Evening star., 1901-05-25
ays and hovers above him like a benedic-

days and hovers above him like benedic-
ton"
You must have got that out of some
book said Healy, but 1t rings true. and
| believe Letfingwell, that you and 1 un-
derstand each other Don't we?"
Il think We do" said heartily and then
we shook hands.
AS we stood there. face to face, saw
dark form uprear itself directly behind
Healy. 1t was Manuel. a savage scowl on
his brow and his eyes glittering
Look out"' L cried and leaped toward
the Mexican.
A blow fell on the back of my head NV
brain reeled and L threw up my hands and
fell unconscious to the floor.
On regalnlng my senses | found that l
was bound. hand and foot. and gagged
with a strip of canvas. 1t was some time
before my brain could take cognizance of
anything further. and then 1 discovered
that l was not in the mill. but was out
of doors in the bright moonlight lying on
the taiiings pile close to the tanks. My
head throbbed feverishly at the point where
it had been struck, and every effort
painful. even the effort to think. 1t flashed
over me that Manuel had come stealthily
to the mill for the purpose Of stealing the
gold which it was known l would retort
that night. And then, as 1 thought of the
demoniacal look on the Mexican's face q
sharp fear assailed me on Healys account
Just then l heard voices and turned my
head On the plank walk that spanned
the top OF an empty cyanide tank l saw
other two standing erect. The former l
knew must be Healy and the latter the
pair who had set upon u.s.
You was telling me- senor." came the
voice of Manuel. low but sibilantly clear,
and pulsing with hate. that you throw me
to the tank and keel me with the poison.
Cospetto! You would treat me as one dog
and will be treating you the same. You
hear?'
My heart stood still with horror as saw
Manuel push Heaiy into the empty tank
and then run and kneel by the valve which
controlled the flow of poison. 1t was
diabolical idea into the Mexicans mind.
The cyanide solution. when turned on.
would gush up into the tank from below.
1 struggled in my bonds at the thought Of
what would happen.
There was something wrong with the.
valve for I could hear Manuel rattling at
it and cursing in his native tongue; then,
Of sudden, clear voice called:
stop! Take your hands from that pipe"
Miss Grafton! A wild thrill shot along
my nerves. To my dying day | shall never
forget the picture so clearly lined against
the moonlit background. All was in sill
houette save the storage vat and the figure
Of the girl There was a walk around the
base of the solution tank and the expert
had just stepped into view. the sivery
light full upon her face and striking a
dull CLEAN from revolver which she held
in her hand and pointed downward at the
Mexican. Manuel, in an attitude of be-
WllueTeu surprise ana DafHed Jury, StOOu
gazing at the wraith-like form of Miss
Grafton. The other Mexican, farther
along the walk, seemed stunned and inca
pable of movement. Thus, for a brief
space the three figures stood and only the
abrupt banging Of door in the direction
of the bunk house broke the spell.
''Vamous, Manuel" shouted the big Mex
leans comrade. whirling and dashing down
the incline. Los minadorsr'
In twinkling Manuel followed his COM
rade, both vanishing into the ShadOwy
mesquite and greasewood bushes below the
mill. They were hardly out of sight be-
fore half dozen of the miners and mill
men plunged upon the scene
What in HI is goin' on here?' burst
from old Truffles. who headed the rein
forcements. Beg yer pardon, Miss Graf
that this was you. Billings said as how he
heard suspicious noises down this way, and
allowed there was somethin' wrong. What's
ter pay, anyhow"
Grafton pointing below her. her voice for
the first time showing traces of agitation.
He may be hurt. Mr.. Truffies, please
jump down and lift him up
Truff1es and two more dropped into the
tank and lifted the super so that the others
could drag him out upon the plank walk.
Truffies sWOre roundly when he saw how
Healy was bound and gagged. and / heard
a cry of joy break from Miss Graftons lips
evidence enough, so far 1 was con-
cerned. that the super was uninjured.
'It was Manuel and Pedro cried Miss
Grafton. They We're about to turn the
cyanide into the tank when I came. They
ran in the direction of the creek. You may
catch them yet
Trufles and the rest took up the pursuit
at once, and, in making for the creek, dis
covered me-
1.-The assayer, by thunder." muttered the
amalgamator, tearing off my bonds and
freeing me of the gag. "What was it,
Mr.. Leftingwell? Robbery"
Yes I gasped. After them. Truffiesi
Catch them II you possibly can't
They rushed away and l went back into
the mill, where found the gold just as it
had been left. After placing the yellow
balls in the laboratory safe, 1 tied up my
aching head with a handkerchief and went
out to see what had become of Miss Graf
ton and Healy. l could not find them at
first, but at the end Of a few minutes
search L passed around the first tier Of
tanks and came suddenly upon them They
were close together and Healy's arm was
about her waist and her head was lying
on his shoulder 1 whirled hastily but
they heard me and Miss Grafton drew
away from the super and he turned In my
direction.
"Who's that?" he demanded ooh. is
1t you. Leftingweu: We've been looking
all around for YOU
Thanks said I; 'rt was very kind of
you to think of me at such time. I'll see
you in the morning and we'll"
''Wait!" cried Healy. coming closer and
catching my arm. Whats the meaning
Of that bandage around your head? Were
you hurt?"
Bruised, that's ALL answered lightly.
"Ard you?''
Not even scratch. But"-he looked
toward the cyanide tank and shuddered-
'if it had not been for Edna's bravery
there would have been an altogether differ
ent story. She came down to turn off the
cyanide from one of the filled tanks and
got here just IN time to prevent it from
being turned on to that other one"
Edna! Up to that hour the super had
never called Miss Grafton by her first
name. Verify, his wooing must have taken
mighty bound forward through the
events of that night.
THAT revolver" went on Healy. was
one that had given Edna. You see. 7 felt
nervous after that trouble with Manuel to-
day and as 1 had a small weapon which
she could conveniently carry, 1 requested
her to take it and always keep it handy.
Did you see what took place, Leff1ngwell?"
II saw it all
'You never saw woman act any pluck