Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-08-20
II H. L
M AD M AN
BY Harold Garter.

visions Tor climbers. ~ ~" S
utes we shall be sitting wrapped IN
blankets before blazing tire."
The two men stopped for moment
painting, watching the woman benino
them toiling up the slippery slope.
All three were roped together. ana
the woman the last.
"Come, let us proceed" the speak
or continued. Take care. It - very
dangerous here. Look down. One
false step would precipitate one down
this icy slope to the verge Of the preci'
pice-and then sheer for 5000 feet into
the valley below"
take care Miss Summers does not
hear you, Frank" said the second man.
fFowning. "Your imaginations are
grewsome. Besides, you are forget'
ting the rope"
"Ah, yes, the rope. ] had forgor
ten. Besides, my dear Claude, grew.
some imaginations are all that are iels
to rejected sutton"
They advanced slowly, digging tneir
| iron-pronged sticks into the slippery
ice. Presently the first man stopped
again and seated himself. Inc rope
grew slack.
"Come, pull us In" Claude shouted.
II can't move an inch with MISS gum
mers behind me-"
His companion laughed and drew 81
knife from his coat. With q FURIOUS
gesture he cut the rope.
Course YOU" he shouted, furiousiy.
"Now pull and see II you can reach inc
top"
A scream broke from the wonans
l,pa. Claude did not answer, put
pulled with all his strength till inc
veins stood out upon his forehead IKE
cords. He gained yard, two yaros'
then slipped and went slipping down
the precipice. The woman nad ais
appeared from view, yet the rope was
taut: so long as he remained even
on the very edge Of that precipitous
! slide It would hold her securely.
I with bleeding nails he clawed Of the
ice. and at last dug himself pre-
3 carious hold and lay prone upon NV
!. face with arms extended. ..l
u Frank, for Gods sake-for lsabefs
+ sake! Pull her in at least, and ding
! me over"
b mo no, my dear boy" cried the
mailman, mockingly. you are maKine
r too fine a fight; shall sit here ana
l. drink to you" vanished into the
hut and presently emerged with Q bot
e tie Of brandy, from which he began
y gulping great mouthfuls. You fools.
D. he continued ibid you think that
10 would yield her to you so peaceaDiyl
8, She was mine, tell you, mine, berore
d you stole her, curse you'll"
n Hhe brandished the knife wildly
D, The setting sun lit up his distorted
" features. 4.
d, "oh, don't be afraid" he Knocked. 7
n. am not going to kill you, Claude.
RS would like to save you. 1t Is Away
al the woman who is to blame. Here
" take the knife" he shouted, finginl
It at his companions feet without he
is weight you can easily make tn
rs ascent Cut the rope like brav'
la man, and come up and drink confu
e. sion to women"
as The sun went down; darkness
rushed over the mountains. The moo
he flooded them In her silver light
ri. and It grew bright as day once more
IN. The cold was intense.
n. Minutes rolled into hours. tn
N. taunts of the mailman died away int
r, drunken babblings, and finally he r.
"A NAMED silent Meanwhile, inch b
n inch they lost their foothold; an
Il. Claude slid from one desperate gil
90 to another. Sometimes they called
ed one to another.
=, "Cut the rope, DEAR" she said q
last. 1T is your only chance; 70
- must not sacrifice your life for mine.
They said good-by many a time; an
always new hope animated the ma
~ as he struggled and fought againi
~ the inevitable.
" At last, with a sudden WEAKNESS, b
le Welded. The dark edge Of the prec
81 pIce appeared; his body hung ha
'ei Overland then his hands closed owe
en- a rock from which the woman, in he
AZ fall. had dislodged the snow. With
ne last effort he looped the rope over !
" II bore them.
eo That last fight was only a nigh
ok mare to them both afterward. Inc
'se By inch, with infinite care. he Ore
Isn the rope through his bleeding hand
he making loop after loop around q
dr. rock, until, with one last ehort, !
es- pulled her to the surface. and thu
Of lay side by side in safety. The "
or. lsys stu lay wrapped in darkness, b
10Y the tops Of the mountains were r.
ere with the rising sun. Presently its 90
tor Ing orb rose slowly into the sky.
Us shone on the dead man, froEen fast
the ice in his drunken slumber; b
InG hey looked into each others eyes
ne ecstasy Of life and love.
81 MIiEiukee, Wis, Aug. i4.-by =
~ eapsi1ing Of 3 pleasure launch on :
- ,Ift..o,uIn river Thursday aflernQ'