The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-07
CAST OF CHARACTERS


plorer.
Observation-Disclosures, Bar
rvs partner.
HONEY BEE GIRL-lndian;
member Of Barry's party.
HADES JONES-pioneer; MEM
Der Earry's party.
Yesterday: At the end Of their
endurance, Bob and Melissa are
rescued by strange, brown little
people. They start downward IN
the cavern after them.
CHAPTER XVII
They had no idea where they
were going. They were just walk
ing, under escort.
This is going to make good
story. if we ever get back to tell
it." LISA vcntured AT last.
Bob smiled through his Devil
dcrmcnt. I'm say"
"We'rc going down all the time,
Bob"
Up and down both. can't cs-
innate how much. But if we sud
denly come onto the devil himself
! won't be surprised"
"I'l never be surprised ut any
thing again! Know what I'm
thinking, dear"
"No 'Lissa. What"
about New York. And life
there. used to be so bored with
it. Nothing ever happened! That's
why | answered your advertise
mcnt."
The brown men watched them
carefully. spoke Frequently to
each other. showed them IA fairly
smooth path. Fob held Mary We,
lssa'S arm all the while. To aid
her.
Are YOU sorry, now, that you
it," He looked at her.
She was even more lovely than he
had imagined her To be. wien
they had kissed there in the dark
ness. At Ica.t he told her so; &C
tually she was sadly tousIcd and
unkcmpt. not to mention h"r
WEAKNESS. NO" she declared.
smiling. IN ncvcrsbc son'y.'
The walk wasn't very long.
With that sudden surprise with
which train cmCrgcs from Il
tunnel. the strange party turned
an angle in the cave and hlink"d
at daylight. Near the exit they
saw other things. too: mostly
grra, baskets and iarS, and son"
Of animal skins. The area
seemed to be- Il kind Of stor"hOuSc.
Bob's interest mounted rapidly.
"Wc'yc surely stumbled onto
another tribe of Indians" said
he. land lucky for us. Th"y'r"
some tribe strange TO me, but
probably few Of them speak
English. Wen come around here
again and investigate. ! thought
knew all about this border coun-
try"
Hcralds evidently had hurried
ahead with the news of the whlt"
couple. for as they emerged from
the cave, blinking and squirting.
they saw some dozens Of men,
women and children Fastening to-
ward them. They, too, were all
brown.
Bob and Mary Melissa instantly
noted the complete absence Of
any evidence Of "civilization." In
dress. possessions, manners, even
speech. these people were some
thing from another century. from
somewhere back in tn" middle
ages as man rcckonS time.
"DO any Of you speak Eng
lish?" Bob called.
Evidently no one did. All stop
ped talking, and stared. He tried
again.
1--WE are hungry. Please give
us food. and water" He pointed
to his mouth, and to Mary Me
liSsa'S.
They understood that. At least
one dignificd elderly man did. He
spoke a few words as if in COM
mand and two women fastened
away. Shortly they were back
with calthcIn bowls, both water
and food. The food was a thick
hot Cruel Of corn meal, with some
pieces Of meat. The hungry pair
ate again. gratefully, and strength
grew in them. They could enjoy
some sleep, but this was no time
for it, they knew.
Bob Barry-Dr. Robert Wilson
Barry, Ph.D.. now -- was study
inc the situation intcntly. He be-
himself of another funda-
in human nature, and so
took his shiny gold watch from
his pocket.
With some. show of pomp. he
held it out and walked to the man
who had ordered their food. The
brown man accepted it, evidently
with high pleasure.
Instantly the visitors were for
gotten while the natives gathered |
around the shining gift.
"Thcy don't even know what Il
watch is, Bob! Look" Mary Me-
issa whispered, intensely inter
nStcd. "Havc they never even
seen a watch before"
Suddenly one of them discover |
ID the ticking, laughed and talked
,Xcitedly in announcing it to the |
others. Everyone had to listen
hen, as if they were so many |
,hildrcn. In time, though, they |
ooked uucrulous at Bob: he step
Jcd forward and took the watch
again.
The young scientist pointed at
he sun, and at the watch. With
extended arm, he swept in an are
rom horizon to horizon, then
With his finger he indicated the
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