The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-01-04

tae stream. As we rose tne Iurener slope
through a wood Of scattered pines, the
moon came peering out from behind two
bare and lofty peaks that lowered above
US into the southern night, lighting their
icy submits so that they glittered like
blades Of polished steel. 1t was a scene
Of such melancholy desolation that as our
horses halted On the crest Of the hill. l
lowered the window, thrusting out my
head for 4 better view.
In front Of us the white road ourled
down int gorge. an ink-black wedge
Of shadow that drove into the distance
between silver cliffs bright with the
moonlight.
rs this the place you spoke OFF, I
asked.
Its the Berguner Stein, if it's that
you want to know" growled nay cousin
from amongst his wraps. ALSO, I wish
| that window"
told me about the dangers Of the place
sent my eyes to the drivers box. As
was leaning from the left-hand window,
I did not expect to see more than the
fellows hat; but, to my surprise, there
he was well In view, his coat huddied
about his ears. As we moved forward,
tho mystery explained itself. The man
saw was not driving.
"We've taken up a passenger, Cousin
Graden," said I, pulling in my head.
whats that?" he asked sharply, for
my voice had been lost in the loud COM
planning of tho br<kes as we trotted
down the decline.
"The drivers giving a friend lift" l
cried, leaning towards him. Il suppose
he picked him up at the last village,
where"
| l reached no further, for at that in
slant there rose from without cry Of
such utter terror that l sank back into
my place as If struck in the face by a
crushing blow. l saw a falling body
flash by the right-hRnd window; the out
cry of the brakes ceased with a grating
clang. And then, with bound like that
of a leaping horse, the great post-car-
rage rushed roaring down the hill.
l thrust out my head, clinging to the
stills of the open window.
The man upon the box seat was lash
ing the horses 30 that they sprang for
ward in furious bounds. Even as I
watched, he cast away his whip with a
peal of wild laughter that sounded high
above the turmoil of the flying hoofs and
the heavy wheels. He turned his head,
bending sideways, the ,reins held loosely
in his right hand. 1t was the face of
Marnac that stared down upon me.
His hat had gone, his white hair
streamed backward in the wind. And
he was mad-mad with an open insanity
of which l had observed no trace be-
fore. He shrieked at me in triumph,
waving his hand now to the horses, now
to the chasm beyond the four-foot wall
that guarded the road. He cursed me
with furious gesticu!ations. Even as ]
write, l seem to see those eyes staring
at me out of the white paper-eyes cog.
Cling with the lust of murder. Heaven
send that time will wipe that remem-
brance from my brain!
l shrank back into the carriage, that
rocked and swung and danced beneath
me. Graden's huge shoulders almost
blocked tho other window; but I caught
sight Of the CLINT Of his revolver In the
moonlight Was it to be man or horse
One or the other, if we were not to lear
the precipice at the first sharp turn. Sud
denly he shouted, and again l struggled
to my post In the darkness down tn.
road was the glimner of lights. Nearer
and nearer they drew, and l. too, raised
my ySiee In 4 scream of warning. Th,
last fifty yards we took In one bound
. or SO it seemed. l saw a carriage grow
out of the shadow that the cliffs above III
drew across the road; l saw our LEADING
horse swing to the left and leap blindl.
at the low wall that hid heaven knew
!, what frightful depths below; and then
with a tottering slide that seemed t.
~rench the heart out Of me, we curled
as a FACTOR skids, into one thunderou
crash that blotted out the world.
MRS. HARLAND'S NARRATIVE.