by which 1t
was approached from above. Morn
ing light filled the hollow place and
the officers working methodically left
no Granny UNEMPLOYED; but their COM
bined efforts by daylight revealed lit
tie more than Brendon had already
found for himself in the darkness In
spector Damarell returned to the
steam launch and babe the skipper
go back to Dartmouth
wen ride home by motor from
above" he said.
The launch was off and once more
the chimney with the steps, the in
clined plane beyond. and the plateau
half way up the cliff were all ex-
amined with patient scrutiny.
For hours, until dusk began to
deepen on the precipices above them,
the men worked as skilfully and
steafastly as men might work. Then
their fruitless task was done.
The entrance of Crows Nest"
opened upon the high road which took
the police back to Dartmouth, and
here Brendon delayed the car and
descended alone down the coomb to
the house. Mark inquired for Jenny
of the frightened maid.
Ask Mrs. Pendean If she can see
me a moment" he said, and the WON
an left him to ascertain. But Bren-
don was disappointed. Jenny sent
words that she could not see him to-
day and hoped he would take occasion