Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-18

Henry Mallinson was having an
exciting time of it in the contro
room. With Ruth Ranger and the re-
porter in the mine shaft, and with
fire destroying the treasure at the
bottom of the shaft, Mallinson was
in a frenzy.
Are those levers working oveT
there ?" he shouted to the control
man. The answer came in the
affirmative. "Then turn 'em or and
flood the passages!" he shouted.
Ruth and Dick Foster were in
deed in a precarious predicament.
The elevator was rapidly reaching
the top Of the shaft, and threatened
10 crush both of them Suddenly
Foster whipped out his revolver and
began shooting holes in the planks
in the top of the elevator. He sue
ceeded in gradually smashing his
way through into the inside, where.
Ne managed TO grasp the lever and
start the elevator downward.
In the underground passage, Fos-
ter began to tell Ruth OF his discov'
cries. 'Mallinson Is behind thq
entire scheme" he finished, and in
that control room they've got all
kinds of devilish contrivances. They
kept me a prisoner FOR a week, but
ltgot this map of the whole layouG
fer my trouble"
After looking the map over tho
girl decided she would explore tho
place at once. 1--WE gone too far 10
turn back now" she declared. "Fm
going to solve this mystery before
| leave Haunted Valley" And
graspng the arm of the reporter,
Ruth started forward to explore the
lower roc n.
Meanwhile, Vivian Delamar WAC
worrying herself sick over the dis
appearance of Mallinson. She final,
ly decided to visit his home and see
if she could learn anything there.
Upon her arrival, she found Mallin,
sons servant burning lot of papers
in the fireplace in the library.
"Mr Mallinson telephOned me and
asked me TO destroy all these papers
before the police can make q
search" he explained. ''Mr Nal,
linson is at his headquarters in
Haunted Valley, and he is badly
wounded"
Vivian was startled at the news
that the man she loved was injured
She determined TO get a doctor and
aurry to the control room. AS tho
girl was about TO leave the house
she encountered Eugene Craig
about to enter
Where is Mallinson ?" he asked
Il have an account TO settle with
him"
Vivian saw she must act quickly
III you have anything important tc
take UP with Mr. MalIinson," she
said, Il know he will be glad to SEE
you Just one moment and | viii
tell him you are here"
Craig seated himself as ViyiaI
Delamar walked into the next room
But the young lady didn't believe il
wasting any time. She walket
through the library, picked up he
things and hurried for the sid,
door of the house
Now il so happened that the sus
picious and ever-wakeful Dinny hat
observed all that had been going OF
in MalIinson's home. When ViviaI
left, Dinny followed, and whet
Vivian started for Haunted Vale
with the doctor, Dinny succeeded il
climbing onto the rear of the auto
mobile and enjoying the ride to tn
same spot.
Mallinson was giving final order
in the control room when Vivian an
the doctor arrived. Dinny ha
sprung from the rear of the car an
had hidden in some brush befor
the car had stopped The youngste
wondered whether he should folio
the enemy into their camp or wa
outside for developments. He sue
denly made up his mind, for he be
held stranger furtively picking hi
way through the valley, only a sho
distance away. Dinny hoped that
following the man, he would fin
some clue to the whole mysteriou
business surrounding Ruth.
Meanwhile, Ruth and Foster ha
wended their way through the MAJ
OF underground passages in Il
valley The place seemed unusua
~ spooky, and both had the feelir
that a third person was somewhet
Gear them, watching every mo,
they made A noise behind the
caused them both to wheel aroun
and their eyes fell upon chest tn
they had not observed before.
Foster hurried to open it, but 4
chest was tightly bolted and 4
cover could not be budged. Ruti
fsshlight fell on some papers on I
leor. The girl grasped quickly