The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-27
CHAPTER x--continued.

Deborah's searching eyes, now able
to distinguish objects with some clear
ness, scanned the rock walls to the
Obscured entrance. AT first she could
not be sure, but finally the vague out
1ines-0f the man seated on the rock be-
came visible. He was huddled for
ward In such grotesque posture as
scarcely to appear human. but gradu-
ally the girl realized what the uneouth
long, ~scraggly beard, the great breadth
OF shoulders, and the rifle, on which
he leaned. With this discovery came
the instant assurance also that the
fellow slept s0undly. A thrill OF hope
brought courage, and new strength to
her limbs. Might II not be possible
for her TO steal forward silently, and
then. with a sudden spring, clear the
obstruction of vines, and gain the free
day without, before the slumbering
guard could even comprehend what had
OCCURRED? The horse was not a hun
dred yards away, and even II she had to
leap boldly from Off the shelf Of rock.
she would willingly dare all for a
chance nj escape. Yet she had not ad-
vanced thpee steps until she realized
the lmpossibility OF the efrort-the
sleeping body utterly blocked the pas
sage.
She could perceive the fellow now
with some ~distinctness, a giant OF a
man. with long. apelike arms, bare
and hairy, an oddly formed head. al
most p~ear-shaped, long hair shading
the face, and q black beard sweeping
10 his knees, Slowly, silently, without
actually knowing why. the girl drew
back into the deeper darkness behind
her. guiding herself with one hand
against the rough wall. Into her mind
had come the faint hope OF another
egfess somewhere, the very purity of
the air suggesting such a possibility,
she even imagining she felt a draft
upon her cheek. Yet there was no
glimmer of light. Once her cropping
foot struck against fragments Of rock
left lying where they fell. She bent
down better to assure herself of the
obstruction. and her exploring fingers
touched a pick. II was n mine, then;
this secret excavation had been mans
work Nature may have pointed the
way. but this tunnel itself originated
through lust OF wealth. Her captors
were not outlaws but men crazed by
fear OF losing what they had uncov-
cred In these rocky hills. Yet this
knowledge rendered her situation no
whit less dangerous.
Deborah crept forward over the pile
of debris. discovering that this fall OF
stone did not denote the ending of the
passage. Suddenly her cropping hands
revealed a sharp curvature IN the tun-
mel. and she worked her way about
the corner with utmost caution. Then
she stopped, rooted to the spot, her
heart almost ceasing to beat. Far
above, up what appeared to- he a
sharply Inclined chute through the
solid rock. came streaming dowr a
single ray OF daylight. its faint reflec-
tlcn resting directly upon the upturned
face of a dead man. stretched on the
tunnel floor.
Deborah. startled. swayed back
against the wall for support. staring
down into that white. upturned face.
clearly revealed within the little pool
Of light. II was the face OF a young
man. his dark, wideopen eyes staring
hlIndIy up Into vacancy. hts brown
hnIr cut short. almost good-looking
y In death. With cheeks freshly
shaver. This last was what aroused
tlle eiri. brought her back quickly to
ne ana action. He had the appear
ance Of having shaved flint very norm
fne the stubhle Of his beard was moi
erna 1sslbic Tbfn she peted tive other
facfsbi revolver VIII N The holster
Ii hIs waist. md the hand. held up
night against the side wall, grasped1
folded payer. ne had just been