The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-29
CHAPTER XXI

j knowed it must 90 one day. How fares
| it. pardner!" called Brace from the opposite
ledge.
Looking across, l saw him sitting on the
boulder binding his arm with his ncckcIoth
Lola is hit The villain has done his
work" | said.
He'll never do no more" Brace answered,
pointing up the ledge.
Van Hoeck had tried to escape the way he
came, after shooting Lola, and had got some
distance along the ledge when the great
rock opened and Slid away.
lie stood on the narrow path nova
CHASTITY spectacle. piece OF quartz had
struck him on the head; a thin stream of
blood was tricklng down his cheek In one
hand he held the Great Hesper; in the other
he graspad his rife.
But he dared not move from the position
he bad reached when the roof tilted up: for
the light that burst in had blinded him once
more. Tho sensitive retina had closed over
| tho pupils, and the blank. sightless ewes
stared wildly round, incapable of seeing.
1t was possible for Brace to reach him by
going along the ledge
VIII YOU save him. | asked.
Not |, pardncr." he replied. L leave him
to Providence, be his end what Il may. The
shot he fired at my poor youugster started
the consarn, and brought the whole thing
down. lis God Almighty's Judgment. Let
it be"
Van Hocck let the rifle slip from his band:
| how insignificant seemed to US the sound
| that came up from below, as the weapon
| struck Il rock. after the mighty discord that
| had Numbered in our ears and vet to him
| how terribly significant!
We could see his hand quivering as he
groped along the ed &c Of the wall
IN vain now he strained his eyes to see
me ledge by which he had followed US. Yet
| he could not stand forever there.
lie found a crevice for his fingers, and
made step forward; he advanced aga n,
but the rock he put his foot on was a piece
| OF the debris that had fallen upon the led re-
II rolled under his weight. He staggered
! back, swinging his arms in the vain attempt
10 get an equilibrium, then he shot forward,
and fell headlong down, down, down into
the abyss.
l held my breath; it seemed minutes be-
| fore that hollow pong" reached our ears.
| telling US that Van Hoeck was gone forever,
and the Great Hesper with him.
There was cord. and to spare. in the coils.
NelgnuhS one end with a stone. threw
| an emu across 10 Brace and whef the cut
| ropes were knotted, and a bridge once
more formed, he crossed, and knpIt down
| 10y me over poor Lola
lie examined her wound. and shook his
| head IN silence; there was no hope.
| We made a mattress Of the RUGS on Tho
| smoothest part OF the rock and attemnted
| 20 hit her upon 1t. But the movement rayo
| her pain, and she motioned us to iesiot
| linen pointing upward, she made signs for
| Us to leave her.
| Not while you are with Us. my poor rel. -
SAID her father. with more tenderness fban
had ever heard in his voice.
| We had the flask and some food in a wal
! let We ate when We we're hungry. seated
| beside Lola. SO 'eu
! Then. exhausted with fatigue and the tor
ribie strain We had been subjected Ia, we
| uhconsciously fell asleep. with our backs
| resting against the rock. The last thioc og
Walch was conscious was the pressing If
Lola ups upon my hand.
| Brace touched my arm.
! Kids gone me
/ looked where had seen her living with
| her face to my hand. She was gone liter
/ aliy. There was little stain of blood unon
| Inc roek-a drop further on, another close
1 70 the edge Of the platform. She had kont
! her promlse-she had been good: and now
! the su1erIngs OF her short life We're ended
| She knowed it was no good our vaitin'N
| poor little cusS.
| felt something in my hand: opening II
/ l found ring | had bought for Lola She
had shpped 1t there before she went
! Sir Edmund and Edith came 10 San
| Diego tu June, the lovelic-t season Of that
! i9Feiy land The air from the sea ten rered