The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-01
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 brought this into requisition and with it 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, '" l thought, and hastily l began to mount. I had made but few upward steps when an arm stole swiftly and silently round my neck. and in an in- stant I was throttled in the grasp of a 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 it takes to tell it was lying prone on the rocks, rendered powerless by the cruel pressure on my throat and back.
 I had always been something of an athlete. but I could do nothing now. My pistol had fallen from my hand, but I could not have used it if I had had it.
 In another minute my arms were pinioned behind, and then my captor without a word rolled me face upward, and by the light of the fallen lamp saw that he was an 1ndian.
 A savage grin overspread his. fea- lures.
 "Wahv he said. "Much bear, hug! Don't like him, huh? Come! Must go quick!'
 He jerked me to my feet and pulled me down to the level ground. Then, still grasping the bonds about my 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 fla miliar with it's use and employed it 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 lswered by a shout, and in a few min- utes we passed into small open space where, without the aid of the lamp. there was twilight enough to have enabled me to recognize the forms of a woman and two men.
 I heard the words. "Oh. my God. he is takenw 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 it's strange, sympathetic quality, which belied the irony of its words. said: "Ah! Another little TO- nance, I see, Miss Grayman. Your suitors pursue you even in. the wilder ness. But we will have no tender scenes here if you please. -John,'' he continued. addressing the Indian. t'hand me that lamp" t
 The Indian handed it over, and Pay ton turned off the light.
 "We want none of that here either,' he said
 Then he approached me so near that I could make out his features in the dim light.
 "You are Lieutenant Allan" he said. ''It may comfort your heart, lieuten- ant. which will not enjoy many more thrills in this world, to hear that I 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 as we'll as strate- getics. -
 q confess" he continued, "that do not comprehend how you found us at the lodge, but it is 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 a perfectly cool. even voice, saw Miss Grayman con- vulsively cover her face with her hands and heard her sob.
 The sight and the sound gave me for the moment the strength and fury of e demon. The Indian had let go of me to hand the lamp to Payton, but the other man had taken his place. l threw this man off with sudden lunge and then dashed at Payton with lowered head.
 1 had been a football player in my student days, and knew how to break the line. But Payton was as quick as I. He stepped aside. and l 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, l fell on my face. and instantly Payton and the Indian were on my back. l struggled madly, but it was all in vain. In few minutes was rendered help less by cords bound about my arms and legs.
 "Take him up," commanded Payton. still in a cool voice, although he was panting a little from the exertion.
 The Indian and the other man seiz- ed me by shoulders and feet and be- gan to carry me.
 "It is too near the rocks to finish him." said Payton. "They make too good a landmark. Carry him along and when we reach good place we will put-him where we put MT. Green. w-u was so unreasonable not long ago."
 After I had become quiet, through necessity.s Miss Grayman. who was close ahead of us and directly behind