The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-01-10

clear the turn without charging the low
wall that guarded the unknown depths
of the gorge. But to my horror, l saw
that this was chance our driver was
preventing, for it was he who had edged
nus team against the cliff They would
have to pass him on the outer side.
started up the road, shouting to him;
but as | did 50, l saw Reski spring upon
the box l heard cries of furious alter
cation, and then the driver was thrown
from his place He dropped on hands
and knees; then rose and came running
past me round the bend.
The whip cracked, and our team
swung across the road, drawing up on
the edge of the precipic If the man
who drove the runaways were not struck
with terror, they had yet a hope of
safety.
They were not one hundred yards
away. l could see in the bright moon
light how the horses bounded forward,
the traces now slackening, now tighten
ing to the desperate plunges SevenLy
yards--and the driver had gone mad. He
was waving his arms and shrieking. not
in terror, but rather in EEhoops Of joyous
exultation. 1t was a fearful thing to
see those gestures and to hear those wild
imprecations when death was so very
near. Another second, and they were in
the shadows, close upon US.
And Reski? | had almost forgotten
him. Stiff rs soldier upon duty he sat,
the reins tight in his hand, looking Meth
er to right nor left, waiting the fate THAI
might come to him Ii 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 mol
for By whatever rank men knew him, he
was a most honorable gentleman.
Like a fash of light striking through
darkness, I realized that the runa ways
were still holding the outer edge of the
road; that it must happen-that there
was no escape. And as | did so, there
came a crushing. rending shrek that I'LL
ed the whole air like the falling of a
Jhunderbolt. Dimly l saw the great
carriages collide, rebound-and then but
one remained.
The spirit went out of me. l covered
my face with my hands, crouching
against the cliff. praying 10 heaven that
at least the screaming of the horses might
soou be ended.
How long 1 stayed there 1 do not
know. but l was reused by footsteps
passing before me. l started up with
a cry.
Il beg your pardon, madam" said a
well-known voice. Cad if it isn't Mary
Weston -
1t was Sir Henry: but what was that
he carried in his arms?
WHO is it?' I asked. pointing.
at is Robert" he answered gravely.
He has had a nasty tap on his head
I'm afraid. If you will look to aim, Miss
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 wer. 1
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 il was such as those
carry who die in a noble effort, covering
heir memory with honor For as Sir
Henry has explained. it was Reski who
saved their lives. They could never else
nave cleared the bend of the road As it
vas, when their leading horse jumped
he wall, his weight swung their carriage
'ound, striking the other on the side. so
hat while they were left. battered. on
he edge. with one horse dangling-untill
he harness broke-Reski, his carriage
md his team, were hurled over the cliff
Marnac had already been flung to de-
truction at the first impact.
We learned in time the details of his
insane scheme. A heavy bribe had won
he help of the Cornish loafer-though,
o be honest with him. the man had no
uspicion of the evil purpose TO which
is kilograms would be placed. From
DOR Martha. love-lorn and middle-aged. I
e had gathered his news. 1t was Mar +
&C who had sent the further kilograms Z
0 Sir Henry, calculating well the time r
t which they could arrive. He had
tayed at the village Of Alvaneu, and
hen the carriage passed it. had begged
lift as far as Bergun, request grant $
4 readily enough by their driver. The [
cor fellow had been struck on the head t
I the entrance of the gorge, and so h
lrQNO lTOLl MS pAdNE- liz ALtA AlOL bEEl 4
eriously injured, and. indeed. was of ;,
Iuch assistance to US all later in that
rening.
l must add that Sir Henry dispatched D
lie whole of the great reward he had l
Tered to Reski's next of kin. They b
ere but distant relatives, as his wife q
as dead. and it had been his only son n
lat Marnac murdered.
So ended the story that Robert. right I
enough. has named The Trail of the :
cad" for indeed it was blood-stained a
It'll. l would have had Robert him 4
II to conclude it. but that he insists
at there is no necessity. One thing Il
lly does he ask that | should add q
ough. indeed it is a matter that will u
I'VE been already guessed. To please ~
m. l viii write it down.
Robert and were married in June. g
THE End q