Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-05-28
CHAPTER TX

the feet, blindly stumbling along at the
brink of a precipice, it was an even
chance that the body would be car
ried over it before the mind sensed
the danger.
Nevertheless, Dick made slow but
sure progress, kicking his heels up
ward and sideways to feel his way,
and when he finally came to broader
place he made the attempt to turn
around 80 he could crawl head first.
1t was a narrow squeeze and for
time it was doubtful If he could do it.
Like a squirrel curling up to sleep, he
doubled his body until his head was
between his knees, and then slowly
sQuirmed and twisted until his posi-
ton was reversed.
After that the going was easier.
He could feel his way with his hands
and could use his eyes to some extent
It was as black as midnight in the
hole, but his eyes, grown accustomed
to 1t, seemed to penetrate the gloom.
The salt air that drifted through the
passageway urged him onward. II was
growing stronger every moment, and
Dicks spirits rose accordingly. The
salt AIR could not get into the passage
way unless there was some opening or
the sea side.
Fifteen minutes later when he
caught faint glimmer of light ahead
he knew that the worst of his troubles
were over. Where there was light
there was freedom. He crawled more
rapidly after that, keeping his eyes
focused on the gradually increasing
speck Of daylight.
When he finally reached the end, he
found himself on ledge of rocks some
twenty feet above the beach. The
assure in the cliff through which he
had crawled had been formed ages ago
by q CONFUSION of nature After the
mighty upheaval, the rocks had set
tied down like mass of crystals,
leaving spaces, narrow and wide, with
here and there natural cave forma-
tion between tlAem.
Crawling to the face of the ledge,
Dick breathe5 deeply of the salt-laden
air, and watched the frothy spume ris-
ing from the beach below. Consider
ably exhausted by his labors, he
sprawled out in the sun to rest and
regain his strength.
The beach was below, and the top
Of the cliff fifty feet over his head.
There were twenty feet Of sheer per-
pendicular cliff to descend, but after
his former troubles climbing down
the face Of straight wall did not
alarm him. He would accomplish it
In some way when he was rested
Lying there in the sun, with his
eyes half closed, he was unconscious
of the presence of others until foot
fall on the rocks below startled him.
He sat upright, every faculty alert,
sensing a new danger. Selling a
ragged piece of rock in his hand he
waited for this new enemy to show
himself.
There was a possibility that McGee
had missed him, and knowing of this
passageway to the sea had hurried
around to the cliff to intercept him.
Or perhaps he would be attacked in
front and back. He kept a wary eye
on the hole behind him, and eau
tieusly craned his head over the ledge
to look below.
He was not greatly alarmed by what
he saw. On the contrary smile parted
his lips Alice Cutler and Mr. Blake
had halted directly beneath him, so
near that he could have dropped
pebble upon their heads or touched
them with q long pole.
They were silent for few moments,
but 1t was the silence of an awkward
pause between bits of unpleasant CON
versation, as Dick soon discovered.
Miss Cutler finally broke it.
''Tll 60 back now, Mr.. Blake" she
said. There's nothing more to be
said"
Peering over the ledge, Dick could
see the man hesitate, and then sud
denly extend a OBTAINING hand
Zone moment, Miss Alice" he pro-
tested. II don't want this to be
final"
The girl shrugged her shoulders,
and turned away. But it is final,
Mr.. Blake" she added. Its absurd
to think I'll change my mind. Why,
I never dreamed hat-that-you'd
seriously think of such a thing 1t
seems almost ridiculous to me-"
Dick could see the face of the other
flush and darken.
"Why should 1t seem ridiculous to
you" he demanded sharply. "Is it
because you're rich, and L" He
stopped, and then added eagerly, 81
told you I was rich, or would be soon,
Miss Alice. l didn't emphasize that
enough, perhaps Well, then, if you
must know the truth, shall have
enough to support you in the style
you've always lived In. l may be as
wealthy as your uncle. Who knows2"