The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-25

ard when he was J1 MS way up 70
work his claim. II was no accident
The supports Of the little wootcS bridgc
over zine creek We're almost cut away,
and when he rode on TO Il. OF course.
Il went down with him and his horse"
"waaL II il was me. who's goln' TO
prove ity And II | bunglei that Job ]
aln't a-goln' 10 queer this, don't you
forget Il. Now no more foolin'. See
that rock over yender on the trailg
You 10 along TN you reach II. then
climb up aud stand right on top OF
IT,"
Lee oheyed perforce. aud as she slow.
A trayersed the foCr hundred or so
feet her mind was busy, but she
could devise no way OF escape. Above
were the preclpltous rocks, below the
rreclplce. before the narrow rail- ami
behind was Pete Long ready to shoot IL
she attempted TO run,
The rock indicated by Long jutted
up from the very edge Of the ledge.
almost overhanging the abyss. The
girl carefully climbed It's rough sides
snd. reaching the apex. where there
was Just room for her feet. stood up
right. A glance backward made her
feel faint and she turned toward the
man.
"pon't be skeered!. he yelled. II
aln't a.goln' to hit yer"
He took deliberate aim. and the bul-
let cut the air within an Inch OF her
overalls. The next passed between her
ankles, a third whixzed just above her
sombrero and fourth almost grazed
her right hand. But Lee neryed her
self. clinched her small teeth and stood
as arm as the rock beneath her.
Stands as stiddy as one OF them
statyers In the park down to Frisco.
Long muttered. WAL, Ill try some
thin else"
And, hoping thus to break her nerve,
he took steady aim at her heart and
when she held her breath. expecting the
end. he laid down the rifle. then picked
il up again and pointed II directly at
her face. then at her neck. Finally he
fired again. the bullet grazing her
jumper. but leaving no mark, second
striking and splIntering the rock at her
feet.
Still she stood firm, but she knew she
could not hold out much longer, and
death seemed almost welcome. Then.
as Long again played with his weapon,
aiming at one vital spot and then at
another. faint. awful hope crept Into
her consciousness.
When, startled by the sound OF
Longs hammering. Lee had run from
the tunnel 10 learn the cause. she had
lust put in her last blast and had light
ed the fuse. a very long one, for she
could never quite overcome her fear
of the blasting. In her haste. as she
now remembered. she had left all the
explosives in the tunnel over which
Long was standing. and-and the long
fuse must be nearly burned out
'Tll end this thing one way or an
other pretty quick" muttered Long AZ
he fired again. I'm gettin' tired Of
this"
As the bullet whlzzed past her II seem
ed to Lee that the earth heaved beneath
the mans feet, and, following a blind
instinct OF self preservation, she slid
from the rock and fell face downward
ON the ledge. Then an awful reverbera-
tion echoed through the canyon. Rocks
few above and around her, fragment
OF one striking her as she lay haif
stunned. making scalp wound which
caused the blood 70 trickle down her
face.
When a few moments later she dared
10 raise her head she saw something ~
ing on the trail which told her that sne
was alone on the mountain, and. clasp
ing her temples with both hands TO
guard her eyes from other sights IKE
a hunted deer she sped down the tran