The Breckenridge news., 1906-06-06

| we come ter the Burnin' Hills. Peers as
though could feel the heat right now.
They were now on an eminence command
| ing a good view Of the lower hills, and as
they looked down into the darkness they
could see distinctly long lines Of glowing
| red, streaking the earth like the trails of
hery serpents. The redness pulsated like
thing of life. and as it did so the very
ground about seemed TO heave up and down.
Then suddenly all was darkness again.
Yer see she continued, 81 may be a
coward, an all thet Mebbe so. IL may a
bin all ghost story. too. But there 1t is,
an We got ter cross thet place.
The brave young man was getting really
scared. He had never before been out In
the mountains In the night time; and the
awful stiffness, broken now and then by
unpleasant sounds peculiar TO the mountain
country, awed and frightened him. His
teeth were fairly chattering.
"I-l-wish we had started back sooner -
he managed to say. "I-I-had no idea
Il was so bad"
eyer might a had purity good idea." she
answered. but It amt a-goin' to do no
faster"
BY. this time they were nearing the
dreaded place. Suddenly. as she reached
forward her foot to take a step. she realized
lnstinctively that 1t was not finding n solid
footing as soon as II should. A sudden and
uncommon warmth came upward, and in
showing her n chasm. with the further
brink some three feet away. Leapingacross
she called to her companion, mind yer
eyeW They had changed places-she was
now the master and he the slave
What Is itf" he asked, as he neared the
place: Just then he took the fatal step.
and felt himself falling. But the girl was
grasped him by the hand and fairly drag
ged him across the chasm.
"Well, | never.'' he exclaimed in fright
say are there many more like thatF'
Come ON, an quit yer talkin'," was the
pre-emptory order.
But say, 1wo-bits, it isn't safe. is itf'
~ aip't afeard." she answered: "if you
are, why stay where you are, or go back
an find the highest peak"
BLAST the little imp," he muttered. 81
wonder II she's going TO go away and
leave me out here all alone. Perhaps II
would serve me right. for I suppose it's all
my own fault But really, had no idea
there was any truth In what she said"
Hello, 1wo-bitsl Don't run away and
leave me all alone!' And there came into
his throat something very like a sob.
In the darkness he saw her some five feet
ahead of him. Don't try to walk thar, or
and it's hot. too"
can't stay here all night"
MeDbe yer could jump across. | did
but m only coward She was becoming
sarcastic, but not without purpose. The
child was beginning to see that the young
man would need every incentive she could
offer to get him to put forth his best ef-
forts. She had no doubt of her own ability
TO clear all the chasms, but she was quite
sure that her companion was not accus-
toned TO such tricks. Now, he stood like
a scared child on the opposite side Of the
ditch. II the situation had not been so
serious, 1t would have been comcal
We'll, yer comin'?'' she asked, i'm
patiently.
He stepped back for a run. but when he
came TO the edge again he stopped short
aud looked ruefuly at the red glow beneath
him. He held out his hand and drew 1t
back suddenly, as he felt the intense heat
Then what little courage he possessed for
sock him, and he began to whimper.
81 just can't make II, Two-bits. Whatever
shall do?'
wall" dawled the matter-of-fact girl,
II s'pOse | could 90 ahead an git some Of
the fellers from town ter come out an help
yer across; They'll make no end of fun of
yer, though"
BLAST the fun" he cried. Hurry up
and get me out OF this. most anyway"
"All right. Stay where you are, and I'll
be back after a while:" and she bounded
away like a deer, leaving George Casey
sitting there in the night alone.
Minutes dragged like hours, and the dark
ness seemed to grow thicker every moment
except when IL was penetrated by that un-
canny glow from down below. Then, as he