Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-17


over the edge of the precipice into
the black abyss.
CHAPTER LII.
The Whole.
A moment later, only moment lat
er, and a moment too late, Mr.. Jor
dan reached the platform, having
beaten the branches aside, regardless
of the leaves that dashed his face and
the brambles that tore his hands
Then, when he saw he was too late
he uttered a cry of despair. He
flung his gun from him, and it went
over the edge and fell where it was
never found again. Then he raised his
arms over his head and clasped them
and brought them down on his hair
he wore no hat; and at the same time
his knees gave way, and he fell faint
ing on his face, with his arms ex
tended; the wound in his side had re
opened, and the blood burst forth and
ran in red rill towards the fire.
A few minutes later Jasper came
up. Watt was at the gate with the
horse. They had heard the shot
and Jasper had run on. He was fol
lowed quickly by Walter, who had
fastened UP the horse, unable to en-
dure the suspense.
Mr.. Jordan is shot, gasped Jas
per, Martin has shot him. Help me
T CT oh hn
Not L. answered the boy; care
nothing for him. I must find Martin
Where is he? Gone to the hut? There
is no time to be lost. l must find hin
that cursed bell is ringing.
Without another thought for the
PROSTATE man, Waiter plunged into
the coppice, and ran down the steer
slope towards the woodcutter's hovel
1t did not occur to Jasper that the
shot he had heard proceeded from
the squire's gun. He knew that Mar
tin was armed. He supposed that he
had seen the old man emerge from
the wood and, supposing him to be
one of his pursuers, had fired at him
and made his escape. He knew no
thing of Ewes visit to the Raven
Rock and interview with his brother.
He turned the insensible man ovel
on his back and discovered, to his
relief, that he was not dead. H
tore open his shirt and found that he
was unwounded by any bullet, bur
that the old self-infiicted wound in
his side had opened and was bleeding
freely. He knew how to deal with
this. He took the cd mans shirt and
tore it to form bandage, and pas ed
it round him and stopped temporarily
the ebbing tide. He heard Walter
calling Martin in the wood 1t was
clear that he had not found hi
brother in the hut. Now Jasper un
derstood why the alarm-bell was ring
ing. Barbara had discovered her ia
Their had left the house, and, in feal
for the consequences, was summon
ing the workmen from their cottages
to assist in finding him.
Watt reappeared in great agitation
and without casting a look at the
insensible man, said, He is not
there, he may be back in the mine
He may have unlocked the boathouse
and be rowing over the lamar, or
down-no-the tide is out, he cannot
get down. Then away he went agar
into the wood
Mr.. jordan lay long insensible. He
had lost much blood. Jasper kne.t by
him. All was now still. The bel
was no longer pealing. No step coulC
he heard The bats fitted about The
rock; the fire-embers snapped The
wind sighed and piped among The
trees. The fire had communicated
famed up. then little sputterins
flame crept along from grass hauln
and twig to a tuft of heather, which i
kindled, and which flared up. Jasper
kneeling by Mr.. Jordan, watched the
progress of the fire without paying
it much attention. In moments O.
anxiety trifies catch the eye. He dare
not leave the old man. He waited
till those who had been summoned b,
the bell came that way.
| Presently Ignatius Jordan opened
his eyes. 'Eve!' he said, and his din
eyes searched the eebly-illuminatet
platform. Then he laid his head bacl
again on the moss and was uncon
scious or lot in dream-Jasper cou
not decide which. Jasper went to the
fire and threw on some wood ani
collected more. The stronger the
fame the more likely to attrack the