Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-19
UNDERGROUND 4 a5?S5 : sSs
By J.JEFFERsoN FARJEoN

Charlie Carfax had been through
some uncanny experiences during
the past twenty-four hours. but rome
compared with his present descent
into the black void.
Ahead OF him was the professors
spotlight. making a little glow upon
the ground and revealing. in addi-
tion to the rough stone steps on
which IL played. the black silhouette
of the bent figure who held IL. The
steps down which Charlie. himself,
climbed. were always invisible. for
he dared not approach within err
viceable distance of the professors
torch. And behind him-somewhere
was Simon Brill, who at any in
slant might flash on a torch OF his
own and reveal the intruder's pres
ence.
why Brill did not produce a light
was unexplainable to Charlie. yet
the explanation was actually quite
simple. Charlie. In his frank horror.
had lost all sense Of time, and he
imagined that the first six seconds
OF the descent were nearer sixty.
During these six seconds, Brill was
reaching the staircase door above
him. closing it, and boiling It. In
actual fact. he only descended a very
few steps behind Charlie before
bringing his torch out. and fortu-
natelv before this happened Charlie
had taken the frenzied chance that
saved him.
The thought OF Drills torch had
become more than he could bear.
Each second. that seemed like ten.
might produce the sudden ray Upon
his back and, acting upon a GAL
vanic self-protective inspiration. he
swerved suddenly 10 the side and
threw himself down fiat. For all he
knew. ne might have thrown him
self down into an abyss. and for one
terrible moment he thought nc had
done SO. At the side Of the Steps
was a wide gutter. s'oping down.
wards towards the wall. and Charlie
rolled down this until he struck the
cold surface that abruptly reared
and stopped him. 1T was the price
he had TO pay for his security. When
AZ last Simon Brill's torch did send
its brilliant raw forward. IL ran past
the dark recess in which Charlie
lay: and as Brill had M reason TO
suppose that anyone besides himself
and the professor were on the stairs,
he did not trouble TO search the
sides for intruders.
r. -~s&t.s~ ~o.,-fo 80 ~a~Ie
OF Charlie when he passed him.
Charlie held on to himself tight,
fearing that II he did not he would
burst with a loud report. But when
the immediate danger was over. he
scrambled UP with surprising soft
ness and rapidity. and continued the
descent with now tvo lights ahead
Of him instead of one.
But for the thought or Celia's
peril, he might have turned and tried
to regain the blessed air above. Celia
however. was his torch. and she
drew him forward as millions Of
other ideals Of the flesh or OF tine
spirit have drawn forward the trem-
bling humanity that has worshippec
them. Charlie. like Brown. wes de-
signed for comfort: but. also like
Brown. he bore within him the dis
concerted essence OF st. George.
The two lights grew closer. Bril-
was catching the professor UP. Socr
the lights almost mingled. and a low
conversation began.
well. what was it?" asked the
professor.
II don't know" answered Simor
Brill. There wasn't time to fine
out"
IL suppose that means YOU dldn'f
relish the Job Of finding out sug-
gested the professor. spitefully.
1T doesn't mean ANYTHING of th'
sort. retorted Brill. 1T means IN
not a fool That door was open
wasn't it2 Suppose. while \ wa.
searching around. somebody har
sliDDed down."
Charles heart missed at beat. Bui
Brill evidently did not realize IN:
| significance or his suggestion. for IN
ran on.
lit may have been a small boz
throwing a stone at the window
Empty houses are sometimes attrac'
tive to ambitious urchins. All thu
same. Cunningham. I'm not going II
act On that presumption I'm g0inE
to act on the presumption thr'
trouble oI 1I SORT might b. hreT-
inQ un there and that VI Is there
I K~r4 ali ere rnr~o 4xnrnrfouf trr III