Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-06-05
Victor Rousseau
Copyright by W. G. Chapman
WNII Harvica

sition, Railway" said Lee. '"The
terms are these: l guarantee nothing
as to the mine; merely to conduct you
to the place where Pelly worked for
gold. I'll show you the secret en-
trance. This lady will accompany us,
and you will leave your men behind.
And Wen go unarmed"
But l shall carry Mr. Anderson's
pistol" Joyce interposed calmly, land
/ shall see that the terms are fairly
carried out"
Railway shot a look of hatred at
her. 1--WE no objection to that either"
he answered, struggling his shoulders
nonchalantly.
"At sunrise, then" Lee began.
At sunrise? God, man, do you sup
pose I'm going to wait till sunrise"
shouted Railway. He took off his
belt containing his pistol, and laid it
on the floor. Wen start at once"
Lee handed Joyce his pistol, then,
going into the room, extinguished the
candle, brought it out, and slipped it
into his pocket, and the three set out
Immediately. When they reached the
ming the country carefully in case
Railways aides were following them.
He had expected treachery, but 1t was
quite impossible for any spy to ap-
proach near enough to discover the
entrance under the stone without be-
i,nnr ohc Dnfh ho I'm
self discovered during his years Of
fruitless effort to follow old Pelly; and
there was no sign Of the three.
It occurred to Lee, besides, that
Railway was not likely to wish the
entrance to the mine to be known to
any of his aides.
Railway was looking uneasily about
him. Its In the gorge, then?" he
muttered. And, throwing off all pre-
tense of concealment, ''There's no way
down. I've walked round and round
the ID place a thousand times"
Lee tilted back the stone and showed
Railway the hole beneath 1t. Rath-
way stared az Ii in amazement, utter
ing an oath as the stone came back
into position.
II shall go frst," Lee said, "and light
the candle. Miss Pelly-" Railway
muttered, but Lee could not bring
himself to call her by the mans name
will please follow me. You, Rath-
way, will come last"
Lee pushed the stone back, lay
down on the ground, and, after show
ing the girl how to elevate 1t from be-
meath, descended. When his feet were
on the first rung of the ladder, he lit
the candle. In moment Joyce ap-
peared, and then Pathway behind her,
clinging to the opening and looking
down with uneasy suspicion:
"Hold tight to the rocks" Lee
called. tits slippery, and If you lose
your hold there's deadly drop below"
He led the way down, shifting the
candle from hand to hand alternately
as he descended, to illuminate the way
for Joyce, until he reached the bottom
orifice. Then he began slowly to COM
plete the descent, instructing Joyce
where to put her hands and feet, guild
ing her, and bracing himself against
the cliff, ready to sustain her weight
in case of slip. However, all three
reached the floor Of the gorge without
accident.
Railway muttered, looking about
him. In the moonlight Lee saw that
he was dripping with perspiration, He
was trembling with excitement.
Lee said eight fatal words: "The
rock marks the entrance to the tunnel"
Railway looked at 1t and nodded.
II had some difficulty in finding II
before" Lee added. He turned to the
girl. Joyce dear, I'm going to show
Railway something that l think II
would be better for you not to see
VIII you wait where you are for
few minutes? We won't 60 out Of your
sight"
"yery well, Lee" the girl answered
quietly. She had understood what
Lee meant Immediately. Lee took
Railway through the laurel tangles
and showed him Pelly's remains. He
SuOWeu ulIu TIE lultldlS Uu the udHule
of the revolver.
Railway stood dumbly staring at
the skeleton. He was trembling even
more violently than before.
HE must nave fallen from the cliff, Il
said Lee, indicating the broken bones.
AYE, but where's your proof that
it's Pelly?" Railway burst out sud |
denly. "Why, man, there isn't a couri
in the land would admit that sl-e'
as proof that Pelly was draG
as like as not the body OF h.
carrying Pelly's revolver
Lee obeyed the instinct not to tell |
Railway that Leboeuf was alive.
Besides" Railway went OH, "as for
G. P.-Well, that might mean anything,
Charles Patrick, or Clarence Peel.
There used to be a Clarence Peel in
this district who disappeared. swear
that's the truth, Anderson. Any old
timer will tell you that Pm not lying
to you N:nc.. Anderson, you can't