Evening star., 1926-09-30
I'M ysterious Sweetheart
BY ELLA WISTER HAINES

(OopynEht. 1e26.l

on this place. l believe I'm crawling
steadily into the Equator" He
paused to wipe the perspiration from
his face. Once his hand came down
upon a small atom of life|a lizard,
probably. The encounter made Paul
shiver.
On and on through an endless tun-
mel He began to ache all over. TO
feel as if he must stand erect ana
stretch himself or collapse. Yet he
pushed ahead and was rewarded by
arriving at deeper opening Where
he could stand, while above him was
another door like the one through
which he had descended.
listened Not a sound. Dared he
open the door? Time elapsed While
Paul considered and he was about
to make an attempt, had shut on MS
light in order to do so more carefully,
when a sound from above made hlm
draw back. A tiny streak OF hight
appeared. widened; the trap opened
slowly; a pair of feet came stealthlly
into the tunnel, followed by the frame
of a tall man.
Paul f1attened himself against the
wall. and the man. blinded by his
sudden descent into darkness, began
yond Paul's hearing.
A thousand questions now arose IN
Paurs mind Who was this man!
Not Uchita or the other Japanese, Tor
he was far too tall. If only his face
had been visible before the trap
door closed over him.
The tunnel was too narrow to allow
people to pass, even in the DARKNESS
without becoming known TO eacn
other. If this man should return
within a short time, meeting Paul on
the way. the encounter might prove
disa strous. Why not seize this chance
to explore the opening while the man
was gone? A seconds hesitation. and
Paul once more approached the door,
climbed the few steps which led up
to it, pushed it open as quietly as
possible and peered into the kitchen
of Mexican house.
And then as he was about to enter
this kitchen the sound of voices made
him retreat hastily, but not before
great discovery had been made, Tor
one of the voices ringing out clearly
was known to him. 1t belonged to
Mario Mlana.
The discovery was SO thrilling that
Paul hidden once more in his cave,
felt. every nerve CULVER The man
who had abducted Carolita was in
this house Carolita must be here.
too.
His heart throbbed painfully; the
heat of the cave mounted in SUMO
eating waves until it seemed as If
his head must burst; yet he had never
needed to be more calm, more clear
headed. Milana was in the house ana
would be prepared to fight for caro-
lita. Paul was not afraid of Milana,
foIp
man have? 1t would do Carolita no
good for Paul to be overpowered by
a superior force.
1t would be best to return TO the
hut. await the arrival of Uchita and
his pal. possibly secure additional help
and make a surprise attack upon
Milana at night overpowering him
and rescuing the girl.
Paul looked at his watch. 1t was
only o'clock. A long. long day Of
suspense lay ahead, hours for tor
tured mind to imagine every possible
misfortune that might befall his be-
loved Already Carolita possessed his
thoughts completely. Since she had
been torn from his side he had i'm
agined that he had experienced every
conceivable agony of mind, vet these
emotions had been as nothing COM
pared to those which followed this
last disclosure. To love a girl and
| lose her, to know her to be in danger,
yet powerless TO rush to her aid-this
| was genuine torture.
Gradually he grew more calm, was
| able to consider his position more dis
passionately, reaching the conclusion
| that with SO many hours ahead 1t
would be best to spend few of them
waiting here for the return of the
man who had disappeared into the
| tunnel. and if. in due course OF time
| he failed to make an appearance, a
| return trip to the hut might again be
contemplated.
And so, cooked pistol in hand, Paul
stood against the wall of the cavern,
a short distance from the trapdoor
overhead. and waited, until at last a
faint sound again stirred the sitting
air. Some one was crawling toward
! him. Nearer and nearer came the
sound.
Hands up" Paul comma nded in
low, clear tones: I'm going to shoot
Better not" came an equally low
reply; I'm a friend"
A light dashed and Paul looked into
ths face az Nyren t. Gaines.
! "Rsyaalds! THANK God. rAR. how