Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-12-08

once more ! got down on my knees TO
cross the open space
had not progressed more than Il
dozen yards from The edge or the
brush " hen = scream broke the still
ness II came from the summit OF the
rocks
/ ny pulse stopped beating but instan-
taneou>ly ! Slrang 10 my feet. drop
ped III! helmet. drew my pistol and
eho4iine ! knew not what. ran with all
51y speed toward the rocks | heard
another scream. untitled and cut short.
and mAdly as | ran, without aim or
object. fred my pistol three or four
times
"Heicn. Helen," shouted
There WAS no reply. OF course. |
could hear n scrambiinG. however. on
the other side Of the huge pile. and II
occurred tn me fhlf | could make
swifter pI"@r.'>> iy >hirtinc the steep
rocks Accordingly ran round them.
but when arrived On the opposite
side there WAS not sound or a NOV
ing thing III sight.
had III my pocket small electric
lamp of my own contriyaDce. which
! always carried and which had a
mirror throwing a bright shaft of light
to u considerable distance now
brought this into reQuisition and with
Ii carefully swept round on all sides.
Nothing was To be seen except the
rocks. the ground and the distant
brush.
'"They may still be on the summit"
I thought. and hastily l began to
mount. ] had made but few upward
'teps when an arm stole swiftly and
silently round my neck. and In an in
slant ! was throttled in the grasp of
n man whose strength. combined with
the advantage Of his position, made
my struggles unavailing.
A knee was pressed remOrselessly
against the small Of my back. and in
less time than 1t takes to tell 1t I was
lying prone on the rocks. rendered
powerless by the cruel pressure on my
throat and back.
had always been something Of an
athlete. but l could do nothing. no ".
Ny pistol had fallen from my hand.
but I could not have used 1t II l had
had 1t.
In another minute my arms were
pinioned behind. and then my captor
without word rolled me face upward,
and by the light of the fallen lamp !
saw that he was an Indian.
A savage grin overspread his fen.
lures.
"Wahw he said. Much bear hug
Don't like him. huh? Come! Must
60 quickv'
He jerked me to my feet and pulled
me down to the level ground. Then,
/, still grasping the bonds about my
arms. he began to drag me toward
the brush.
The Indian had picked up my lamp
! and my pistol. The latter he thrust
into his belt; the former he kept In
his hand. He seemed sufficiently IA.
miliar with its use and employed 1t to
light the way.
white mans eye" he said. Good
to see In night"
As we.entered the bushes he uttered
a whoop. which was Immediately an
| swered by q shout, and In q few min.
utes we passed into a small open
| space where. without the aid Of the
lamp. there was twilight enough to
have enabled me to recognize the
forms Of woman and two men.
heard the words. "Oh. my God. he
II takenT in the voice Of Miss Gray
man. and she moved quickly toward
me. but a hand arrested her. and a
mans voice. singularly sweet and
thrilling with its strange. sympathetic
| quality. which belied the irony Of it,
words. said: "Ah! Another little 70
nance. see. Miss Grayman. Your
suitors pursue you even In the wilder
ness. But we will have NO tender
scenes here II you please. John" be
continued. addressing the Indian
"hand me that lamp"
The Indian handed It over. and Pay
ton turned OF the light.
I'VE want none Of that here either
he said.
Then he approached me 20 near that
I could make out his features in the
dim light.
"You are Lieutenant Allan" be said
ut may comfort your heart. lieuten
ant. which will not enjoy many more
thrills in this world. to hear that
learned your name from the lips Of
the dear girl for whom you have sold
your life. Allow me to congratulate
you. by the way. on your excellent
plan Of campaign and on your ability
In grand tactics M well ~ strate.
getics.
II confess" be continued. that do
not comprehend how you found % al
the lodge. but It 10 no matter. No
man ever had the better of Alfonso
Payton for long. and all who have
ever tried conclusions with him have
| ended the same way"
During this speech. uttered with pitt
less sarcasm. but In perfectly cool
even voice, l saw Miss Grayman con
vulsively cover her face with bel
hands and heard her sob.
The sight and the sound gave me fol
the moment the strength and fury Of
Z demon. The Indian had let 60 Of me
to hand the lamp to Payton. but the
other man had taken bis place.
threw this man on with a sudden
lunge and then dashed at Payton with
lowered head
had been q football player in my
student days. and I knew how to break
the line. But Payton was rs quick az
l. He stepped aside. and found my
self plunged head first into the brush
on the other side of the little open
ing.
Not having the use Of my hands. !
fell on my face. and instantly Payt0n
and the Indian were on my back. I
struggled madly. but 1t was all in vain.