Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26
CHAPTER XIV.
On the Cliff.

On the Cliff.
The struggle was short but fierce. Dick,
in attacking me from behind, had forced
me up against bowlder, and thence. as
1 turned to face him. we had fallen to
the rough shale Of the pathway, locked
in each others embrace. Now he had me
beneath him, and now I was on top. But.
with each move, we drew nearer to the
face Of the cliff. until the ground began
to slope away from under u.s. and could
feel the little, cool draught of air which
drifted up from the water below.
Great beads of perspiration stood out
upon my forehead: the breath seemed to
be driven from my body. dug my heels
into the loose earth, clutched vainly at
the slipping stones and pebbles. Where
were the others? Why didn't they come
to my assistance? l tried to call, but
whether l made any sound or not l do
not know.
For breathless instant we hung on
the lip Of the precipice. Then / caught
the tread of hurrying footsteps. and with
one last effort drove my fist into Dick
face. The blow blinded him. He threw
his head back. And Of a sudden his
weight seemed to be lifted from me. l
clutched wildly at a thin outcropping of
rock and dragged myself away from the
crumbling ledge. Mr.. Hayward. holding
Dick by the collar, was shaking him like
a rat.
.Where is she?" the old man stormed.
Where is she, you damned scoundrel?
II anything has happened to her IL
break every bone in your body. What s
the matter with you? Can't you speak,
He held his captive at arms length and
surveyed him by the light Of the lantern.
Dicks face had gone ashen gray. and, as
scrambled to my feet, I could hear his
teeth chattering.
Unjust have lost her, he whimpered.
She was here minute ago. Then Rem
frew came and, attacked me-
Its a lie!' l cried, wrathfully. "Mr.
Hayward, that man let your wife throw
herself over the cliff
Il didn't" Dick broke in. L"
BE SILENT" the old man Numbered.
Gould you have stopped herr" he asked
me.
Easily"
What happened?'
I told him.
so that was the way of it?" His voice
had suddenly lost it's passion. was sunk
to a threatening calmness. He turned
cold stare on Dick. rs that the TRUTH"
The man struggled to answer. but the
words seemed to stick in his throat
Mr.. Hayward smiled grimly. "Ah! !
see it is" he said.
1t was then that 1 became aware Of the
other searchers coming down the spur
toward u.s. Mr.. Hayward called to them
to halt
Guard the path" he commanded. land
shoot If any one tries to get past. Where
are the women?'
Gone home." replied. Anderson.
Good. Stand back little, Renfrew,
and take the lantern. You can light him
on his way
He drew a revolver slowly from his hip
pocket At sight Of the weapon Dick
found his voice.
you've got no right to do this. It's
unjust-infamous. There's no proof what
ever-except Renfrew's bare word"
That's sufficient think" The old
man raised the revolver and leveled 1t de-
.iberately at Dicks head. Now co. he
said. GO where you sent my wife-over
the cliff"
ly about him, his eyes shifting from side
to side as though seeking road to es-
cape. But the path was narrow, with a
precipice on either hand. and Mr.. Hay
ward held the shoreward road. The look
Of the hunted came into Dicks face. He
stood motionless for an instant, then.
poised on his toes, made quick dive
forward. The old mans revolver spat
viciously, and Dick fell back. bowling
with pain. The bullet had clipped his ear.
Mr.. Hayward drew step closer, but 1t
was evident that he was in no haste to
bring the matter to an issue. A sardonic
smile played about the corners of his
mouth as he watched Dicks agonized
glance.
why don't you go?" he sneered, taking
another step forward. do you want
more coaxing?"
Dick. retreating precipitately. crouched
down in the shadow Of bowlder. If l
get out Of this" he muttered, "I'll make
you suffer-
mo fear of that. my boy. And. by the
way, you should always stand when you're
addressing your betters."
The revolver spoke again and Dick
imped to his feet with a curse.
You fiend." he Missed.
"Ah, indeed! Let me return the COM
pliment.'' And the old man fired two
more shots in quick succession. driving
the other before him until Dick tottered
on the brink of the cliff
There was the sound OF a cOmmOtiOn
behind me. and. as l turned. dim figure
sped down the tongue of rock toward the
Two men. 1t was Sylvia.
"Father!" she cried, clutching the old
doing? This is murder!'
mo, girl. It's justice. Go back. This
! is no place for you"
But she chung to him persistently.
| Stop Stop! beg OF you-before It's
| too late!"
He threw her off roughly. "Renfrew,
| will you take charge Of her?"
ran over to them and, catching Sylvia
about the waist, drew her to one side.
She struggled fiercely. Dicks eyes blazed
with sudden Jury dS ne. Saw ueT IN my
arms.
BY God!" he Yelled, 'Tn do for you.
anyway" And he leaped madly toward
us.
| But the revolver rang out once more,
| and he staggered back with a choking
cry. His foot slipped over the shelving
ledge Of the precipice. He clawed the
air blindly. striving in vain to throw his
weight forward. Then, as the earth gave
way beneath him. he flung his arms up
despairingiy. and, with one last scream
of terror, disappeared from view.
For perhaps moment the three of us
stood rooted in breathless rightly. Then
a tongue OF flame cieit the Sales, the Ill
was shattered by deafening crash. The
storm was uDOn U.S. Sylvia, dropping her