New-York tribune., 1909-07-25

l-,1fatef how many seconds the shelf and the
shrub could sustain their living burden
Then Beth returned She had lett her ula--
z-itb the horses she held the lassO IN her hanl-
To creep on foot along the granite bridge Wa
+axino the utmost Of her courage She COu-t
not ascertain precisely where It was that thr
borsernan was waiting below. She was guide
Onlv bv the broken ledge. where pony ana al
had diSaDpeared Therefore she called 70 htr-
weakly. -,
s.Vr Van-llr. Van-where are your"
Vans heart turned over IN his breast usC.
below that split boulder IN the trail' ne an
Sy-ered cheerilv Go 20 that
\ silence succeeded; then he heard, IN tre1l1'.-
Ious accents I'm here; but how am l go1n-
70 TIE the rope.
Van answered distinctly. for much depende.
upon precision Uncoi1 it first On one ent
there's an eve that runs the loop open N
loop 10 a pretty good size and ship It over tl-
smaller portion Of the boulder, then push q
well down IN the crevIce and pull 1t tight n
knew that the rope was tar too snort % loop thr
fa-ger r1cI, and reach his hands He waite.
while he thought she might be working As IN
deed she was,-and presently added. " Got th'-
done''
His hold was giving way- He answered
criSDIv. e Now drop me the endI Don Z wait
Beth had forgotten all danger 70 herself Nt-
had ceased % trenble. She paid out the ROPE
with commendable PromPtness. Does It
reach>' she cred Can YOU get II,
was ten feet away, on his right His seeonl-
were growing fearfully precious Just SHIT T.
over. more toward Elsa" he called Still calmly.
Move it about ten feet"
II began 10 approach him. IerkIlv- II h1ltr-.
then once more II moved The shrub N 1--
grasp gave out an inch and was coming trJ-.
is anchorage. Then his fist was closed on t--
IAN rightr' he called 'Let go-and sta-s
asidei"
.But-oh. II the rock shouldn't holdt" cr..ei
the girl, Are you sure II won't pull over
He was not at all certain Of the boulder Il.-
IL explained his directions. stand aside
II II came. 1t must not knock her over! Ther-
was nothing for him but % trust % It's weigh
against his own He was strong He began O.
come up bracing a foot against the cru1nblnS
wall winding the rope round one OF his legs. o-
his leg round the rope. and resting whenever ---
could
Beth stood there nearly as tense as the rope {
Her brown ewes were nxed on the bedded Oor--
der: her face was more gray than Its bulk
At the edge where the laSSo .npInge1 up9-
the granite small particles were brealIng ann
falling OminOusIv- Scarcely daring % breathe
as she felt how the man was tpIlIng up from TIL
nav OF the chaSm. Beth could not bear u loo=-
where he must cJrue-If come he ever should
II seemed an eternity of waiting III last wle-
new ruiSgivings had seized upon her heart S--
heard his Iabored breathing Even then she
did not turn She feared . watch his e--'----
she feared % UTciN Jile >tcLl i minute -t-r-
she heard his even voice.
Its a wonderful view from down below
The glad. eager light n her eyes. which his
ewes met from the brink put new strength ---F
his arms. He came UP % safety II an oUtou-~-
OF vlgor that was nothing snort OF ruagn-hrrr-.
Obi said the girl. and she leaned aga-aS-
the wall IN sudden need Tor support
e. I really had no intention Of-iesertlng Ike
that" painted Van. with a smile that vs. --.--
trifie forced: ' bur is 81 much easier t'-.i-'
into a habit than it-ever = % get out
She made no reply but remained where s--
was. weakly leaning against the wall and S-ow--
regaining the strength she haG-lost AZ the mo-
uent Of beholii1g nm safe She was not The
faInt,ng kind: but she was human-yvJr mani
human
Van began Immediately % release and rec1-
the rope. Too bad - throw away pony Ike
that" he resumed regretfullv. I always N
tended If he died a Christian death % have his
hide tanned for a rug.
He was saving anything. no matter what 2.
diSSIpate the reactIouarv collapse INTO which he
feared the Ji-l was falling
O. Now then - he added. when the rope W.
well IN hand. We ve wasted al the time We Cl-
spare on a Secpnt--4-- vaudeville pertormluce-
Come aIo1gi'
CHAPTER N