The All-Story, March 1914 — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TLE: hoot-owl,” his spade. “Tint watching you. Sam contrived to say in trembling tones. “If you don’t walk straight, fm just going to make you sorry the long- est day you live.” “T wouldn't fool you. Mr, T upper.” the boy replied with eagerness. “ See— here’ s the place.” _ He pointed to a black opening in the side of the bank. Tt was the mouth of a shallow cave well known to every boy in Oxville who resorted to this place to swim. .\t the information that they had arrived Sam's spirits rose a little. for this was beyond question the likeliest spot in the neighborhood for hidden treasure. But he thought best to maintain lis pose of incredulity. “There ain't nothing in there. Ike Jackson, and you know it.” he protest- ed. ‘“Uve been in there hundreds ot times when I was a little shaver, no larger than what you are now, and I know every inch of it. I'm going home to bed, and to-morrow ri fell Uncle Peter on you.” “Aw, come on, Mr. Tupper!” the boy urged. “Lf wouldn't bring you all this way for nothing. Honest, there’s something here.” “Well, you've got to show it to me before I'll believe it.” said Sam grudg- ‘ingly. “You just follow me and [ will.” Ike promised. “TN go first, and then you light the lantern and come along.” Dragging the spading fork, he dropped to his knees and began to craw] into the black entrance. Bucyrus, who had been standing patiently by all this time, spied him before he had wormed his way out of sight. On the seat of Ike’s overalls was a patch from one of Mrs. Jackson’s old aprons. of a lighter color than the rest of the material, and it may have been this that suggested itself to Buevrus as a miraculously sent target. Tn any event, the ram cathered hitmn- self together and. before Sam knew said Ike cheertully. twirling Ike Jackson,” DEVIL AND DR. FOSTGh, 651 what he was doing, charged. There came a muffled howl] trom the interior of the cave. Aw, Alr. Tuoper, that ain't fair! rang out Ikes agotnized tones. “TIT aint done vou no harm.” “Why. Ikev, I didn’t do nothing! ° Sam shouted back, instantly sympa- thetic. “You hit me a kick with your cow- hides, that’s what you did.” accused the ludden voice. “TU tell Uncle Pete on vou.” *T didnt, neither. He saw you first.” There was silence for a moment, during which the inhumed bov ap- peared to be conmmuning with himselt When uext he spoke it was to urge Sain to follow with the lantern. The ram’s owner took the precau- tion of discouraging Bucyrus with stones before bending to the path Ike had chosen, ‘and thus squeezed past the narrow entrance without casualty, though at considerable expense of ei- fort. The door to the cave, which was sinall for Ike, nearly balked hin. When he was beyond it the cave widened and progress was easier. Ile could hear Ike scrambling on ahead, and figured that he was almost at the end of the cavern as it used to be in his boyhood davs. He held the lantern up and tried to pierce the gloom. The rays of light struck the blank end of the cave and showed it empty. ue. It was Buevrus. said Sam. Ike had vanished. On the instant Sain’s former fears revived. The boy was lurking somewhere, perhaps close at hand, ready to finish him with the spading-fork. In the pain of this conviction Sam gave a vell of fright. “What's the matter? Did you get a stone-briise on vour knee?” inquired Ike's voice at his right. Sam turned and saw an opening g which certainly had never existed in his own boyhood. He explained feebly that he had stepped on his hand, not an 1npossible feat considering the con- tortions passage of the cay ve ent iled, CONMIG JVOOKS . CO