The Argosy, March 1907 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

convinced you well know. Th stand up like a man, if you are ieiox mined to take your medicine. Now, for the last time, will you tell me what I am Davis’s finger was already pressing the trigger, but before he could enunciate the fatal syllable the trembling wretch before him surrendered. “Hold on!” he shrieked. Mr. Davis. I do-know a way. The others’ll sure kill me for showin’ it to you; but it won’t be no worse to git it from. them than it would from you; so I gives in.’ * All Boke said Davis, lowering his weapon; “but mind you,’ admonished once more by a sly glint in Spear’s eye, ‘at the least sign of treachery, I shall waste no time in preliminaries, but shall shoot first and explain afterward. Now, proceed with your directions, for I am personally free to admit,” glancing about him, “ that I see no more chance of getting out than if we were in a sub- marine boat sunk in a thousand fathoms of water.” “You have to go down in the pit and strike the first gallery,” rather sullenly “Hold on, announced Spear. “Down in the pit?” repeated Gar- diner, with narrowing eyes. ‘“‘ How does one get down in the pit?” “Why, you have to shin a rope sailor- fashion. The hoist is gone long ago, and that’s the only way it can be made. Or, I say,” suddenly comprehending the other’s silence, “you're winged, ain't you? Well, then,” with elaborate carelessness, “‘ s'pose I'll have to lower you first and foller after.” “Oh, no, you won’t,” demurred Gar- diner. ‘“ The rope might slip out of your hands too conveniently to suit my purpose,”’ > bnen + ll go first, and you can come along behind ? ” ‘No, nor that, either. You might dash off into that gallery and forget to come back after me. We'll make the rope a little longer than necessary, and you shall descend on it first, hanging suspended below the mouth of the gal- lery until I have successfully reached that level. join me.” Hazardous enough it was at that, with treachery lurking below and only Then you can come up and * — m y=. - . er 7 = . . » ~ we a xe Ce “oo J ‘ ab ie eo = ak Po ot : Cee “eS = ae am . 2 ~ ees | os 4 - - . —— wees id 23 ,? . x ee -< 2 = oe re = : one arm to sustain bi. while i aie light afforded was that from the twink- ling candles fastened to their two hats. Indeed, whenever Gardiner Davis hears of nightmares he has but to recall the memory of those moments when he hung suspended over that inky void to real- ize that Poe and Dante were but mere tyros in describing actual horror. : Yet somehow he achieved the feat; ~and when he finally set off on his farther advance, with his unwilling guide three paces in advance of him, he found that the pass he had just traversed was by far the worst obstacle to be encountered. There were other places requiring a wary head—slides to be scaled and gulfs and fissures to be crossed—but nothing that stayed them long, and as a whole the road ran in a reasonably straight line. Spear explained that the ‘ Mollies,” having knowledge of two worked-out mines which ran at certain sections in close proximity to’each other, and wish- ing to establish a safe retreat for them- selves, with two exits in case of danger, had knocked out the intervening rock, thus constructing a continuous passage through which they might travel at will. ‘They might have improved the job by putting in cement sidewalks and an electric elevator at one or two places I could mention,” observed Gardiner feel- ingly; “still, 1 suppose one ought not to kick at the accommodations. Their thoughtful work has certainly stood me in good stead to-night.” Just how good stead, however, he was not to know until a little later; for Spear had not mentioned to him the name of the other mine besides No. 3 that the ‘‘ Mollies” had used, and as he had to a certain extent lost his sense of direction during their wander- ings, he was treated to a genuine sur- prise when he finally emerged into the open and recognized his surroundings. The dawn was just breaking, but the light was clear enough for him to see that the hillside upon which he stood sloped gently down to a valley diversi- fied with fertile farms and prosperous villages. : He rubbed his eyes, blinked incredu- lously, then gazed again. There could be no mistake about it. Like Moses 4 ’ p« a ry - 1 IRS A a) ho Vy , : . FS 7 Ly Yas) a Sent he > ee = i he S aah & r iJ “ Lea Comicboo s.€O