Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-02-24

ward. 1t was dangerous place. but
the few who passed that way were SO
familiar with It that no accident had
happened within Heber's memory.
From the bottom, halfway up, the
surface of the precipice was nearly as
smooth as wall. From that point
to the top, the rock was scanned and
more Or less broken, while here and
there a tuft of harsh, tough grass, or
stunted tree or shrub, found 2 hole
in the creviceS
Heber continued to watch the re-
treating vehicle with feeling of re-
greet, as if he were witnessing the de-
parGure Of friends whom he would
never meet again; when suddenly the
wagon stopped, about midway across
the prectp &c, and the little girl
jumped out and ran toward the hazel
bushes on the dangerous slope.
''They don't know about the cliff, :"
mutterei Heber, anxiously, as the
small bright figure fitted among the
haZels, gathering the ripe nuts, and
every moment approaching nearer
to the unseen brink. She'll be over
next. Stop! Stop" he shouted.
Then remembering that his warning
could not be heard at that distance,
he started toward the spot at the top
of his speed.
He had not made a dozen leaps
when he checked himself and stood
with horrOr-stricken eyes The child,
not her own length from the very
edge of the preciptce, was reaching
up on tiptoe to grasp a tempting
cluster Of nuts. Suddenly her foot
slipped, and, losing her balance, she
fell forward, yainly cluJching at the
slender twigs and branches, and
plunged headlong in the fearful gulf
below.
Heber sank to his knees and COW
cred his face with his hands. When
he raised his head again, the gentle
man was rushing madlY through the
bushes toward the place where his
daughter had disappeared. AS the
mist cleared away from his vision, the
boy saw a bright. object against the
side of the cliff about halfway down.
1t was the body Of the child, whose
fall had been arrested by some shrub
or tree growing out Of a cleft.
Heber sprang to his feet and ran,
as he haG never run before in his
life. AS he drew near the gentle
man, the latter, who seemed to have
almost lost his senses with grief and
terror, turned toward him, wringing
his hands and sobbing aloud: my
child! my little Nettie" he cried:
''she has fallen over the cliff"
EYES," answered Heber, with a
shudder, ii saw it all. But wait; it
may not be so bad as you think"
He dropped upon his hands and
knees, and, crawling to the edge of
the cliff, peered cautiously over. II
was right" he exclaimed, ''she hasn't
fallen to the bottom. She is lying in
a stunted cedar fifty feet down. And
she is alive; I see her move her arm"
He sprang up and gazed at the dis
tracted father. :'We must get her
up from there, somehow" he said,
eagerly.
Eyes, yes, cried the gentleman.
Run for help; get ropes"
''Ropes," repeated Heber, sadly.
81 don't think there is a rope long
enough or strong enough in the whole
valley The nearest place where we
could get one is the station"
Then take the wagon and drive
for your life" said Nettie's father.
"Quick! quick. I'll wait here till
you return"
Heber shook his head. Twelve
miles there and twelve miles back!
1t would take too long. She would
fall off and be dashed to pieces, or
die of fright and hurts before I got
here. No: we must try and save her
"But how?" asked the gentleman,
shaking the boys arm in his excite
ment.
'Let me think-let me Think
muttered Heber, while his eyes wan
1ered to the horse, who, left to his
own devices, had drawn the wagon
off the road upon the turf, and was
now nibbling at the yellow leaves of |
D dense mass Of vines interlaced with |
the branches of low spreading tree.
Suddenly his face frightened with a
glow of hope.
Il believe Tye got it," he cried.
Pm sure I have"
Pulling his jackknife out of his
pocket he ran toward the clump of
vines, and, after hasty inspection,
began to hack away indus triously at
the trunk of wild grapevine, foot
above the ground In few minutes
ne had severed it and drew out the
end. '"Take hold" he cried, to the
gentleman, land tug for your life,
while l cut"
Nettie's father obeyed, and by their
united efforts it was not long before
they had fully sixty feet of the
strong, tough vine drawn out upon
the ground, AMI cleared of branches
and creeLerS.
There is our rope" declared
Heber, wiping the sweat from his
for head with his sleeve, land strong
Il