The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-15

ahead"
They crept among low shrubs and
around the powders, carefully guard
ing every slightest movement lest
some rustic of disturbed foliage. or
sound of loosened stone, might draw
the fire of those keen watchers. Every
inch Of their progress was attained
through tedious cropping, yet the dis.
tance to be traversed was short. and
Hampton soon found himself pressing
against the uprising precipice Against
that background of dark cliff they
might venture to stand erect, the faint
glimmer of reflected light barely sufi-
cient to reveal to each the shadowy
outline of the other
Don't move an inch from this spot"
he whispered. 1T wouldn't be square
deal. Kid. to leave those poor fellows
to their death without even telling
them there's a chance to get out"
She attempted no reply, as he glided
noiselessly away, but her face, could
! he have seen It, was not devoid of ex-
/ preston. This was an act of gener.
osity and deliberate courage of the
very kind most apt to appeal to her
nature, and within her secret heart
there was rapidly developing a re-
spect for this man, who with such
calm assurance won his own way.
Then, suddenly, that black curtain was
rent by jagged spurts of red and vel
low flame. DaZed for an instant, her
heart throbbing wildly to the sharp
reports of the rifles, she shrank cover.
ing back, her fascinated gaze fixed
on those imp-like figures leaping for.
ward from rock to rock. Almost with
the flash and sound Hampton sprang
hastily back and gathered her in his
arms.
Catch hold, Kid, anywhere; only &C
up, and Quick!"
She retained no longer any mem
DRY Of Hampton; her brain was com
pletely terrorized. Inch by inch, foot
by foot, clinging to fragment Of rock
here, grasping slippery branch there
occasionally helped by encountering q
deeper cash in the face of the pTeci
pice, her movements concealed by the
scattered cedars, she toiled feverishly
up. The first time she became aware
that Hampton was closely following
was when her feet slipped along &
naked root, and she would have
plunged headlong into unknown depth!
had she not come in sudden contac
with his supporting shoulder. Fain
and dizzy, and trembling like leaf o
an aspen, she crept forward onto ;
somewhat wider ledge Of thin rock
and lay there quivering painfully from
head to foot. A moment of suspense
and he was outstretched beside her
resting at full length along the yer.
outer edge, his hand closing tight.
over her own.
Remain perfectly quiet" he whis
pered, painting heavily. I'VE can b
no safer anywhere else"
Shots and yells, the dull crash c
blows, the shouts of men engaged i
a death grapple, the sharp cracklin
of innumerable rifles, the inarticulat
> means of pain, the piercing scream {
sudden torture, were borne upwar
TO them from out the blackness. A
{ at once the hideous uproar ceased wit
final yelping of triumph. seemingl
! reechoed the entire length of tn
chasm, in the midst of when one sill
gle voice pleaded pitifully,-only I
die away in a shrek The two agol
lied fugitives lay listening. their ear
S strained to catch the slightest SCUM
from below. Hampton's ears could di
b Germ evidences Of movement, and b
q heard cultural voices calling ar di
g lance. but to the vision all was blacl
: These uncertain sounds ceased, Ii
d strained ears of the fugitiyes hear
b the crashing Of bodies through til
e thick shrubbery, and then even III
II noise died away in the distance. Y,
d neither yentured to stir or speak
g. may be that the girl slept fitfull
e worn out by long vigil and intenE
J. strain; but the man proved less 70
U tunate, his eyes staring out continua
p ly into the black void. his though
leI upon other days. His features wei