Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25

q. i
culated how many seconds the shelf and the
shrub could sustain their living burden.
Then Beth returned. She had left her maid
with the horses she held the lasso in her hand.
To creep on foot along the granite bridge was
taxing the utmost of her courage She could
not ascertain precisely where it was that the
horseman was waiting below. She was guided
only by the broken ledge where pony and all
had disappeared Therefore she called to him
weakly.
MIR Van-Mr Ean-where are vou?"
Vans heart turned over in his breast. Just
below that split boulder in the trail" he an
swered cheerily. go to that
\ silence succeeded; then he heard, in tremu-
lOuS accents m here: but how am | going
to tie the rope:"
Van answered distinctly. for much depended
upon precision. 'Uncoil it first On one end
there's eye that the loop. Open the
loop to pretty good size and slip it over the
smaller portion of the boulder then push it
well down in the crevice and pull it tight" He
knew that the rope was far too short to loop the
larger rock and reach his hands. He waited
while he thought she might be working.-as in
deed she was,-and presently added, Got that
done"
Yes, she called. Eyes: but are you sure"
His hold was giving way. He answered
crisply. Now drop me the end! Don't watt"
Beth had forgotten all danger to herself. She
had ceased to trembe. She paid out the rope
with commendable promptness Does IT
reach," she cried. "Can you get it,"
He could not. Though sufficiently long. it
was ten feet away, on his right His seconds
were growing fearfully precious. 81 Just shift it
over, more toward Elsa" he called Still calmly
Move it about ten feet"
It began to approach him. jerkily 1t halted;
then once more it moved. The shrub in his
grasp gave out an inch and coming from
its anchorage. Then his fist was closed on the
rope, a..
aside!"
"But-oh, if the rock shouldn't hold!" cried
the girl, care you sure it won't pull over."
TIE was not at all certain of the boulder This
explained his directions. Stand aside"
If it came. it must not knock her over! There
nothing for him but to trust to its weight
against his own. He was strong He began to
come up, braclng foot against the crumbling
wall. winding the rope round one of his legs.
his leg round the rope, and resting whenever he
could.
Her brown eyes were fixed on the bedded boul-
der; her face more gray than its bulk.
At the edge, where the lasso impinged upon
the granite small particles were breaking and
falling ominouSly. Scarcely daring to breathe
as she felt how the man was toiing up from the
nav of the chasm. Beth could not bear to look
where he must come-if come he ever should.
1t seemed an eternity of waiting At last, when
new misgvings had seized upon her heart. she
heard his labored breathing. Even then she
did not turn. She feared to watch his efforts:
she feared to break the spell. \ minute later
she heard his even voice.
Its wonderful view from down below"
The glad eager light in her eyes. which his
eyes met from the brink. put new strength into
his arms. He came up to safety in an outburst
of vigor that nothing short of magnificent.
"Oh!'' said the girl. and she leaned against
the wall in sudden need for support
81 really had no intention of-deserting like
that" painted Van. with smile that was Just a
trif1e forced; "but it's much easier to-drop
into habit than it-ever is to get out
She made no reply. but remained where she
was. weakly leaning against the wall and slowly
regaining the strength she had lost at the mo-
ment of beholding him safe She was not the
fainting kind: but she was human-womanlv
human
Van began Immediately to release and recoil
the rope Too bad to throw away pony like
that" he resumed regretfully. Il always in
tended, if he died Christian death, to have his
hide tanned for rug
He was saying anything. no matter what. to
dissipate the reactionary collapse into which he
feared the girl was falling.
"Now then" he added when the rope was
well in hand. we've wasted all the time
spare second-rate vaudeville performance.
Come alongI'
CHAPTER ~.
Congenial Company
LIE started ahead as he had before with that
IL show of utter unconcern toward the girl
that was absolutely new to her experience. Her