Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-06-01
CHAPTER XIX.

Lola Is nit Inc villain mas done
his work." / said.
Hell 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.
He stood on the narrow
path now "a CHASTITY spec
tacle. A piece of quartz had struck
him on the head; thin stream of
blood was trickling down his back.
In one hand he held the Great
Hesper; in the other he grasped his
rifle.
But he dared not move from the
position he had reached when the
roof tilted up; for the light that
burst in had blinded him once more.
The sensitive retina had closed over
the pupils. and the blank. sightless
eyes stared wildly round, incapable of
seeing.
1t was possible for Brace to reach
him by going.oalong the ledge.
Nv III you SuNG ulllls Il dShGNls
Not pardner," he replied. Il
leave him to providence, be his end
what it may. The shot he fired at
my poor youngster started the con-
Germ, and brought the whole thing
down. IT'S God Almighty's judge
ment. Let it be-. D."
Van Hoeck let tho rifle slip from
his hand how Insignificant to us
seemed the sound that came up from
below, as the weapon struck rock,
after the mighty discord that had
Numbered in our ears, and yet to
him how terribly significant!
We could see his hand quivering
as he CROPPED along the edge OF the
wall
In vain now he strained his eyes
to see the ledge by which he had
followed us. Yet he could not stand
forever there.
He found crevice for his fingers,
and made a step forward; he advanc-
ed again, but the rock he put his
foot on was piece of debris that
had fallen upon the ledge. 1t rolled
under his weight. lie staggered
back. swinging his arms in the vain
attempt to get an equilibrium. then
he shot forward. and fell headlong
down, down, down into the abyss.
/ held my breath; it seemed
minutes before that hollow ''pong"
reached our ears, telling us that
Van Hoeck was gone forever, and
h. Hnanar will him
There was cord, and to spare, in
the coils. Weigthing one end with
a stone, threw an end across to
Brace. and when the ropes were
lSnotted, and a bridge once moro
formed. he crossed, and knelt down
By me over poor Lola
He examined her wound, and shook
his head il sileuce; there was no
hope.
We made a mattress of the rugs
on the smoothest part OF the rock
and attempted to lift her upon it.
But the movement gave her pain,
and she motioned us to desist Then
pointing upwards she made signs for
US 10 leave her.
"Not while you are with US, my
poor GEL" said her father, with
more tenderness than | had ever
heard in his voice.
We had the flask. and some food in
wallet. We eat when we were
hungry, seated beside Lola
Then exhausted with fatigue, and
! the terrible strain we had been sub
jected TO, we unconsciously fell
asleep, with our backs resting
against the rock. The last thing of
which / was conscious was the press
ing OF Lola's lips upon my hand.
Brace touched my arm.
''Pardner." he said. In tone Of
awe, 1.-THE Kids gone"
looked where had seen hor ly-
ing with her face to my hand. She
was gone literally. There was u
little stain Of blood upon the rock
drop further on. another close to
the edge OF the platform. She had
kept her promise-she had been
good; aud now the sufTerings of hor
short life were ended.
''She knowed it was no good our
waitin'-poor little cuss."
felt something in my hand; OPEN
ing it | found ring had bought
for Lola. She had slipped it there
before she went.
Sir Edmund and Edith came to
San Diego in June, the loveliest sea
son Of that lovely land The air
from the sea tempered the suns
heat The plantations were already
bur dened with fruit. everywhere
there was redolence of orange.
blossom-''a very suggestive fra
GRANGE. my dear fellow" said the
baronet pressing my hand.
Edith was charmed with all she
saw.
lis this my home?" she asked.
turned TO Sir Edmund.
"Well, we must go through the
formality OF looking at the books
my dear" said he.