Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-01-09

over Pine creek were almost cut away,
and when he rode on to 1t. of course.
It went down with him and his horse
"Waal. If It was me, who's goin' to
prove its And II bungled that Job /
amt a-goin' TO queer this. don't you
forget it, Now no more foolin'. See
that rock over yonder on the trailg
You go along till you reach it, then
climb Up and stand right on top Of
IT."
Lee obeyed perforce, and as she slow
" traversed the four hundred or so
feet her mind was busy, but she
could devise no way of escape. Above
We're the precipitous rocks, below the
precipice. before the narrow rail, and
behind was Pete Long ready to shoot ii
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 its rough sides
and, 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.
Don't be skeeredr' he yelled. q
amt a-goin' to hit YER
He took deliberate aim, and the bull
let cut the air within an inch Of her
overalis. The next passed between her
ankles. third whizzed just above her
sombrero, and fourth almost graxed
her right hand. But Lee nerved her
self, clinehed her small teeth and stood
as firm as the rock beneath her
Stands as stiddy as one Of them
statyers In the park down to Frisco"
Long muttered. "Waal. I'll 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 rife, then picked
it up again and pointed it directly ct
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, a faint, awful hope crept into
her consciousness.
When, startled by. the sound of
Longs hammering, Lee had run from
the tunnel to learn the cause, she had
just put in her last blast and had light
ed the fuse, very long one, for she
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.
I'll end this thing one way or an
other pretty quick" muttered Long as
he fired again. I'm gettin' tired Of
this"
As the bullet whizzed past her 1t SEEM
ed to Lee that the earth heayed 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-
ton echoed through the canyon. Rocks
few above and around her, fragment
Of one striking her as she lay half
stunned, making scalp wound which
caused the blood to trickle down her
face.
When few moments later she dared
to raise her head she saw something ly-
ing on the trail which told her that she
was alone on the mountain, and, clasp
ing her temples with both hands to
guard her eyes from other sights. like
a hunted deer she sped down the trail.