Evening star., 1933-04-02

the stream. I'll keep on searching for the
pebbles"
Keith agreed and they began to move slowly
forward. Then Bob's voice rang out. "A
peD0le!" he cried. A moment later he exulted
once more. "Anotherl We're back ON our
trail"
Then Jean suddenly jerked her head. ssWhat
was that?" she cried. The others stopped dead
70 listen. There was q moment Of aching
silence, and then dimly, from somewhere ahead.
came . long CRY, "Hello-o-ol Hello there,
Bob!"
TITS my brother!" Bob fairly shouted .aThey
have found our entrance and are looking for
us!"
The three raised their voices in an answering
shout then rose to their feet and stumbled
hurriedly forward. stopping to be sure that they
would not bump their heads against some low
point In the passage roof. A moment later they
saw light ahead, and they dashed forward
into the arms Of Bob's brother, Mr.. Parker, and
two other men.
AT lastl" cried Mr.. Parker, as he clasped
Keith and Jean to him. Then he tried to be
gruh to hide his emotion. what do you idiots
mean coming into place like this and get
ting lo6t?"
We weren't lost any longer" replied Jean
stoutly We had found our pebbles and were
on the way out"
IN the meantime, Bob's brother was explaining
how hours Of searching over the neighbor-
hood had failed to turn up q trace of the
missing cavern hunters. Then Mrs Young re-
membered that Bob had gone out to attend to
the injured COW before they started, and the
abandoned car was soon found in the lane
Realizing at once that this meant cavern en-
trance near by the searchers lost no time In
nnding the actual entrance. because the Young
family COW, refusing to learn from experience,
had again fallen into the hole
Once the cave was discovered, the four men
began to explore 1t, and Bobs trail Of pebbles
told them Immediately which way to co.
With the chilled and weary explorers being
helped BY their rescurers the party reached
the cave entrance just as dusk was falling,
there to have joyful reunion with the two
mothers short time later they were all
wrapped In blankets, swallowing hot drinks and
putting away quantities Of food. while they told
the story Of their day in Lost Cavern, and Of
their gruesome discoveries to . fascinated
audience.
"In tell you one thing, though" said Bob
darkly, as he concluded his share Of the re-
cital, "In never be satisfied until 60 back in
there and ind out how missed those pebhlesl"
DOB did 60 back and discovered that branch
passage. which they had not noticed on
their journey in angled on the ledge beside
the stream In such q way that It was almost
inevitable that they should go wrong there
The departure OF the Parkers was delayed for
couple Of days, while Keith and Jean re-
covered from the first effects Of bad colds which
they had contracted as result Of their wetting
and the chilly temperature Of the cavern
Before they left, they had already heard Bob
and his brother discussing plans for opening
Lost Cavern to the public. And q year later,
a letter to Keith from Bob told how the new
project was now occupying all his and his
brothers time, and how it was proving profit
able. The legend attached to Lost Cavern, and
the tragic story told by the skeletons they had
discovered, made it the mecca for all the