Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-10
CHAPTER XVI.


Maynard ignored the revolver, and
booked at the red streak in the clouds
Then he measured with his eye the dis
lance which lay between him and the
dlgure in its shabby peasant dress
Where the man sat, the ground was
solid and safe. Ut was hardly five
yards away from the spot where be
stood, yet between lay the invisible
lime which separated life from death.
Il suppose I might as well write
what you want" he said, after mo-
ment OF apparent reflection. Existence
ds sweet, at any price. If say: Yes,
can you really get me out?,'
II can do that" replied the other.
stSee here" From tail-pocket of his
coat he drew long twist OF thin, but
Etrong-looking rope, knotted together.
81 brought this on purpose"
1T was a tempting bait; but the ex-
preston on his face would have told
Jack (even had he not been sure of it
Rlready) exactly how much good that
rope was meant to do for him.
All that's necessary" went on the
fellow, lis to twist the thing round this
hit of tree, on firm ground, and fling
you the ends. Then TIL skip, tell at
the nearest cottage I've done what I
could for man in the bog; and while
you're doing the best you can for your
self, others will be along and have you
out before you can say Jack Robin
son.
Very we'll, then, I'll trust you," said
Maynard. eve must be as quick about
Dc as we can. but I've neither pencil
nor paper. You'll have to chuck them
across to me. hope you've got a good
supply on hand, for if I don't catch
the pencil and it's your last, We'll be
In a pretty scrape. And / can tell you,
my nerves aren't just now in such first
rate condition that my side would be
proud of me as bat in cricket match. 4"
The enemy's face heightened. eve
only got one pencil" said he. "a
chap can't think of everything
NO, he can't unfortunately, for I'm
getting as anxious about this thing as
you are. Perhaps a little more, as a
good deal seems to hang on it for me-
j don't want to risk not catching that
pencil for my own sake, my friend.
Suppose you split>a strand at the end
of the rope, tie pencil and paper to it,
and fling it across. There's no danger
that I could haul myself to land by
you, and so spoil your game, you see,
for you've only to let co.
That's true for you" said the man.
And he set about adopting Jacks plan
without delay. AT the end of two
minutes, the pencil, tightly wrapped in
roll of paper, dangled from a knot
ted strand at the end of the rope,
which had been unrolled.
1t was Of considerable length, and
when ne had been somewhat clumsily
flung, and Jack caught it, the man at
the other end Laughing tauntingly)
bet go.
Jack pulled in the rope, threw it
safely over his shoulder, united the
pencil and paper, and began to write.
Suddenly he stopped "Jove!" he
exclaimed abruptly. There's a man
coming down tn hill"
lnvoluntarily the watcher turned
head and body half round, for he was
standing now. There's NOBODY" he
had scornfully begun, when like a zig
gag streak of lightning, something
whirled through the air, whistling as
it fell over his head, and the words
were jerked from his lungs with a
grunt
Down he went on his knees like a
stunned OK. his arms pinioned to his
sides, his revovler falling to the
ground
Jack Maynard had not been a cow
boy for nothing. Among all his com