Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-03-27


1t occurred to Lee, besides, that
PATHWAY was not likely to wish the
entrance to the mine to be known to
any of his aides.
Railway was looking uneasily about
him. tits 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 thousand times"
Lee tilted back the stone and showed
Railway the hole beneath it. Rath-
way stared at 1t in amazement, utter
ing an oath as the stone came back
into position.
Il shall go first" Lee said, "and light
the candle Miss Pelly-" Pathway
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 flfst rung Of the ladder, he lit
the candle. In a moment Joyce APP
peared, and then Railway behind her,
clinging to the opening and looking
down with uneasy suspicion.
''Hold tight to the rocks" Lee
called. "It's 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 it and nodded.
II had some difficulty in finding it
before" Lee added. He turned to the
girl. "Joyce dear, I'm going to show
Pathway something that / think 1t
would be better for you not to see.
Will you wait where you are for
few minutes? We won't go out of your
sight"
every 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
showed him the initials on the handle
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"
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 court
in the land would admit that skeleton
as proof that Pelly was dead. That's
as like as not the body of his Indian,
carrying Pelly's revolver"
Lee obeyed the instinct not to tell
RSthway that Leboeuf was alive.
Besides" Pathway went on, "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 I'm not lying
to you. N-no, Anderson, you can't
prove that's the body of old Pelly, just
from those initials"
Lee wondered at Railways agita-
ton. The man seemed quite beside
himself. He twined his fingers in his
black beard, and shambled away with
his peculiar hunched SLOUGH. Lee led
him to the cross above the little grave.
81 think that's proof" he said
quietly.
But Railway, clenching and un-
clenching his fists, said nothing. Lee
went back, calling Joyce, and they
proceeded in the direction of the cave.
Lee pointed out the pans and cradle,
and the proofs of dynamiting.
aye, but the gold-wheres the
gold?" Railway demanded.
II have seen none" answered Lee,
land, If you remember, made no
guarantee as to it."
How do / know you haven't taken
it away?" Pathway shouted. AYE,
you may have stolen my gold as you
| stole my wife. You may be planning
to take my wife and my gold away
together"
Lee looked at him in amazement,
for Railway was nearly crazed by
some passion, probably, Lee thought,
the anticipation of obtaining the treas
ure Of old Pelly.
"Tve taken no gold and I've seen
none," he answered. II must again
remind you of our agreement, Rath-
way"
Railway pulled himself together
with an effort. "Aye, that's all right"