The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-04-29

same world with mef And that, most es-
p~eeially, after you having declared that you
love him? No. You must think that | am
a fool indeed"
But he does live"
Il know 1t. Both he aud myself cam
live long
You surely would not. a second time. try
to take his life y"
Il tell you that he and cam both live.
Of course you would decide for him 2"
81 shall never. knowingly, be the willing
wife of one who has murder in his heart"
II thought SO. Now. Philip Dark. how
10 you propose to die
What do you mean ?" asked Dark.
Il mean that We must fight. Oh. I
won't stab you in the dark. But We must
fight in such a manner that it win be GER
tain death to one of us, and most likely to
both. viii you fight me as l propose, pro-
vided the chances are equal ?"
"No. l won't fight you at ALL"
Are you a coward r
moi"
Then why will you not fight 2"
Because Nancy needs the protection Of
sohie bcttcf ilihIh tIlttl u iuurutIeT. a Quel
is a game Of chance. and l might be the
loser. In that event she would still be left
to you"
"She will have nothing to do with me any
way. Is that not the case. Nancy Z"
"It;s.'
And you will be his wife T"
"If he claims me as such"
oApd Won pksl,n narL .r,n 40 G-l&
me r.
mot SO long as another claims my pro-
lection"
In an instant after, a rife shot echoed
through the room. and throwing up her
hands with a shrek. Nancy fell back upon
the floor, bleeding and struggling in the
last grasp Of death. Dark was so horror
stricken by this dreadful act that, for an
instant. he stood speechless. Then he bent
over the dying woman. never for an instant
thinking ofhis own safety. He closed her eyes
and pressed his lips to her brow-hcl listened
TO the last faintly-drawn breath. and then.
for the first thine, thought Of himself. Turn
ing. he saw Mark standing near, gloating
like a fend upon him. Observing that the
villain did not even retain his rifle in his
grasp. he asked. why did you not kill me-
Mark WebbP p
Are you anxious to die ?" was the sheer
ing response.
81 care not to live after having witnessed
such a deed"
"Then I will give you a chance for death.
1t will be a double death for you"
What do you mean ?"
you died. in effect, five years ago. You
shall die again to-day"
How do you propose to kill mo
II propose to fight. now that she 40
longer lives to claim Your protection. VIII
you fight me :"
Yes
Enough. Yoa nave a knife in your belt
that is all you want. I have the same.
Come. follow me to death"
Where do you gos"
ITO the head of the falls. Do you fear
to follow
al do not. Lead on"
Mark took a coil of rope. probably a hum
bred feet in length. off n peg. and bore it
with him. Reaching the ledge fanking the
falls, he affixed one end of the cord firmly
around the root of Il tree. This done, he
started down the cliffs.
Where are You going 2 asked Philip,
who had been watching him in silence.
"To the opposite 10 lge. across the falls.
You see. in order to reach it. that l must
go 10 the base OF the cataract. cross the
stream. and then ascend the other side"
"What is your purpose?
My purpose will soon develop itself"
1t was not long before the villain WAS
standing upon the opposite ledge. The
yawning gulf of two thousand feet was be-
tween himself and his foe, and the waters
lashsd the ragged rocks rs it Numbered ovor
them.
"That rope Is already coiled." said Mark.
speaking across. Throw me the other end
This was done, and the line made fast
upon the opposite side. Asingle cord now
bridged that dreadful chasm.
Meet me in the centre OF the rope
bridge said Mark. 1--WE will fight only
with our knives"
As he said this, he began his advance.
Philip Dark did the same, and both men
crept carefully towards each other, the
fSHo oSioAh8 icHrtuiy UeutttH tneiT
weight.
They were within ten feet Of each other.
whom the courage Of Mark began to fail
him. He found himself upon the very
brink Of death. and he regretted the step he
had taken. Why did he not kill his enemy
at once. n without mourning any danger
himselff But was it too late nowP No.
He gaxed into the eye Of Dark. He saw
determination and absence of fear there, rs
he came slowly forward. He hesitated no
longer. but drawing apistol from his breast.
while the blood trickled between his fingers.
He waved to and fro, and appeared ready
to fall. Mark considered his triumph sure.
But at that instant Dark raised his knife.
and struck a desperate blow. The frail
rope which sustained both men was severed
in a twinkling and down went their bodies,
whirling through that fearful space. while
the wall Of the murdered arose on the air.
mingling with the roar Of the waters.
The poor dog. who felt not the hate
which filed the breast OF his master, was
the only mourner. and most truly did he
mourn, and that without any comforter
save time.