The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-29
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It's the very same, said Brace, taking the
stone in his hand.
do YOU take care Of it," said !, for find
enough to do to take care Of myself"
Wall reckon it won't be long afore we're
on the best side o. this hole" he replied,
putting the stone in his pocket.
Tic was certainly i'll at ease and less conf
dcu- than usual. for he took his
tarc1 and examined the fastenings of
the ropes, and then from an adjacent cav
It's he brought out another coil of cord, in
which cross pieces Of stout hickory were
EnOtted at Intervals of a foot. He uufastcned
u nd LAID II loose upon the rock, with the
looprd end free.
The ropes has been years exposed to the
damp, and they re bound to GO one day
lief Cy should happen 10 go this dav. this
AeTe kuutted rome may come in partiC lar
ham y. You know how to use il, my gel
here for a start
With the torch in his hand he began the
return along the rope.
IL, had got 10 the middle when he stoned.
What's thatG7 he asked sharply, holding
the upper rope with one hand. while he
Ia al tho torch with the other, and peered
cut into the darkness
Ii was fearful 20 see him standing there
with the upheld torch over the awful chasm,
thc one luminous object in the blackness.
iid you hear anything, pardner?'
seemed to me l hcered a rifle cooked.
proach, rs he continued his course.
Without accident, or other incident, he
reu he'd the ledge, and with a grunt OF con-
tent seated himself ON a bowldcr letting
the torch drop hy his side There was a
pool 81 water there; with a hiss the light
went cut.
The ueNt instant there was a fash in the
d1t kness peyund, followed by the sbarn
crack of % rifle shot
We could see nothing but from the ledge
opposite came groan, and Brace called
family:
I'm hit pardner; look out for yourself"
The shot had boon fired after the light
was cNtingulShed, leaving him i'm obscurity-
Inc faculty that had enabled the assassin
70 descend hat terrible ledge i'm tho darI-
had enabled him To mark down poor Brace.
WHEN he was no longer visible to our eyes.
his reflection struck me as, torch in
hand / sprung upon the rcpe bridge ia
cross 10 my fallen partner.
baek' PARTNER, back groaned Brace;
lie-backI" ~
raised my torch and looking toward tho
ledge, | saw man kueelinE over Brace.
lie raised his arm 10 silence Brace and
the light fell on the bright blade Of the tTiFa
IN his hand. | shouted TURNING he sav
me midway across the chasm. ana spr1lno
Z" ms ieet. Then recognized him. Ii was
Van uocck.
II was he, bur could believe nv senses
itt~ YES were Nut the same. At that dis
l3hrn his sightless eyes should have been
hardly disttnguishable from his cadavsroTs
iace. but now they shone out black AMI
iaStrous. Yet in that instant. as he lookeI
toward me, they seemed 10 fade away IN
TIM light OF my torch. And this was no de-.
cop-jon of my sight. ~ '-e
WIN "a savage cry of rage he held mn HE
arms 70 snield his eyes from the LIGHT. ami
EE3sping his knife he made his wa, nYirtiT
toward the rock to which the rope on With
ST. Oh was attached -4o 4
In moment the whole mystery was. ro-
veled. He was "a Nyctalops. and bis
1ye blind IN the light, We're gifted with
Tn extraordinary power Of seeing in he
darS-a power by which was eSpIaintll
a3 that had hitherto been inscrutabIa in -bS
rsbbory OF the Great Hesper ana the a.
PENDANT events at Aonken Abbey.
With perception that he intended n ON,
he rope which sustained me. fastened -
reach the ledge on which he stood. nm
my I. ogreSs was necessarily slow. for ira
lower cord, stretched with the weight 4,rGn
2, formed i deep bend. and my damn bdo-s
II pped upon lis Wet surface.
Which would be cut first: Ii If were tho
upper ors l must trust 20 catchiUc tLs
lower a fell with this view, kept nv