Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-13


mouth Of the mine and. dropping OH
her knees, peered down into the dark
depths below The black sullen wa
tiers of the rising stream boiled and
Kissed among the jagged rocks and
crevices. flashing madly the legs Of "A
man who stood insecurity on II narrow
ledge fully halfway down. He was
clinging in terror to II jutting rock
above him, which threatened every
moment TO give way. 1t was a peril
Gus. an awful situation, and the girl
shuddered az she gazed. while In the
white horror drawn face upturned to
hers she recognized Nick Sanders.
For Gods sake. Faith. try to help
me out of this!' he screamed.
'I'lI try, Nick" she called back.
But how was she TO do it? She
looked about hopelessly; then her eyes
fell upon large coil OF custoff rope
near the broken wiudlass. She caught
it up eagerly. and. lowering one end to
Nick, she said:
Tie this around you under the
arms"
He did so and felt himself being
slowly drawn upward. Such was his
PCAAA Lhal NOut0 hOl AC0iALG ludl TIT
girls hands alone were not strong
enough to pull him to the top. He did
not know that another had also heard
his calls for help and had arrived just
in time to aid in the rescue. When
almost up a blow on the head from a
shelving ledge rendered him uncon-
scious for several minutes.
When he came to himself he was ly-
ing on the bank of Deer Fork. and
Faith was bathing his face. Hearing
Howard Olney's voice. he kept his
eyes closed and listened
I'm glad L was in time to help you
save him." the young man was saying.
II was on my way to see you. Faith.
to say goodby before leaving the can
yon. At first I thought l would go
away without, but l couldn't. felt
that / must look upon your face once
more before L gave you up to him"
Nick heard the tremor in Olneys
voice that told of the emotion he was
endeavoring TO control.
"Just once more, Faith" he went
on. 81 should not go if you could love
me. but / know how it is. You have
known Nick gil your life. In the de-
lirium of his fever learned how much
he loved you. and afterward he told
me that you loved him in return. /
will not come between you. Goodby.
dear one. Remember 1 helped save
him for your sake"
There was intense pain in the tones.
and as he turned away Faith gave a
quick sob. and Nick felt a hot tear
fail on his face. But the girl made
no effort to detain the man she loved.
One word would have called him back
to her side. yet her lips seemed para
lyzed. She knew that he loved her
and was going because he believed she
loved another; that she would never
see him again and her old lonely Hfe
would go on unbroken. unbrightened
by him. He was slipping away from
her forever, still she could not utter
word.
And Nick knew. too. that If Olney
went now his own chances of some |
time winning Faith were better than !
ever.
Hold on a minute. Howardw called |
the rescued man, sitting up.
What is it. Nick?' asked Olney. |
turning back. though he did not trust |
himself to look toward Faith.
Come up nearer. I've got somethin' |
to tell you both. and you don't know |
how hard it is for a man to call him |
self out loud and right before two |
good folks he's been a-wrongin'. a |
onery big liar" said Nick. But that's /
Just what l ana emery big liar. 1
lied to you about Faiths lovin' me.
and then 1 lied to her about your leav
In Deer Fork to keep accounts for Mr.. |
Owen just because you were in love
with his daughter. I'm a low lived
devil. but when l was down in that |
Die shaft a-facin' death made up my
mind If ever got the chance I'd be a
better man. Now that you two have
saved my worthless life and have give
me the chance asked for I'm goin'
% begin with you and Faith by settin'
you right. You love each other. and
want to see you happy. so my lies
lint standin' in your trail any more.
Maybe you wonder how 1 happened
% be down in that old mine You re-
member that Swede who got pile of
,old and some nuggets stole from his
.abin over on Firecheck creek? Well.
am tie thief. and 1 hid it all down
n that shaft. where 1 knowed nobody
would dare go pokin' round. l went
lown. Amin TO git part of it to swap
IF. and that water riz right up like
avengin' angel. 1 hain't got the
nakin' Of half n saint in me. but I'm
.oin' to tote back that stun where /
'ot 1t from and strike a new trail up