The Coolidge examiner., 1939-05-25

| of the waters, but he felt refreshed,
alert and strong again.
You can hear all sorts of voices
in running water"
I'm almost certain-There it is
again." She ran from the room and
opened a window. Hustling into a
robe, and grabbing for his shoes, he
followed. To their straining ears
came faint and desolate wall.
Gal! Gal! Gall"
ITS Glunk!"
Hes in trouble"
Gall" And again. Gal! Gall"
Weary, forlorn. piteous, it might
have come from anywhere in the
sodden, closed-in universe about
| them.
I'm going to look for him."
'Where?" He laid a hand on her
arm.
She shook it off. 81 don't know.
But I'm going"
Gal! Gall" The despairing tier
alton sounded fainter now.
Memory flashed a message into
Marne's brain. He's in the we'll"
Fallen in? How could he?"
He's got his money there. He
must have gone after it and some
things happened"
Kelsey found a torch. Arm in
arm they plunged into the swirl
which plucked and wrenched at
their footing like a malevolent thing.
The voice sounded its plea again:
"Gal! Gall"
Coming" shouted Marne.
They fought their way to a scene
of ruin. Undermined by the gnawing
pressure, the arbor above the well
had collapsed, choking the four-foot
aperture of the stout masonry pro-
tecting the mouth. Fortunately the
! water was still foot short of the
top. They found refuge in the lee
of the stoneWork. Marne thrust her
head into the tangle of timber.
Chunk" she called.
Gal" he answered with an ac-
cent of relief and trust so profound
that it shook her heart,
Are you all right?"
Head hurt"
Hang on. Well get you"
"Urgck."
After one swift inspection Kelsey
had gone to the house for ak and
rope. Directing the light downward.
Marne saw the gnome's powerful
frame wedged between the stone
walls, his feet settled into a Granny.
There was cash across his head.
Can you hold on, Chunk? I'm 60
ing to stay right here"
Tired" said Chunk feebly.
mo; no." she cried in terror.
"You mustn't be tired. You're not
tired. Itn be only minute now.
Keep your grip. Hang on" She
poured out a stream of encourage
ment and admonition, as if by the
sheer potency of words she could
maintain him.
At long last Kelsey came back.
While Marne directed the electric
beam, the rope-end was lowered and
Chunk instructed to put the moose
beneath his arm-pitS. Now if his
strength gave out, he would at least
be safe against falling to the bot
tom. A turn of the rope around a
nearby tree finished that part of
| the preliminaries.
The rest was less simple. you
stand by" Kelsey bade the girl,
while l clear this stuff away. If
you see any part of it slipping to-
ward the opening. try to divert it.
Chunks been hit by one piece. An
other might finish him."
Standing almost knee-deep now,
he attacked the ruin. First on this
side, and then on that, he loosened
the supports.
The structure leaned and wa
vered. Look out!" warned the AK
man, stepping aside.
There was a crash. Most of the
wreckage fell into the current and
was snatched away. One short and
heavy scantling detached itself from
the mass. Marne snatched at it, but
missed. 1t shot down into the block
opening. A cry split the darkness.
The two seized on the rope and with
frantic pulls brought up a limp
| form.
Marne flashed the light into the
| face and turned it away again.
(TO BE CONTINUED