The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1909-12-24

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tian name by the man in the clouds
Rushing over. she grasped the knot
ted end Of the rope glance and a
single tug were sufficient to convince
her that the other end was attached
to a support at the top Of the cliff
1t hung limp and heavy. lifeless. A
sharp tug from above caused IL 10
tremble violently IN her hands. She
dropped 1t as II IL were a serpent
Again she heard the shout, and this
time she called out a question
Yes" was the answer, far above.
"Can you hear meY Greatly excited.
she called back that she could hear
and understand. I'm coming down
the rope. Pray for us-but don't wOr-
ry! Please go inside until we land in
the garden. It's a long drop. you
know"
Are you quite sure--is it safe" she
called. shudderinG at the thought of
the perilOus descent of nearly 800 feet
sheer through the darkness.
Its safer than stopping here. Please
go inside
She duly comprehended his mean
| ing. He wanted 10 save her from see
ing his fall in the event that the worst
should come 10 pass. Scarcely know
ing what she did, she moved over into
| the shadow near the walls and waited
| breathessly, all the time wondering
why some one did not come from the
/ chateau to lend assistance.
/ At last that portion Of the rope
which lay IN the garden began to jerk
and writhe vigorously. She knew then
! that he was coming down hand over
hand through that long. dangerous
| stretch Of darkness. The cliff reared
Itself sheer 10 the height OF $50 feet
| directly behind the chateau. At the
| summit of this great wall a shelving
ledge projected over the hanging gar
den. A rope dangling from this ledge
would fall into the garden not far
! from the edge nearest the cliff. The
4 summit of the cliff could be gained
only by traversing the mountain slope
/ from the other side. II was impossible
to scale II from the floor of the valley
which 1t bounded.
The rope was undoubtedly attached
TO the trunk of a sturdy tree at the
brow OF the cliff.
She could look no longer. 1t seemed
hours since he started from the top
Every heart beat brought him nearer
TO safety, but would he hold out? Any
instant might bring him crashing TO
her feet-dead. after all that he may
have lived through during that awful
night.
/ At last she heard his heavy painting
grooming almoSt-the creaking and
strainiDg of the rope. the scraping of
his hands and body She opened her
eyes and saw the bulky. swaying
shadow not twenty feet above the
garden. Slowly it drew nearer the
grass covered floor, foot by foot.
straining. struggling, gasping in the
final supreme effort, and then with a
sudden rush the black mass collapsed.
the taut rope sprung loose. the end
switching and leaping violently.
Genevra rushed frantically across
the garden. half fearful. half joyous
As she came up the mass seemed to
divide itself into two parts. One sank
Imply TO the ground. the other stood
erect for a second and then dropped
beside the PROSTATE. gasping figure.
Chase had come down the rope with
another human being clinging TO his
body!
Genevra fell to her knees beside the
man who had accomplished this mir.
acle She grasped bis hands. warm
and sticky with blood. She tried to
lift his head from the ground, moan
ing with pity all the time. uttering
words of encouragement in his ear.
Many minutes passed At last Chase
gave over gaspins and began to
breathe. regularly, but heavily. The
strain had been tremendous. Only
superhuman- strength and will bad
carried him through the ordeal. He
sroaned with pain as the two beside
him lifted him to a sitting posture.
Tell Selim to come abead"' be
gasped. his bloody hand at his throat
We're all rightr'
Then. for the 6rst time, Genevra
peered IN the darkness at the figure
beside her-a slight, graceful woman
in oriental garb The woman turned
and lifted her face to the heights from
which she had descended. In Shrill
eager voice she called out something
in a language strange to the princess
|; A faint shout came from on high. anC
once more the rope began TO writhe.
The princess passed her hand oveI
her eyes, bewildered. The face of tht
woman in the light. half shaded. hal
illumined. was gloriously beautiful
young. dark. brilliant!
"Oh" she exclaimed, starting to he
feet. a look of understanding comm:
into her eyes. This was one Of thu
PersianSl He had saved her! A feel
ing Of revulsion swept over her, com
batting the first natural womanly prid,
in the deed Of a brave man.
Chase struggled weakly to his feet
He saw the tense. strained figure be
fore him and. putting out his hand