The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-02
CHAPTER XII

"All set, partner2"
 Bob Barry stage-whiSpered this to Mary Melissa Lane. He was humping on the outside of her tent with his finger, trying to awaken her.
 "Yesl Tn just a moment, Bob"
 She dressed with incredible speed. Bob met her outside In the darkness, holding her shoulder pack.
 q left note telling them we would be gone indefinitely" he said, land enough orders to keep Hades and Hoffman busy for a week, so they won't get inquisitive. They can make the camp lot more honey, and build Q larger horse corral
 It was not yet 1 Q. Yn,, and the two partners felt 0 sense of adVen- ture at starting to explore an un- known cave. The climb up the cliit ladders itself was thrilling. At the very rim of the great rock lip they sat down, dangling their feet out over coo feet of space, to eat the breakfast Bob had brought In his pack.
 "Just imagine-we're as high as Q b0.story Skyscraper, Bobp ,,
 .Reqular penthouse, almost" Erinned the young scientist. "but awful poor elevator service"
 'Lissa laughed aloud. They could just see the first rays of morning m opal glow straight ahead herald ing the coming of the sun god. The black blanket of the desertland was fading Into pinRish gray; soon it would be c mere coverlet of pastel blues and tans. n. L..
 They ate, mostly in silence, im- pressed by the majesty Of the noun. teins, the incomparable lift ot splriV that comes from greeting the sun on n height. Lissa felt very near to Rob Barry In that quarter hour neIr and intimate, and-eontent
 vhen they were through they hcsitntod for moment, watching the crescendo of color the explosion of dawn. "It's marvellous, Mary , Melissa, isn't it9" he whispered.
 eyes" she whispered pack' Heavenly" They looked ct eaeh other and smiled. . .,u,
 SHappyP" he murmured' The sTl
 fie had to force himself out Of inc perSonal mood. With sudden wild cry hc arose and pulled her to her feet. s. sell" he orated in mock drama "An, -h.h.h. whatever Is there we'll beard in It's den" ,. .,o
 She laughed with him. put she knew he was serious, anxious to e$- plore. He strapped his pack back ot,--it carried canteen and 1000 for lunch, also a gasoline lantern- and led her to the entrance of the tomb cave. ., .o said. =.
 It made brilliant light, and at once it turned the cavern into U sort of fairyland. They were able 10 proceed at on easy pace, Blopihg gently down hallway, then up and turn, down and up again. he place seemed endless. Bob was studying everything carefully. .,
 Then they stopped through c small opening and came Into room 50 large that their light would not pefietrate oil of it.
 "Whew7" breathed Bob In sur- prise. Another CarlsbadI"
 i "A what2"
 "Carlsbad Cavern. Have you ever visited that, in New Mexico2 US the largest in the world. seven miles or more, and still, not oil e%- plored." .. ..,
 Ills comparison was accurate, in a measure. Here indeed were the same type of fantastic stalactiteS and stalagmites. Columns of 1a. tural stone, beautifully etched and carved by time, stood taller than their heads, sometimes twice as tall. others hung in long stone "icicleS' from the ceiling, and nearby walls were draped in tapestries Of lacy onyx.
 "This is unbelievable, Bobl" Lissa exclaimed. T can hardly imagine anything 50 beautiful"
 dJust like Carlsbad. or Colossal Cave, near Tucson. Common type of