New Britain herald., 1924-01-08
NOW GO, ON WITH THE STORY

"A stlunse greoniEh light preHai cd here and directly before me Eaw q flight or stone steps leading upward through q tunnel in the rock By the light of pocket torch which I had provided myself, began to ascenI the steps.
 "I had asccndcd more than five hundred steps, and felt that a rest would shortly be necessary. when l reached q sort of cave, or interior platform. from which seven corri- dors branchcd out likethc spokcs of a wheel.
 "To the damp coolness of the lower stairs an oppressive heat had now succeeded, and l became aware of Il continuous roaring sound. which l found myself unable to explain.
 Attached to belt beneath my native dress l carried a Colt re- volver: and therefore. leaving my cavern. I selected one of these corri- dors more or less at random. ands set out to explore. This corridor proved 10 slope very gently upward from the platform, and I could not fail to notice that at every step the heat grew greater and greater. It be- came possible to discern the walls nf the corridor ahead because of n sort of ecrie bluish light which had now become visible.
 At a point where the heat and a sulphurous smell were almost unen- durable the corridor was blocked by massive iron bars beyond which the reflection Of some gigantic fire danced upon the walls Of vast cavern.
 "A hundred feet beneath me was a lake of fire. That is the only way l can describe it: q seething, bub- bling lake of fire. And above, where the roof Of the cavern formed n natural conc, was square section formed Of massive stone blocks and quite obviously the handiwork of man. The bars were too hot to touch, and the heat was like that of a furnace, hGi while l stood, peering first up- ward and then downward, thing hn opened which ! almost hesitate to dsscr he, for it sounds like an incl. itni from a nightmare.
 
 which was perccptihle above the roar e, the Ire below. the center block in te roof slid open.
 "As 1T coniurad ID by magic, a manstrnus column Of blue flame arose, stept mp scorchingly, and licked like tlr tongue Of hungry dragon upon [ g roof of the cavern. Instantly tae trap was closed again; and the tongue of fire dropped back into the lake from which it had arisen on the draught Of air.
 And right past me where stood. rigid with horror, looking through those bars. fell whiis-robcd figure whether man or woman could not determine! Down. down into the fiery pit, hundred feet below!
 "One long-drawn, dying shriek reached my ears.
 Qf my return to the place al which l had left my bundle and rife rec tain absolutely not one recollection. I was aroused from a sort Of stupor of horror by the sight Of a faint light moving across the platform ahead of me. as 1 was about to emerge from the tunnel.
 Tt was the light Of lantern, car ried by man who might have been the double of that yelow-robed men dicant who had first unconsciously led me to this accursed place.
 ''As tho light Of the lantern was swallowed up in the passage. [ found my bundle and rife and set out to follow the man. Four paces brought me to the foot Of more steps. I walked barefooted. frequently paus- ing to listen. There were many carvings upon tbe walls. but had no leisure to examine them.
 "Contrary 10 my anticipations however. there were no branches in this zig-zag staircase which commit nicated directly with the top Of the lofty plateau. When presently J