The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-01
Their M OP YLAE.
Br MARTHA MeCULLOCH.WILLIAMS.

clllne ana posseSSiNe, alert 10 Win ana
keep her against all corners.
Now the vlrile impulse dominated him.
AS Jack came within hail. Hlndon swung
himself to the head Of the steps, clutched
a hand upon the rails at either side, and
half shouted: Jack, I'm a Hfe-saver
You can't come up
"CaR't-eh, Why not7" Jack demanded.
moving forward.
oh Because you're quite too good
looking, and much too vain-so vain this
cranky structure would never bear the
weight Of IT, Hindon flung back az him.
settling himself more firmly in his scat.
Jack laughed heartily. I'm coming.
Look out" he admonished making a
dash for the stair-foot. As he touched
il, Hlndon looked down with twinkling
eyes 10 say: Remember Thermopylae!
Behold me, new Leonldas holding the
pass"
Hang Thermopylae-and all those
other sissy games" Jack said with frank
scorn. 4 tell you there's no soaring a
fellow that's been through straight foot
ball"
80 I perceive Hindon said, his
twinkle broadening He turned half about
TO glance at Elspeth. She was sitting
very straight, her hand clinched hard on
the book in her lap. the ghost Of a dim
rle Pickering in one cheek. The estate
in life wherein just now she found her
self was clearly not displeasing TO her
Cautiously she peeped over the edge Of
the platform, and said 10 Jack halting
below it: Il wish you would come up
Mr.. Delany. We've are making up a
story-Mr. Hindon is going 20 write it
and you can't imagine how fascinating
it is"
If ] can't imagine It. I can find out >"
Jack said energetically. stepping back
five PAGES to survey the big oaks spread
of branches. The branches were broad,
and some Of them pendulous, Upon the
farther side one swaying tip came within
six feet Of the ground. With a short.
running leap Jack caught the tip. felt 20
slip almost away from him, but man
aged to keep hold, draw Il down, and
clutch II hand over hand until he came
10 place that was stout enough to
swing upon. Back and forth, back and
forth he chung and swung, until at last
he caught foothold in toward the trunk
Inside three minutes he was sitting upon
branch level with the platform. and
but a little way from it. saying as he
| lighted a cigarette: rs this a detective
story? You can put me In as a porch
climber or something"
You're in it already" Elspeth said,
smiling with soft malice. Hindon sat
blocking the way down. divided between
] H.
/ II, all right enough" he said, nodding to.
ward Delany. Trouble is 10 work up a
/ climax that shall leave you out of it al
| together"
Il won't be left out-of the story-nor
/ anything" Jack cried laughing gayly.
rising and balancing himself as he spoke
/ It was a perilous undertaking there on
/ the swaylng bough, but he accomplished
\ it, stood stockstil with folded arms for
/ breath's space. then leaped lightly 10
/ the platform. landing fairly in the mid
die of it, II was almost twenty feet in
/ air, well stayed between two giant boughs.
| But the tree I'm its youth had been
/ topped, so down where the boughs parted
unseen, unsupported, there was a blotch.
rotted and cenkerous, weakening ia
/ tally the sound outer wood. Therefore.
under the impact Of Delanys leap. one
/ bough broke loose at the trunk, and
/ crashed down. carrying with II the rallied
/ focr and those resting upon II.
/ AS a miracle Elspeth was flung far
out among cushiony well-leafed branch
[ let's and got UP with no worse hurt
than the shock. Hindon, white and
/ breathless, also scrambled to his feet.
but with an arm dangling Imply beside
/ him. Delany lay motionless. senseless
/ he had struck his head in falling, cut
| ting an ugly cash.
/ Elspeth dropped down beside him, and
| laid her cheek against his. crying softly:
Jack Jack! You won't so and leave
me. Jack. This Is Elspeth. You love me!
| You will live for me! Darling, open
/ your eyes! God can't be so cruel as to
take you just as I know how love you
/ There was a fintter of the heavy eyelids.
| HindOn, white and remOrseful, touched
/ Elspeth's shoulder: He is-only stunned. -
/ he said. But, of course, YOU will never
/ forgive me-
There is nothing to forgive" Elspeth
/ said looking up at him with wet eyes.
| Indeed / owe you much-it was all in
\ fun-and but for it, I might not have
/ found out in time about the obstacle"
Copyright 1897. BY E. C. PsrcelLl