The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-11-15

the reins tight In his hand, looking Meth
er to right nor left. waiting the fate THAI
might come to him. 1t was only thus
that he could hold his team in their
place-only thus, at the risk of instant
humiliation. Did he dare this for the
simple love of his neighbor? Did instinct
tell him that they were indeed our
friends! God rest him, whether or no!
for by whatever rank men knew him. he
was most honorable gentleman.
Like fash of light striking through
darkness. / realized that the runaways
were still holding the outer edge Of the
road; that it must happen-that there
was no escape. And as l did so, there
came crushing. rending shrek that hll-
ed the whole air like the falling OF
thunderbolt. Dimly l saw the great
carriages collide, rebound-and then but
one remained.
The spirit went out of me. / covered
my face with my hands, crouching
against the cliff, praying to heaven that
at least the screaming of tbs horses might
soon be ended.
How long l stayed there I do not
know. but l was reused by footsteps
passing before me. l started up with
cry
Il beg your pardon, madam" said .
well-known voice. Cad; il 1t isn't Mary
Westonl"
1t was Sir Henry: but what was that
he carried in his arms?
who is itT l asked. pointing.
1T is Robert" he answered gravely.
He has had nasty tap on his head.
I'm afraid. If you will look to him, Mis-
Mary, will go back and shoot those
poor beasts Of horses"
They found them next morning. lying
close together at the foot of the preci
pice- They told me that their faces wers
curious to see, for Marnac still grinned
with the vacancy of his insanity. and
Reski wore also a happy smile. yet one
most different, for it was such as those
carry who die in noble effort, covering
their memory with honor For Sir
Henry has explained, it was Reski who
saved their lives. They could never else
have cleared the bend of the road. As it
was, when their leading horse jumped
the wall, his weight swung their carriage
round, striking the other on the side. so
the edge, with one horse daugling-until
the harness broke-Reski his carriage
aud his team, were hurled over the cliff.
Marnac had already been flung to de-
struction at the first impact.
We learned in time the details Of his
insane scheme A heavy bribe had won
the help of the Cornish loafer-though,
to be honest with him, the man had 90
suspicion of the evil purpose 70 which
his kilograms would be placed From
poor Martha, lbve-lorn and middle-aged,
he had gathered his news. 1t was Mar
nae who had sent the further kilograms
to Sir Henry, calculating well the time
at which they could arrive. He had
stayed at the village of Alvaneu, aud
when the carriage passed it. had begged
lift as far as Bergun, a request grant,
ed readily enough by their driver. The
POOR fellow had been struck on the head
at the entrance Of the gorge. and so
thrown from his place. He had not been
seriously injured, and. indeed. was of
much assistance to us all Letter in that
evening.
must add that Sir Henry dispatched
the whole of the great reward he had
offered to Reskis next of kin. They
were but distant relatives. as his wife
was dead, and it had been his only son
that Marnac murdered.
So ended the story that Robert, right
" enough. has named The Trail of the
Dead" for indeed it was blood-stained
path. / would lave had Robert him
self TO conclude it. bat that he insists
that there is no necessity One thing
only does he ask that l should add
though, indeed. it is matter that will
have been already guessed. To please
him, will write it down.
Robert and were married in June.
(The End-)