Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30

and some remarks made In an under
tone as 10 the baseness or the girl
treachery, but she deigned no reply until
she came within hearing OF the Lost
Creek Waterfall. to which reference has
been made before.
call in all your plcketsr' she exclaimed
imperiously Toms mighty nigh here
somewheres. an you uns is such pore
shots that you'd better have lot OF men
ready TO shoot
The pickets had spent the night before
on the mountain. as they had also spent
several nights preceding. Word was now
sent out, and all of them were summoned
down TO the spot in question.
Now stay where you are, and remem-
Der about them two minutes you promised
to give us-for our last interview, you
know. Hei her
with these words Mag cautiously ad-
vanced until within about fifty yards OF
the fall. Then she stepped out OF sight
between several large powders. The
posse grasped their rifles and waited in
silence. The Sheriff held in hand a watch,
with which TO tell the passage OF the two
minutes.
do you reckon he's been hidin all this
time in that hole?' asked one man In a
low whisper
him?' asked another.
Then all was quiet save the "Tlck
tick" OF the Sherif's watch. When the
time lacked but a few seconds of being
out a wOman's figure hurriedly glided
from behind the rocks and fastened up
the mountain side. The left hand pressed
a handkerchief 70 the eyes, but the right
hand pointed backward toward the rocks.
Scarcely a moment later mans hsure
emerged and made a Wild dash for Lost
Creek Waterfall. There was no mistakins
the apparel. 1t was the same suit Of well
worn "butternut" jeans. and the same old
brown peaked SLOUGH hat that Tom HOus-
ton had worn when he disappeared. Per
haps II was the recollection Of their pro-
mise, or perhaps II was only the sudden
ness Of the apparitiCn; at any rate, not
"A shot was fired until the figure made a
final leap before disappearing into the
deep. dark hole into which the water
fell Just as It was poised in midair halt
a dozen rifles rang out loud and clear.
High above the multitudinous mountain
echoes which they woke. a wild. shrill
scream arose Every man in the posse
rushed pell-mell TO the black hole. but
when they peered into It's depths nothing
was 10 be seen, and nothing was 70
be heard save the roar Of the fall and the
swish OF the foam.
Those rocks on that side would giy-
a fellow plenty OF foothold." remarked
one man to the Sheriff Air y0 a-goin'
ing'
"Nawr' answered that official Il amt
laundering to run afoul OF Tom HOustOn's
shootin'-irons in the dark"
However, he put his face in at the dark
opening and shouted Surrender" though
his voice was well-nigh drowned by that
Of the water. Then very cautiously he
pushed a big revolver into the darkness
and pulled the trigger \ long. rever-
berating cavernous below was the only
response.
"Jeeminyr' he calculated. 1T sounds
Ike n million OF devils might live down
therer'
Then a sudden thought seemed TO strike
him.
see here" he shouted. About half
Of you fellows run down the mountain
auckland stand guard a the place
where Lost Crlck comes out again"
His meaning was comprehended In an
instant, and about half the posse dashed
away 10 execute his orders.
80 that was Mays little game. was
it?" continued the Sheriff. she thought
I'd cal in my picket lines. an then Tom
could slip out the lower end OF the hole
guess nobody knows il better than him
and she'd have her so besides. She was
sharp TO get her money beforehand.
wonder where she f. now?'
She was nowhere 70 be seen. II seemed
that during the tumult she had slipped
away unobseFve5. The Sheriff made no
attempt 10 follow her; perhaps he remem-
bered his promise not 10 do so.
1T don't make no difference" he re-
marked. We've got Tom in a hoe this
] 81 ,rrfsh hot lie Of no Er1
guarded. It's only A question OF a little
time now II we don't drive him out, We
can easily starve him out. 1 think some
fellow winged him when he jumped, any
/ how"
That night three men with rifles IN
/ their hands stood guard at the lower
| opening OF the underground passageway
( Of Lost Creek. and three stood at the
| upper one. The next day they were re-
/ Heved by others. and so II continued fol-
/ a full week Tom Houston did not ap
pear. One afternoon at the end Of this
/ period. Toms big peaked SLOUGH ha
fioated out into the sunlight at the lower
/ entrance The watchers examined II
/ with all the eagernesS Of intense excite
| ment.
Something else is goln' to float out
pretty soon now" exclaimed one in al
awestruck whisper.
Sure enough, not half an hour later
something else" did float out.
Look OUT re comin'r' exclaimed the
first one who saw H.
As II reached the first faint rays OF
daylight the watchers peering In could
recognize the well-wOrn suit OF butter
/ NUT Jeans which Tom Houston had beer
used TO wear. When 1t reached the full
] light Of day they saw that a wealth OF
soft brown hair had fallen back from IN.
| marble brow Of a woman. Ihey ma.
10 take a second glance 70 realize that II
was Mag. The old, radiant beauty was
| unconquered. even by death; but the old
| look of naughty defiance was gone. and II
/ its place was a look Of tender restfulness
| that was new 10 them. The only sign OF
a struggle was the black welt on the face
where Tom had struck her when she wen
10 him 10 unfold her plan for saving hi:
life. AS the watchers gazed at the PLACID
features the various details OF her sell
sacrifice came 10 them, one at a time.
Il bet she had him hid in this place
all along" whispered one. The only
trouble was that the lines was drawet
so tight around that she couldn't get hin
out"
she changed clo'es with him mighty
quick that eyenin'." said another.
TON slipped off with her clothes on
but ] bet she had some others hid GU
somewheres for him to put on. i wouldn'
doubt but she gave him them nifty dol
lars TO 90 on. Lord knows where he l.
by this time-in Halifax mebby."
"She thought she could make her wa
down here and slip out before we'd thinl
TO head her of. She might "a done II
too. II some fellow hadn't winged he
when she Jumped" said one OF the guards
lifting her right arm; Il seemed to hav
been shattered by rife ball.
"She was a powerful sinful woman,
said another.
| ..Yea hui she loved Tom Houston al