Part 76 (1/2)

”We kin git out that way,” she said

The boys wondered why they had not discovered the door when they exaation

Kate Kenyon flitted lightly toward the opening Pausing beside it, she pointed doard, saying:

”Go ahead; I'll foller and close ther door”

The boys did not hesitate, for they placed perfect confidence in the girl now Barney dropped down in advance, and his feet found some rude stone steps In a mohtly as a fairy, Kate Kenyon dropped through the opening, closing the door behind her

The boys found theround place, and there they paused, awaiting their guide

She came in a moht the perfume of wild flowers To hi in a wilderness of weeds The touch of their hands was electric

”Come”

The boys heard the word, and they h the darkness, now and then feeling dank walls on either hand

For a considerable distance they went on in this way, and then the passage seemed to widen out, and they felt that they had entered a cave

”Keep close ter ive it astray”

At last a strange sht breath of air

”What is that?” asked Frank

”Ther mill whar ther nized the sh the darkness Never for a moment did she hesitate; she seemed to have the eyes of an owl

All at once they heard the sound of gently running water

”Is there a streah har,” answered the girl

”Lost Creek? Why, we are still underground”

”An' Lost Creek runs underground Have ye fergot that?”

So the h this cavern, and the cave was near one of the illicit distilleries

Frank cared to know no more, for he did not believe it was healthy to know toobefore they approached thebefore theure of a un in his hands!