Pittston Gazette

              Kfttilblictlte«l 1 M«D0. ( VOL. XVII, No. 39. v Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, JUNE n, 1897. A Weekly Local and Family Journal . 41.W) per Year I In Atlvanre. AGARIC* . , CrDr^^M' TftLMosT persuapcp * v 'V / ' ".not a watenuu aiuu an, oaiu uranasko. "See, there is the source of the reflection. *' And he pointed to the left through a series of dark chambers of the cavern to a dazzling light "Come, let's go nearer it." He moved a few steps forward, and then, happening to look over his shoulder, he stop}Ded abruptly and uttered an exclamation of surprise. "What is it?" And Johnston followed the eyes of the Alphian. "Our shadows on too ofystal cliff," said Brauasko in an awed tone. "Only the light from the changing sun could make them so." Johnston shuddered superatitiously at the tone of Brauasko'a quivering voice and their giant shadows, which stood out on the smooth crystal like silhouettes. So clear cut were they that in his own shadow the American could see his breast heaving and in Branasko'a the quivering Df the Alphian's huge body and limbs. "If we have happened upon the home of the sun, only the spirit of the dead kings could tell what will become of us." said Branasko. "Puh! You are blindlv superstitious," said Johnston. "What if we do come upon the sun? Let's go down there and look into the mystery." Brauasko fell into the rear, and the American stoutly pushed ahead toward the light, which was every moment increasing. As they advanced the oave got larger until it opened out into a larger plaiu, over which hung fathomless darkness, and out of the plain a great, dazzling globe of light was slowly rising. "It is the sun itself," exclaimed Branasko, aud he sank to the earth and covered his face with his hands. "I had not thought ever to see it oat of the sky." The American was deeply thrilled by the grand sight He sat down by Bra- intellectual energy, and their inlnds, even to the humblest burden carrier, were astonishingly acute and active. "Upon what?" Thorndyke was on his guard at once. with a snarp, whizzing sound. They listened, breathless, but heard no sound aa the rock struck the water and the in whose heart leaped a thousand different colored flames, and which seemed possessed of some strange hellish purpose, crossed his thighs and began to climb up his body, the brain of the prisoner seemed on fire. He tried to close his eyes; but, horrors of horrors, his eyelids were paralyzed. It was almost over his heart, and Thorndyke was fainting through sheer mental exhaustion when it stopped, began to descend slowly, and then, with a rapid, wavering motion, it fell to the floor, flashed about in the darkness aud vanished. was not able to raise himself an inch floor and closed tne door wnen a ongnc light broke round them and they beard somebody ascending the stairs. The person passed by and went on farther up. The two adventurers dared not exchange a word. They could hear the footsteps above and the sound of the electricians outside as they polished the lights and moved their ladders from place to place. "If be should stay, what could we do.'" asked Johnston, after a long pause, and when the footsteps sounded farther away. "Upon having pleased the king so thoroughly. No stranger, in my memory, has ever I*Cen treated so courteously. Every other newcomer is put under surveillance, but you are left uiiwatched."He felt certain that the fall would kill him, and he groaned in agony. His fingers were benumbed and beginning to slip. Then he fell. The air whizzed in his ears. He tried to keep bis feet downward, but it was no use. He was whirled heels over bead many times, and bis senses were leaving him when he was restored by a plunge into th« cold water. "My ancestor was a remarkable man, and be had hitherto shown much inventive nhility, but in that month in the cave be had developed into an intellectual giant. After mature deliberation he proposed a prodigious scheme to bis followers. He explained that while they might, by using the utmost discretion, hold the financial world in cheir power means of their inexhaustible wealth, the laws and restrictions of different countries prevented men of vast wealth from really enjoying more privileges than men of moderate means. He grew eloquent in speaking of the underground atmosphere and proposed that they light the great cavern from end to end and make it an ideal place where they could live as it suited them. men among the machinery seemed undisturbed. Only the widening circles of rings on thC* lake's surface indicated where the stone had fallen. r\. "Good!" ejaculated the Alphian. "Are you equal to such a plunge? The water must be deep, and we wou't be hurt at all if only we can keep'our feet downward and hold our breath long enough. Our clothing will soon dry down there, for feel the warmth that comes from below." "He is easily pleased, "said the Englishman, "for I have done nothing to gratify him." ' 'I thought he would like yon, and I felt that your friend would have to suffer, but I could not help him." Down be sank. It seemed to him that be never wonld lose his momentum and that he would strangle before he could rise to the surface. Finally, however, he came up more dead than alive. He had narrowly missed the flatboat, for he saw it receding from him only a few yards away. On the shore stood Branasko motioning to him, and slowly, for bis strength was almost gone, Johnston swam toward him. "He shall not suffer if 1 can prevent An hour dragged slowly by. What would bappeu next? The Englishman felt that his frightful ordeal was not over. To his Surprise the darkness began to lighten till he could see dimly the outlines of the chamber. It was bare save for the chair he occupied against the wall and a couch on the opposite side of the room. The couch held something which looked like a human body covered with a white cloth. He could see where the sheet rounded over the head and rose sharply at the feet. "There are two of us and one of him," grimly replied tbe brawny Alpbian.'"Etc. it." The Alphian slowly crawled out on the sharpest projection of the ledge. "Are you willing to try it?" he asked over his shoulder. fOP+RIOMT. (097. *Y TMF MCRRIAM COMMIT*. "Sh—be cautions. Those words, implying an in«linatioii to treason, if spoken to any other officer, would place you under immediate arrest. I like you; therefore I want tQ warn you against such folly. You are wholly in the king's power. Another thing I would specially want you against"— Johnston shuddered. "Let's not commit murder in any emergency," he said. "It would not be murder. Everyman has a right to save his own life." the bathing room to watch those re- CHAPTER VIIL muining in the great pool of rose color- As Thorndyke watched the flying ed water. The sight was beautiful. The machine that was bearing his friend waves which lapped against the shelvaway a genuine feeling of pity went in# shgres of white marble were pink over him. n,|d white, and the deeper water was Poor Johnston I Ho had been haunted 118 as °°ra^ all day with the belief that he was to The EngL Aman was at once troubled .... . s . - u- u ! over the fate of Johnston and elated meet with some misfortune from wh,ch , wou regard. Thorndyke was to be .pared, and Thorn- j Tbl)nghtfnl]y he 8trolled away tiam the dyke bad ridiculed his tears. When the bathers into a great picture gallery, airship b:id become a f. t- speck in the Here hung on the walls and stood on sky, the Englishman turned back into j prdestals some of the rarest works of the palace and strolled about in the vast art be bad ever seen. He passed through crowd. this room and was entering a shady re- A handsome young man in uniform treat where plants, flowers and nm approached and touched his hat. brageous trees grew thickly, when be "Are you the comrade of the fellow heard a step behind him and the rustbey are just sending away?'' ho asked, tling of a silken skirt against the plants. ' 'Yes. Where are they taking him?" it was Bernardino. "To the Barrens, of course. Where "We can be unobserved here," she do you suppose they would take such a said, taking off her thick veil and arinau? He couldn't pass his examination. | ranging bar luxuriant hair. "I hasten You art* not a great physical success j back. Tbo king thinks, so my maid tells yourself, but they say yon pleased the me, that I am asleep in my chamber, king with your tongue." He is busy with an audience of police "To the Barrens," repeated Thorn- from a neighboring town and will not dyke, too much concerned over the fate think of us." of his comrade to notice tho speaker's She sat down on a sofa upholstered in tone of contempt. "What are they? leather, and he took a seat beside her. Where are they?" "I am glad that we can talk alone," he The Alphian officer changed counte- said, "for I have much to ask yon. nance as he looked him over with wid- First, tell mo where we are—where eniug eyes. this strange country is on the map of "Your accent is strange. Are you the world." from tho other world?" "It is u long story," she replied, "Yes." "Well, wait till you Pfee me swim ashore and then follow." Nothing more was said just then, for the footsteps were growing nearer. The man was descending. He crossed tbe landing they were on and went down the last flight of stairs and out of the door. Johnston shuddered as the strong fellow swung himself over the ledge and hung downward. The latter waded out into the shallow water and drew him ashore. "I see that you guess tho end. My ancestor was a great student of the sciences and bad already thought of patting electricity to practical use. You are surprised? Yes, it has been applied to our purposes for 200 years, while your people have understood it» use such a short time." "And that is?" "Not to allow the king to suspect your admiration for the Princess Bernardino. It would displease the king. She is much taken with yon. I saw it in her eyes when she danced for your entertainment." "Adieu," said Branasko, and he let go. Down he fell, as straight as an arrow, into the shadows below. For an instant Johnston beard the fluttering of the fellow's clothing as he fell through the darkness, and then there was no sound except the low whir of the cables and the monotonous hum of the great wheels beneath. Then the smooth surface of the lake was broken in a white foaming Bpot, and later he saw something small and dark slowly swimming shoreward. It was Branasko, and the men to the right had not heard or seen him. "You bad a narrow escape," he said, with a dry laugh. "I saw the boat come from under the cliff just as you hung down from the ledge. At first I hoped that you would get back on the rock, but when I saw you try to do it and fail I thooght that'you wcic lost." Branasko rubbed his rough hands together. "We are going alone,'' he said, with satisfaction. Something told him that it was a corpse and a new terror possessed him. For several minutes he gazed at the couch in dreadful suspense; then his heart stopped pulsing as the figure on the couch began to move. Slowly the sheet fell from the head and the figure sat up stiffly. There was a faint hum of hidden machinery at the couch, and a flashing blue and green line running from the couch to the wall betrayed the presence of an electric wire. There was a sound of sliding ladders on the walls outside. Tbe workmen had flnisbed their task. A moment later a great bell overhead rang mellowly. The colossal sphere trembled and rocked and then rose and swung easily forward like the car of a balloon. "Great heavens!" exclaimed the Englishman. 4 'I see it all. The sun is an electrio one." Thorndyke made no reply, but gazed searchingly into the eyes of the officer. Tradmos laughed. The American could not speak for exhaustion, but as he looked at the departing craft with concern Branasko laughed again: "Oh, you thought "it had a crew. So did I at first, but it has no one aboard. It is drawn by a cable and seems to be laden with coal." "Yes." "And it runs mechanically over its great course as regularly as clockwork." "You are afraid of me." "No, 1 am not. I trust you wholly. I know that you are honorable. I never make a mistake along that line." "More accurately, I assure you, but there probably never was a greater mathematical problem than they solved in deciding on the size the sun should be and the amount of light necessary to fill all the recesses of the great vacancy. It was all very crude at the start. For years a great electrio light was simply suspended in the center of the cavern's roof, and the light did not vary in color. A son of the first king suggested the plan of giving the sun diurnal movement and the changing light. The moon and stars were a later development They found, too, that the light could not be made to reach certain recesses in the cavern where the roof ap proached the earth, so they finally built a great wall to keep the inhabitants within proscribed boundaries and to prevent them from understanding the machinery of the heavens." "We are rising," said the Alphian in a tone of superstitious awe. Johnston said nothing. There was a cool, sinking sensation in his stomach and his head was swimming. Branasko, however, was in possession of all his faculties. "We shall soon be through the shaft we first discovered and throw our light over Alpha.'' As he spoke the space about them broke into blinding brightness, and for a few moments they could Dnly open their eyes for an instant at a time. After awhile Branasko opened the closet door, and they went up the stairs. Tradmos bowed, pleased by the compliment."Did they notice our fall up there?" panted Johnston, nodding toward the lights in the distance. Slowly the figure rose and with creaking, rattling joints stood erect Pale lights shone in the orbits of the eyes and the sound of harsh automatic breathing came from the mouth and nostrils. Slowly and haltiugly the figure advanced toward Thorndyke. The poor fellow tried to wrench himself free from the chair, but he could not stir an inch. On came the figure, its long arms swinging mechanically, and ita feet slurring over the stone pavement "I shall aid you all I can with my advice, for 1 know you will not betray me, but at present I am powerless to give you material aid. Every subject of this realm is bouud to the autocratic will of the king. It is impossible for any one to get from under his power." "Why?" Johnston saw him reach the shore. Then he crawled out to the point of the projecting rock and tremblingly lowered himself till he hung downward, as Branaslco had done. He had just drawn a deep breath preparatory to letting go his hold when, chancing to look down, he saw a long, narrow barge slowly emerging from the cliff directly under him. For an instant he was so much startled that he almost lost his grip on the rock. He tried to climb back on the ledge, but his strength was gone. He felt that he could not hold out till the boat had passed. Death was before him and a horrible one. The boat seemed to crawl. Everything was a blur before his eyes. His fingers began to relax, and with a low cry he fell. "No, they are farther away than I thought" "Well, what ought we to do?" "Hide here among the rocks till our clothing dries and then look about us. We have nearly 24 hours to wait for the sun to return through the tunnel." ' 'The only outlet to the upper world is carefully guarded by men who would uot tie bribed." "Whero is the tunnel?" "Over on the other side of that black hill. There; you can see the mouth of the tunnel through which the sun comes." "Is there any eliance for my friend?" When within ten feet of the Englishman, it stopped, nodded its head three or four times and slowly opened its mouth. There was a sharp, whirring noise, such as comes from a phonograph, and a voice spoke: The first apartment they entered was most luxuriously furnished. Sofas, couches and reclining chairs were scattered here and there over the elegant carpet, and statues of gold and marble stood in alcoves and niches, and strange stereopticon lanterns, hanging from the ceiling, threw ever changing and lifelike pictures on the walls. The light streamed in from without through small circular windows. After they had walked about the room for some minutes the Alphian pointed to a half open door and a staircase at one side of the room. "None th-it I can see. But I must walk on. Tnere comes one of the king's attendants." "We need sleep," said the Alphian, when their clothing was dry, "and it may be a long time before we get a chance to get it. Let us lie down in the shadow of that rock and rest" "I suppose so. This in :i new out* trD; "and it would greatly incense the kinj ne at any rate. " if j,e should find out that I bad told "The world of endless oceans?" yon, for one of his chief pleasures is to " es." note the surprise and admiration of ''And the unchanging sun, forever newcomers over what they see here, but white and"— if you will promise to gratify his vanity "Yes. But where the devil is the ju this particular I will try to explair Barrens?" it all." "Behind the sun, beyond tho great endless wall." ' 'Do they Intend to put him to death?' "No; that would be— What do yot call it—murder? They will simply leave him there to die of bis own ac cord, and the king is right. I never saw such a weakling. Ho would taint 0111 whole race with his presence." Without a word Thorndyke abruptly turned from the officer and hastened toward the apartment of the king. He would demand the return of poor Johnston or kill the king if his demand was not granted. In his haste and perturbation, however, be lost his way and wandered into a part of the palace he had not seen. At every step he was more and more impressed with the magnificent proportions of the structure and the grandeur of everything about it. Passing hurriedly through a large hall, he saw an assemblage of beautiful women and handsome men dancing to the music of a great orchestra. Farther on, in a great court, a regiment of soldiers was drilling, its rapid evolutions making no more sound than if it were moving in midair. In another room he saw a great body of men, women and children in varicolored suits bathing in a pool of rose colored, perfumed water. He was passing cn when a woman, closely veiled and simply dressed, touched his arm. "Bo watchful and follow me," she ■aid in a low, guarded tone. The heart of the Englishman bounded and his blood rushed to bis face, for the speaker was the Princess Bernardino She did not pause, but glided on into "Where are weT' the shade of a great palm tree, and be- ronfrronc(;fl with hia niell rf  hind a row of thick ferns of illv,.ntorfl( bnt t .hall try to make yo, great ho,ght and thicknes. ibe waited ni)d(Drf,taud how it all came about. She lowered her veil as be approach- . a , jiij . , . . , j back, I suppose, that one of my ances ed and looked at him from her deep u little isolated laud b brown eyes ,n great He stood tbe Atlantic ocean. He was forced in , 2Tu!T Rtonn to lttljd ,here With his fihiP aut ,,r l • ,, . crew to make some repairs to his vessel ,7 yon, prince," she , wandering about over the island h, •aid, and be, soft musical voice set ev- dlgc,)V( n,d a Imrrow entraDce ta a cave cry nerve in Thorndyke « body to tin- w)th two OT three of hig men he  glmg with delight « My father has ban- loro . when they bad gon, istod the faithful slave that you love *0f 0 lniuVor two dowll into /he illt£io] bnt you must not show the anger that q{ tbf; cavern, which seemed to leac you feel, else he will kill you You gtrai bt down toward tbe of th( must be exceedingly cautious if you earth, they began to find small pieces ol would save him My father would pun- R fa*her tht,y wellt ,Phe mor( ish me severely if be knew that I had £ found, till at last tbe very caver, .ought you m this way I was obliged ]ined with it to oome in disguise. This dress belongs . „Tbey wen, at firHt wildly excited my mos ru mai . over their sudden good fortune and were •And you came for my sake? ' blurted abont u, ,oad their „bi with it aud re. out the Englishman, much embarrassed. tuni Europe at once, but the bettei "Iam not worthy of such ah,gh honor." jnd t 0, Zy ancestor prevailed. She smiled, and tears rose m her exp]ained that if tho wor,£ were in. , . , formed of the discovery of snch an in"Oh, prince don't speak to me so PXhauHtlhle mine of /old the ,alne Yon are far above me I urn weak I the lonH luetal w*uld dCjclill0 til] know nothing I never cared for other jt would worth llttle JUOre than  men than be king and my brothers till „ meta, and that if th WQnld I saw you today, but now I would will- [m]y k^p theirl#ecret to themselves they J J our h , , , could in time control the finances of tbe fe 'Tl T h world. So, acting on this suggestion, one ' bowed heconrteous Englishman. tfa on] d OQt a fcw thouHaI)d "The moment I saw you at the throne ]f( t of it to Europ, of your father my heart went out to ulld part of it to America and turned it you. You wound it up in your music ; juto mom.y and trampled it under your dancing I (CTb cnrtail 8to th feet I have been over the whole world elpoted ancestor as ruler, and, with and you are the lovel,est creature, in it. ,hl with eve aVailable con- It is because I saw you because you are veni,mD, tfaat im.xhauHtible wealth could here that I do not want to leave your 1 re a colony of ean-fuHy cho- They «»Tdo« they will with th r, islaud. tne if they only will let me see you now .. After the m(,n tfleir faiuUieg eu". j i j on bad settled in tbe great, roomy mouth The princes was deeply moved. The of the cavorn m anc(,Ktor TO blood rushed to her face and b-uutified ; w.,f with strong men and food it Her eyes fell beneath his admiring aU(, h ht„ d ,jt tlon, th(, eu. glance. Thorndyke could not restrain tlr(1 (.avern himself. He canght her slender hand ..T(| fbeir astonishment, they found and pressed !t passimmtely to his hp.. that it wag practically endless When y ilt m yas gb e orttopre- bad gone down about *10 or 70 efiI1 ' , . miles below the sea level, they found -ban i7JC'z ve- 2rsirfo# VT C4rk u- »»i Mil of which was dark and rich, t0.rT ? D°W' 8he black roof of the cavern arch- J 1 8h"U W' y°" a*aln ing overhead like the bottom of a great, When we are not watche.l You can iuverU.d lx)wL And when they had know me by There is no about ten days and reached the need for great haste He «mW lhe,n otil(,r sido ancestor calculated that the Barn uH several dam I Hhall try to k. 1AA . , . . i . the cave must be over 100 id lies id dithink of some way to save h,m, though ameter and almost circular in shape, aucb a thing has never been done- Bnt what e]ated 8nrpri8ed th(^ . , , .. ., most was the remarkable salubrity of Footsteps were heard on the other the atmosphere. In all parts of the cave aide of tbe row of A man was it tfae  passing and others smn followed him. and tfa fouf,d tbat tfa felt He bathers were leaving the great pool. fati' {rom their journey, and "I must leave you now,' she whis- tbat had littlo to eat the PT in f l,W n'K 10I10rs y°u provisions with which they were supby talking of bis kingdom continue to £Jied Indeed, the very air seemed per act as you did. \cmr fearlessness and m,.ated wlth a gnbt]e Jualit that gave good humor have pleased him Kreatly." J miud\ud ' 'Could I not persuade him to bring . * Johnston back?" ..p- n u u a ''No; that would be impossible. Those F'ua1?' hcn taft" » ro"nth had who are pronounced physically unfit are pafi*d and, returufd to the}'aU%A obliged to die. It has been a law for a T* P^P1" overwhelmed long time. You must not count on that. £em wUh eXclamatfnfl of over I have, however, another plan, but I *beir appearance. And in the light of cannot tell you of it now, for they may daD~ \he explorers looked at one another miss me and wonder where I am, and £ ft* the dim hght of hen, too, my father may be looking for th° hadyarned they had He will naturally desire to see you uot DOtlct'ifhe at cKhaDgC:it^t had ,, * J come over them. They had all become Wing/she turned away and passed I ®nesfH «P«cime«s ofphysical health ward the apartments of the king. L " t Their bodies tbf* Englishman now bad b'b'i out; tbey were  diaUOKO. Thorndyke wem strong; their skins shone with healthy r *_ or and their eyea sparkled with "The king lias asked to s]Deak you," announced the attendant Thorndyke. "My voice shall sound on earth for a million years after my spirit has left my body, and I shall wander about my dark dungeon as a warning to men not to do as I have done." "WonderfulI" exclaimed Thorndyke. "Bat the temperature of the atmosphere—how does that happen to be so delightful and beneficial?" "I will go with you," was his reply. And he followed the man through the crowded corridors into the throneroom of the king. Thorndyke forced a smile Johnston consented, and, lying down together, they soon dropped asleep. They slept soundly. jj • M M if- CHAPTER X. To Thorndyke the dark corridor seemed endless. The king's last words had now a sinister meaning, and Bernardino's whispered warning filled him with dread- "Keep your presence of mind," she urped. Was it, then, some frightful mental ordeal he was about to pass through? Johnston was the first to awake. He felt so refreshed that he knew he must have been unconscious several hours. He touched Branasko, and the latter sat up and rubbed his eyes and looked about him bewildered. "I promise, and yon can depend on my not getting you into trouble," replied Thorndyke. "I never was so puzzled in my life with that sullen sky overhead, the wonderful, changing sunlight and the remarkable atmosphere. I am both bewildered and entranced. Every moment I see something new and startling Where are we?" "Far beneath the ocean and the surface of the earth. I only know what the king has let fall in my hearing in his as he saw the king smiling at him as he approached the throne. The voice ceased, but the whirring sound in the creature's breast went on. The figure shambled nearer to Thorndyke, and the voice began again: "I believe they do not themselves thoroughly comprehend that The heat comes from the internal fires and the fresh air from without in some mysterious way. At first in a few places the heat was too severe, but the scientific men among the first settlers obviated this difficulty by closing up the hottest of the fissures and opening others in the cooler parts of the cavern." "What do you think of my palace?" asked the king after Thorndyke had knelt before him. "I disobeyed the laws of great Alpha and her imperial king and am to die. Beware of the temptation to search into the royal motives or attempt to es- "It is superb," answered the Englishman, recalling the advice of Bernardino. "I am dazed by its splendor, its architecture and its art. I have seen nothing to equal it on earth." "I had a horrible dream," be said, shuddering. "I thought that we were in the sun and over the capital city, when it fell down. J thought the fall was awful, and that all Alpha was aflame. Then the fires went out. Everything was black, and the whole world rang with cries of terrified people. Ugh 1 I don't want to dream so again; I'd rather not sleep at all. But, hush, what is that?" "I think it leads to some sort of observatory on top," he said. -"I have heard that when tie royal family makes this voyage they are fond of looking out from it. Suppose we see." Presently they came to a door. Thorndyke heard his guide feeling for the bolt and keyhole. Tho rattling of the keys 9onnded like a ghostly threat in the empty corridors. The air was as damp as a fog, and the Btones were cold and slimy. After a moment the guard succeeded in unlocking the door and roughly pushed the Englishman forward. The door closed with a littlo puff, and Thorndyke felt aliont him for the guide, but he was alone. For a moment there was no sound. With the closing of the door it seemed to him that he was cut off from »rery living creature. In the awful silence he could hear his own heart beating like a drum. The king rose and stood beside him. His manner was both pleasing aud sympathetic. "I am persuaded," said ho, "that you will make a good subject and have the interest of Alpha always at heart, but I have often been mistaken in the character of men and think it test to give you a timely warning. An attendant will conduct you to a chamber beneath the palace, where it will be your privilege to converse with a man who once planned to get up a rebellion among my people." Johnston acquiesced, and Branasko opened the door. From the increased brightness that came in they were assured that the stairs led outward. Ascending many flights of stairs and traversing a narrow, winding gallery "And the people—where did they come from?" iii^l "From all parts of the earth. We had agents outside who selected such men and women as were willing to come and who filled all the requirements, mentally and physically." "Not a waterfall after all." nasko, and together they watched the vast ball of light emerge from the black earth and gradually disappear in a great hole in the roof of the cavern. It left a broad stream of light behind it, and now that the sun itself was out of view the silent spectators could see the great, square hole from which it had risen. Far away, as if in the center of the earth, they heard a low monotonous rumbling. They listened breathlessly. Every moment the sound increased. They could feel the ground trembling as if shaken by an earthquake. "But why do they desire to live here instead of out in the world, when they have all the wealth that they need to assure every advantage?" h "They dread death, and it is undoubtedly true that life is prolonged here. Our medical men declare that the longevity of every generation is improved.""It is the coming sun," said Branas- There had como suddenly a stern harshness into the king's tone that aroused the fears of Thorndyke. Ho was about to reply, but the king held up his hand. " Wait till you have visited the dungeon of Nordeskyne. Then I am sure that you will be convinced that strict obedience in thought as well as deed is best for an inhabitant of Alpha." Speaking thus, he signed to an attendant, who came forward and bowed. ko. 4' We must get nearer the tunnel and see what can be done. It would be jseless to try to go back now." As if by mutual consent, they rose and made their way over the rocks to the verge of the hole, which seemed several thousand feet square. At first, owing to the brightness of the sun overhead, they could see nothing, but as the great orb gradually disappeared they bfgan to see lights and the figures of "Stand where you are!" came in a hissing whisper from the darkness near by, and then the invisible whisperer moved away, making a weird sound as be slid his band along a wall till it died away in the distance. "Is it possible? But tell me about the sun. When it sets, what becomes of it?" Stealing along in the shadow of the ;liflfs to keep from being seen by the workmen on the plateau above, they slim bed over a rocky incline and saw in the side of a towering cliff a great black hole. It was the mouth of the tunnel. Into it ran eight wide tracks of railway and six mammoth cables, each 20 or 80 feet in diameter. "It goes back to its place of rising through a great tunnel beneath us." Thorndyke sat in deep thought for a moment; then be looked so steadily and so admiringly into Bernardino's eyes A cold thrill rail over him. He was a brave mail and feared 110 living man or beast, bat the superstitions fears of fais childhood now came upon him with redoubled force. For several minutes he did not stir. Presently he put out his band to the door, and his blood ran cold. There was no knob, latch or keyhole, and he could feel the soft padCi;,,g into which the door closed to keep oui sound. Then be remembered the warning of the princess and strove with all his might to fight down his apprehensions. "For your life keep your presence of mind," he repeated over and over, but try as he would his terror overpowered him. He laughed out loud, but in the dreadful silence and darkness his laugh sounded unearthly. men moving about below. Later they "It is tearehinq for my heart.'" observed the polished parts of stupendous machinery—machinery that moved almost noiselessly. Johnston caught sight of a great network of moving cables rebelling from the machinery up through the hole above and exclaimed enthusiastically: cape. The fate of all the inhabitants of Alpha, the wonderful Land of the Changing Sun, is in the hands of its ruler. Beware! My death torture is to be lingering and horrible. I sink into deepest dejection. I was eager to return to my native land and tried to escape. Behold my punishment. Even my bones and flesh will not be allowed to rest or decay. Beware I The king is just and good, but be will be obeyed." that she grew red with confusion. "But you, yourself—are you thoroughly content here?" "Couduet him to the dungeon of Nordeskyne mid return to nie," ordered the king. "The sun cannot be far away now," remarked the Alphian. "I know nothing else," she continued. "I have heard little about your world except that your people are discontented, weak and insane, and that your changeable weather and your careless laws regarding marriage and heredity produce perpetual and innumerable diseases; that your people are not well developed and beautiful; that you war with one another, and that one tears down what another builds. I have, too, always been happy, and since yon came I am happier still. I don't know what it means. I have never been so much interested in any one before." Thorndyke's heart was heavy, and he wan filled with strange forebodings, bnt be simply smiled and bowed, as the attendant led him away. Tho attendant opened n door at the back of the throneroom. aud they were confronted by darkness. They went along a narrow corridor for some distance, the darkness thickening at every step. There was no sound except the sound of the guide's shoes on the smooth stone pavement. Presently tho man released Tliorndyke's arm, saying: "Ia it not lighted?" "I presume not. I tbink it comes through in darkness. The light is saved for its passage over Alpha." "A mechanical sunt Electric daylight! What genius! A world in a great cave! Hundreds of square miles and thousands of well organized people living under the light of an artificial sun!" "Would it not be as safe for us to attempt to walk through the tunnel to the palace of the king?" They found themselves on a platform. which seemed to be gradually sloping upward, they finally reached the outside and found themselves on a platform about 40 feet square surrounded by iron balustrades. Above hung impenetrable blackness; below curved a majestic sphere of white light. Slowly the figure retreated toward the couch and lay down on it The whirring sound ceased, the light along the wire went out, and the darkness thickened till the couch and the outlines of the chamber were obscured. Then Thorndyke's chair was lifted, as if by unseeu hands, and he was borne backward. In a moment he felt the cool, damp air of the corridor, and some one raised him to his feet and led him back to the throne room. The Alphian looked at him, astonished. "Is it not bo in your country?" he asked. "Never. It would be over 50 miles in utter darkness. There may be 1,000 trestles and bridges over frightful chasms. For the most part I have heard the tunnel is a natural channel or a succession of caverns united by tunnels. The other is the safer way, though it certainly is risky enough." Johnston smiled. ' 'The great sun that lights the outer world is as much greater than that ball of light as Alpha is greater than a grain of sand. But this surely is tlie greatest achievement of man. Vet while I now understand how your sun goes over the whole of Alpha I cannot see how it returns." A cold perspiration broke out on him. It seemed as if boars passed before he again heard the sliding noise on the wall. Somo one was coming to him. "It is nai-row here; follow close behind, and do not attempt,to go back." "I shall certainly stick to you," replied the Englishman dryly. They turned a sharp eorner suddenly aud were going in another direction when Thorndyke felt a soft, warm hand steal into his from behind aud knew intuitively that it was Bernardino. The guide was a few feet in advance of them, and she drew Tliorndyke's head down and whispered into his ear: "It is love on the part of both of us," replied the Englishman impulsively, taking her band. "I never was content before. I went roving over the earth trying to end my life at sea or in balloon voyages, but now 1 only want to be with you. I have never dreamed that I could be so happy or that I would meet any one so beautiful as you are." Louder and nearer grew the rumbling □oise, and a faiut light began to shine from the tunnel and flash on the cliff opposite. HORSE TIPS. The sound grew louder and nearer till a firm hand was laid on his arm. It felt as cold as ice through his clothing. McPbedd, 8:17, is a western pacer worth watching. "Then you have not beard of the great tunnel of the sun," replied the Alphian. "Come," a voice whispered, and the Englishman was led forward. Presently another door opened, a door that closed after them without any sound. Here the silence was more intensified, the darkness thicker, as if compressed like air. In the bright light which hurst on him as the door opened the beautiful women and handsome men moving about the throne were to him like a glimpse of paradise. The attendant left him at the door, and be walked in, so dazed and weak that he hardly knew what to da No one seemed to notice him, and the king was engaged in an animated conversation with several ladies who were sitting at his feet Richard Curtis has added Neale, 2:18, to his stable. "It is the sun's headlight," explained Branasko. Johnston was thrilled to the center of his being as he saw the light playing over the polished tracks and cables and illuminating the walls of the great tunnel.Pilot Knob, 2:29%, by Pilot Medium, ia reported dead. "No. What is it?" Hickok is liable to make Bo Sun, 2:06%, a free for all pacer. "It runs beneath Alpha and connects the rising and setting points of the sun. There is a point beneath the king's palace where, by a staircase, the king and bis officers may go down and inspect the sun as it is on its way back to the east during tho day." Bernardino's delight showed itself in blushes on her face, and Thorndyke, unable to restrain himself, put his arm around her and drew her to his breast and kissed her. George Starr is to train the fast grma trotter Mareego, by AxtelL "Be brave—by all that von love—for your life, keep your presence of mind, and"— Hands were placed on the shoulders of Thorndyke, and he was gently forced into a chair. As soon as he was seated two metal clamps grasped like a vise his arms between the elbows nnd the shoulders, and two more fastened round his ankles. Flora McGregor, dam of Elloree, 2:11%, has a bay Allerton filly at foot. Suddenly there was "a deep, mellow toned stroke of a bell in the sun, and as the two men shrank involuntarily into the deeper shade of the cliff the great globe, a stupendous bull crystal 500 feet in height, slowly enured from the mouth of the tunnel and cuuie to a stop under the opening in the rock which led to the space above. "What was that?" asked the guide, turniug suddenly and catching the Englishman's arm. "1 thought I heard whis- Homora, dam of Fantasy, 2:06, has foaled a bay oolt by Lord of the Manor. Sbe sprang up quickly, and he Raw that she was trembling and that all the color had fled from her face. "Wonderful!" In a bevy of women Thorndyke noticed Bernardino. She gave him a quick, sympathetic glance of recognition and then looked down discreetly. Presently she left the others and moved on till she had disappeared behind a great carved wine cistern which stood on the backs of four crouching golden leopards in a retired part of the room. Something in her sudden movement made the Englishman think she wanted to speak to him, and he went to her. He was not mistaken, for she smiled as he approached."And once a year a royal party goes in the sun over its entire course. It is said that it is sumptuously furnished inside and not too warm, the lights being only innumerable small ones on the outside." Jupe's (2), 2:13%, only start this year will be In the Harriman-Daly sweepstake. "What is the matter?" he asked in alarm. pering." There was a stallion show at West Chester, Pa., recently. Salad in, 2:06%, headed the parade. "I was saying my prayers, that is all," and the Englishman pressed the band of the princess, who, pressed close against the wall, was gliding cautiously away. There waB a faint puff of air from the door, and the prisoner felt that he was alone. At first she did not answer, but only looked at him half frightened, and then covered her face with "her hands. He drew them from her face and compelled her to look at him. A black brother of Ethel Downs, 2:18, by Boodle, 2:12%, was recently foaled at Santa Cruz, Cal. "What had we better do now?" said Johnston. Tho two men were silent for a moment. Then Johnston said: Terror hold him in bondage. He tried to think of Bernardino, but in vain. Did they intend to drive him to madness? He began to suspect that the king had discovered his uatural superstition and had decided to put it to a test. What he had undergone so far he felt was but the introduction to greatest terrors in store for him. "Prayers, humph—you'll need them later, Come on!" And he caught the Englishman's arm and hastily drew him onward. Tliorndyke's spirits sank lower. The air of the narrow underground corridor was cold aud damp, aud he quivered from head to foot "Wait," cautioned Branasko, and he drew the American to a great bowlder nearer the sun, from behind which they could, without being seen, watch the action of the crowd of workmen that was hurriedly approaching. They placed ladders of steel against the sides of the ■sun and swarmed over it like bees. Young Miss, by Young Jim, has a brother of Bingen (8), 2:12)4, by May King, 2 weeks old, at foot. "What is the matter?" he repeated, a strange fear at his heart. "Perhaps we might be able to get into it unobserved and be thus carried over to the other side or reach the palace through the tunnel." Colonel George W. French has purchased the fast Davenport (Ia.) mile track at a reported prioeof 912,000. "You have broken one of the most sacred laws of our country," she fal ■ tered in great embarrassment "My father would punish me very severely if he knew of it, and he would banish you, for to treat me in that manner as his daughter is regarded as an insult to him." Branasko started convulsively, and then, as he looked into the earnest eyes of the American, he said despondently: Gotham sports are agitating a match between Cephas, and James Li, 2:09)4, but so far without success. "I am glad," she whispered, touching his arm impulsively and then quickly removing her band, as if afraid of detection. CHAPTER IX. There was a sigh far away in the darkness, then a groan that seemed to flit about in space, an if seeking to escape the dark, and then died away in a low moau of despair. Before him the blackness seemed to bang like a dark cortain about ten yards in front of him, and in it shone a tiny speck of light no larger than the head of a pin and which was so bright that he could not look at it steadily. It increased to the size of a pea, and then he discovered that at times it wonld seem miles away in space and then again to draw quite near to hand. Glancing down, he noticed that it cast a bright round spot about an inch in diameter on the floor, and that the spot was slowly revolving In a circle so small that its motion was hardly observable. Surely the mind of a superstitious man was never so punished. When Thomdyke looked steadily at the spot, the black floor seemed to recede and the spot to sink far down Into the empty darkness below like a solitary star. So realistic was this that the Englishman could not keep from fancying that his chair was poised in some way over fathomless space. Presently he noticed that the spot had ceased its circular movement and was slowly —almost as slowly as the movement of "They are cleaning tlie glass and adjusting the lights," said the Alphiau. "Wait till they go ronud to the other side. Don't you see that square opening uear the ground?" BraiiHHko paused again in his walk toward the mysterious light. " We have got to die anyway. It may be well for us to think of it, but on the other side, in the Barrens, there is uo more chance for escape thau here. But the adventure would at least give us something to think about Let's try it." It la said that Le Simmons,  goes to Europe, where he will be handled by Dan McPbee, who drove him last year. "Glad of what?" he asked. "It cannot be from the internal fires," Miid be, "for this light in white and r.he glow of the tires is red." "Glad that you stood that—that torture so well. Several men have died in that chair, and some went mad." "I beg your pardon most humbly," said the contrite Englishman. "It was all on account of my ignorance of your customs and my impulsiveness. It shall never happen again, I promise you." The American nodded. E. H. Harrlman has named his 2-yearold black filly by Director, out of the dam of Nancy Hanks, Nanni. She shows great promise. "Let's turn back," suggested Johnston. '' It can do ns no good to go dow 11 there. It is only taking us farther front tho wall." "I remembered your advice. That saved me.'' "It is the door," said Branasko, "and we must try to enter it while they are on the other side. Let us slip nearer. There is another rock ahead that we can hide behind." Suiting the action to the word, Branasko led the way, stooping near to the ground until both were safely ensconced behiud the bowlder in question. They were now so near that they could bear the electricians rubbing the glass. "All right, but how can we get down there where the sun starts to rise?" asked the American, peering cautionsly over the edge of the hole. "I have a plan for us to try to rescue your friend." Knightmare, 3:13 is working miles in 2:17 and promises to be a better mare than she has been since she made her mark, three years ago. Her face brightened a little, and the color came back slowly. She sat down again, but not so near Thorndyke, and seemed desirous of changing the su bject "I should like to understand it," returned tho Alpliian thoughtfully, "and, besides, there ean be no more danger there than back among the hot crevices. We have got to perish anyway, and wo might as well Rpice tho remainder of our lives with whatever adventure wo can. Who knows what wo may not discover? There are many things about tho land of Alpha that the inhabitants do not understand." "There must bo some way," answered Branasko. "Ah, seel Farther to the left there are some ledges. Let's see what can bo done that way." it?" "Ah, I had forgotten him! What is "Captain Tradmos likes yon and has consented to aid us. We shall need an airship, and he has one at his disposal which is used only for governmental purposes.'' China Silk and Jupe, the two great 3-year-olds, are working closely together. China Silk'8 best work so far is a mile in 2:84, while .lupe has been a mile in 2:38. "And do you love the man my father has transported?" she questioned. "I am with yon." "Yes. He is a good, faithful fellow, and it is bard to die so far away from friends." The rays of the departing sun were almost gone, and the electrio lights down among the machinery seemed afar off like stars reflected in deep water. With great difficulty the two men lowered themselves from one sharp ledge to another till they had gone half down to the bottom. Willis P, 2:16Xt Is a cripple from rheumatism. He will hardly race any in 1897. The 2-year-old Ally Chord, by Wilkes Boy, has trotted the Lexington (Ky.) track in 2:3bDi.—Horse Review. "What do yon want with the air- One who seemed to bo superintending the work opened the door and went into the suu and lighted a bright light. From where they were crouched Johnston and Branasko caught a view of a little hall, a flight of stairs and some pictures on the walls. "We must try to save him, but I cannot now think of a safe plan. The police are very vigilant." ship?" "To go beyond and over the great wall." "Where was he taken?" "Into the darkness behind the sun, beyond the wall of which I spoke." "I'll follow you anywhere," acquiesced Johnston. "You are right." "But can we get away from here without being s6en?" "Under ordinary circumstances, neither by day nor night, but tomorrow the king has planned to let his people witness a war of the elements." NAT'o£^g| |Br of tDCe Globe for [RHEUMATISM! ■ NEUMLGIA and similar Complaints, I and prepared under the stringent MEDICAL LAWS,^ prescribed by eminent physioiansj^fl^B BS) DR. RICHTER'S JU W" ANCHOR [PAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! Remarkably successful! V ■Only Pennine with Trade Mark " Anchor,"! ■r. Ad. RlchterACo., 215 Pearl St., New York. ■ 3( HIGHEST AWARDS. I 13 Branoh Houses. Owil Glassworks. 8°c- Endorsed St recommended  * arrer & Peck. 30 Lnzerne Avenue. O.C. Glick.50 North Main St. H Honck. 1 North Main St Pitttston, Pa. RICHTER'S 3 " ' 'STASIA ORAL W fori A flush of shame came into Thorndyke's face over the remembrance that he had made 110 effort to aid poor Johnston and was sitting listening with delight to the conversation of Bernardino. He rose suddenly. They stumbled on over the rocky surface in silence. At times the roof of the cavern sank so low that they had to stoop to pass under it, and again it rose sharply like the roof of a cathedral, and the rays of the faraway but ever increasing light shone upon glistening stalactites that hung from the darkness above them like daggers of diamonds set in ebony. "It is no use," said Branasko, peering over the lowest ledge. "There are no more ledges, and this one juts out so far that even if there were smaller ones beneath we could not get to them." Presently the man extinguished the light and came out. "They are removing their ladders from this side," said Branasko in a whisper. "Be ready. We must act quickly and without a particle of sound. Run straight for that door and climb up the steps immediately." "Yes, the grandest fete of Alpha. There will be a frightful storm in the sky, no light for hours. The thunder will be musical, and the lightning will seem to set the world on fire. That will be our chance. When it is darkest, we shall try to get away unseen. We may fail. Such a daring thing has never been attempted by any one. If we are detected, we shall suffer death as the penqltp* The king could never pardon bold violation of law." "A war of the elements?" "That is true," agreed the American. "But look! Is not that a lake beneath? I think it must be, for the lights are reflected on its surface." "I must be doing something to aid him," he said. "I cannot sit hereinactive while he is in danger." "You are right," answered Branasko, '' and I now see a chance for us to get down safely." "How?" the hand of a clock—advancing in a straight line toward him. The men had all pone round to the other side, aud no one was fu sight. "Be patient," she advised, looking at him admiringly. "It is near night See, it is the gray light of dusk. The sun is out of sight. Tonight, if possible, I shall come to you. Perhaps I shall approach you without disguise if yon are in the throneroom and my father does not object to my entertaining you, but for the present we must separate. Adieu!" "It is not so near ns I supposed," said the Alpliian wearily. "And the light seemed to me to be shining on a cliff over which water is pouring in places. Yes, you can Bee that it is water by the ripples in the light." No such terror had ever before possessed the stout heart of the Englishman. As the uncanny spot, ever growing brighter, advanced toward him, he thought bis heart had stopped beating, {lis brain was in a whirl. After a long while the spot reached his feet and began to climb up his lega With a shudder and a smothered cry, he tried to draw his feet away, but they were too firmly manacled. "Quick! Follow me." And bending low to the earth the Alphian darted across the iutervening space aud into the doorway. Johnston was quite as successful. Ats he entered the door he saw Branasko crawliug up the carpeted stairs ahead of him, aud, on his all fours, he followed. The first landing was large, aud there in the wall they found a closet. It would have been dark but for a dim light that streamed down from above. Branasko opened the closet door. "We must hide here for the present," he whispered "The workers are too far from the lake to sets us. We can drop into the water and swim ashore." "Yea, but where can the light itself "Would they not hear the spiking of our bol.ies?" be?" "I cannot yet tell. Wait till wo get CHAPTER XI. He bowed low as she turned away and joined the throng that was passing along outside. An officer approached him. It was Captain Tradmos, who boned and smiled pleasantly. nearer." "I think not, but first let's experiment with a big stone." Johnston clung tenacionsly to tbe rock. He tried to look down to see if the barge had passed beneath him, but the intense strain on his arm now drew bis head back, so tbat he coald not do so. Once more he made i.a effort to regain his position on the ruck, but hi about an hour they came to a wide chasm, on the other sido of which towered a vast cliff of white crv=tnl. It was Suiting tbe action to the word, they secured a stone weighing about 75 poind* and brought it to the ledge. Carefully poising it in midair, tbey let it so. Down it went tbe ai* | "It is searching for my heart," thought Thorndykc. "My God, when it readies it, 1 shall die I" As tin; strange . spot, Kleamiug like a burning diamond "I congratulate you," he said, with suave UOilteiwaa on this that tin playiug. trembling light was t- Thev bad barely got seated on the