Evening star., 1905-11-11

The Needle was high point Of rock with
an oval opening entirely through 1t near
the top, which had the appearance OF the
eye of q needle. The pass wound about the
base, of this rock and was rough and sell
dom travelled. 4
The officer approached the Needle from
the east side, and had almost reached the
base of the rock when a sudden sickness
OF heart seized him, and he reeled to a
boWlder and sat down, mepping clammy
perspiration from his brow. The sun had
already mounted beyond the eye of the
Needle and was blazing from the sky there
In all It's splendor just above small cloud
apparently no larger than an ordinary
housetop. The hour was past for the ma
turity OF Black VOLTS fiendish plan. what
ever 1t had been, and deathly shudder
shook the mans frame as he thought Of
the spectacle that no doubt awaited him.
Smalley had never loved before, and the
ma jor's daughter had matured all the
crude, undeveloped sentiment in his nature.
She had filled his horizon for little while,
despite the presence of Will Fielder and the
footing he seemed to enjoy. And was this
to be the end of all?
He arose and approached the rock, half
closing his eyes. to lessen the pain of what
they must shortly view. But the east side
of the base revealed nothing. A momentary
thrill of hope enlivened Smalley. Perhaps
after all Black Wolf had only forced Mil
dred to write the note in order to throw
the searchers off the track, and the girl
still lived and might yet be rescued. His
II e of the letter. You will find my head
less body at Thread-Needle Pass, where
shall be left alone at daylight to await my
fate" How was this to be? How was her
head to be cut off and she alone? II am
to die when the morning sun reaches the
eye of the Needle" He glanced upward.
What did Mildred know of the eye of the
Needle? or of Thread-Needle Pass? Black
Wolf could read English fairly well-he had
| dictated the sense of the letter
Smalley made his way round to the west
side of the rock. Here some scrubby tim
Der and underground skirted a semi-cir-
cular space described from the base of the
rocky pinnacle. The officer made his way
hastily through the shruhbery, parted the
inner border-then suddenly bounded for
ward, at the same time drawing his knife.
Before him lay Mildred, alive, but with her
feet and hands bound to two pieces of heavy
timber.
Mildred's own handkerchief was tied
over her mouth; and over her eyes and
temples passed a stout thong that held
her immovably pinioned, while her beau
tful white throat bowed upward over a
small, round piece of hard timber lay be
meath the blade of a huge broad-ax,
whose sharp edge, some twenty feet above,
cleaned in the rays OF the MONDAY sum-
which now split themselves upon the crest
of the needle. The ak was set in rude
grooves to guide it's edge unerringly to the
fair mark below, and was suspended by
tiny coteon cord.
smalley caught all this at glance, and
him Quickly, but cautiously, lest some
inadvertent movement should disturb that
suspended instrument of destruction ana
bring it crashing down upon her precious
throat, he cut the thongs that bound her'
and, catching her hands, dragged her 10
her feet. Mildred was weak from the ter,
rors of the ordeal through when she nau
passed and was compelled TO lean upon
Smalley for support. For few moments
he allowed himself to enjoy this sweet
ness Then, breaking down some shrub,
berry with one hand, he seated Mildred
comfortably And after this he climbed
quickly up to the eye of the Needle.
Here, fastened securely in the opening,
where the rays of the sun at the proper
hour might fall fairly upon 1t, was an
fists and frown darkly-Wnl Felders
reading glass He reached out ard
touched the cord which held the ak sus-
pended 1t was slightly charred. Thus
near do we sometimes walk to the prllh
of eternity.
Smalley passed through the opening and
looked upon the eastern sky. There hung
the cloud he had noticed before-the cloud
that had intervened itself between the sun
and the eye of the Needle. Reverentiy ne
barred his head. Then, seizing the readlns
glass, he dashed 1t into a thousand frag-
ments upon the rocks, and descended,
reaching the trail just as Fielder and the
rest of the party came up.
A week later Fielder went east. Before
leaving he sought Smalley and gave MIN
his hand. :a
.On what ac2ount?" asked the officer
quickly.
lieutenant Smalley thought over this a
moment Then one day he asked her ana
came away with very happy loohins
face.