Evening star., 1909-06-12

would lie crushed and bleeding at tho
foot of the Leap: for she was still some
distance away. and the hell-trap must lie
somewhere in the dense. livid blacknsss
that separated them.
He did not hesitate. But. with warn
ing cry of-"Barbara! Barbara" he
plunged red spurs into the black body
beneath him.
He felt the tense. spasmodic contraction
OF mighty muscles. Then. like a bolt from
a cross-bow, the great animal sprans
straight at the black wall OF darkness
The girl on the chestnut. cantering
swiftly along through the night. refined
her marc to it's launches as she heard
the cry. For an instant nothing greeted
her straining ears but silence. And then
there came. almost from under the very
head OF her mare. a dull. crashing noise.
and horrid sounds, like the swapping Of
dry twigs and the blood-chilling scream
Of q horse And then silence again.
She leaped from the back of the shiver-
ing chestnut and felt her way along
through the darkness.
Suddenly her extended foot met no re-
sistance. She dropped to her knees and
her searching hand felt the rocky edge OF
the bridgeless chasm; and from beneath
her came the sound OF groans.
little foot. in its patent leather riding
boot. swung over the rough edge OF the
ravine. It felt about in the utter darkness
and at last found a projecting point OF
rock, and from that foothold she again
groped downward and at length reached
the bottom OF the chasm. Then. with
hands outstretched, she went slowly on
ward. led by the gaspings. now ever grow
ing fainter. of the dying horse. The
groanings OF the man had ceased and her
heart stood still.
She found him lying there beside the
horse. And for a fraction Of an instant
she stood In helpless terror: then she
dropped to her knees beside him and
sought In his pockets for a match.
She found his case and drew one from
It, striking It on the rocks beside his
head. The little light family illumined
his white. set face. And then. suddenly.
with q cry, she fell forward. her lips ou
his.
After a time-how long she did not
know-she felt the body beneath her stir.
and a groan came from the lips. Startled.
she leaped quickly backward. In the dense
darkness she could hear him moving.
II must get there first" he muttered.
and his voice, though weak. was tense
with purpose. He struggled ito his knees
and at length gained his feet and stood
swaying unsteadily in the darkness. while
she was silent, helpless, for she had
thought him dead!
And then the girl awoke from her dream
Of despair and called to him softly.
Her voice.' he cried. unsteadily.
She'll be killed! I must get there frst!''
and he shouted again, TREMENDOUSLY, the
warning tHdL SHC Qdu ledEO dS ne ana
the big black had taken that desperate
plunge from Lovers Leap.
But even as he called she was before
him and
The little chestnut whinnied. long Inn
patiently.
"Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o"" came from the
brink of the chasm. and the bright little
eye Of a lantern peered over inquisitively.
The voice was Glendinning's.
Are you there?" came the voice again.
anxious. fearing. eager.
''Yes," answered Steele. Here"
Both Of you?" came a chorus of tense
queries.
Both of u.s." was the reply; and the
mans voice was not alone.
"Oh. then you aren't dead" came N
tones Of great relief and abiding Joy
from the brink
"On the contrary" was the reply, this
time in the voice of the man. Il am just
beginning to live"
And what then happened no one saw:
for it was dark. very dark, to some: ana
yet brighter than Gods own sun to
others.
Downright l00sl