Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-12-10

On Monday morning Dunn had been
drinking more than common, ald in
sisted on kissing Rita several times
before he would release her.
Suddenly she was conscious of a
stranger present, and looking up she
saw a tall young man standing in the
doorway alphabetically regarding
her.
There was quick step, and a
olenched fist caught Dunn on the ear.
and he went down. With curse, he
was on his feet in an instant, ugly as
a bull. Dunn was fighter, and Rita
trembled for the stranger; but her
concern was needless; he just played
with Dunn; circling around him, and
when he wished he promptly knock
ed him down, until Dunn, acknowledge
ed he had enough.
Now said the stranger, standing
over the PROSTATE man, don't you
ever try to insult this girl again, or
you won't get OF so easy next time;
and remember she is to continue with
the scaling unmolested. | suppose
you may as we'll know, first as last.
that | am Ralph Orion, eldest son Of
Arthur Orton, senior member of the
KILKENNY Lumber company. l shall
be here for some time, looking after
our interests; and If hear of any
more of your deviltry, we shall dis
pense with your services"
Finishing, with cheerful nod to
Rita, he turned on his heel and walk
ed away.
Dunn painfully rose to his feet and
skunk away, look of concentrated ha-
tired on his brutalized face. Rita, trem-
bling with excitement, went into the
shack to think. and secretly cherish
something new and strange that
had entered her soul
The days and weeks went by unin-
terrupted. Ralph orion took up his
abode at Tuttle's home, and the old
man soon acquired distinct liking for
this energetic young man. Ralph
helped Rita with her work when he
was not on the mountain.
Dunn kept his place in sullen, vim.
dictive silence. Ralph and Rita soon
fell into the pleasant habit Of waiting
for each other at the landing, and
walking home together in the twi.
light.
1t was a Saturday night In Febru-
airy. The men had all come OF the
mountain early, except Ralph and
Dunn. Anxiously Rita waited, but still
they did not come. The sun had drop
ped behind the western horizon in a
deep red setting, tinging the snow
blood red. She trembled. A forebod-
ing of danger reached out and closed
about her heart. Suddenly she heard
a step on the snow. Darling behind
tree, she waited, alert and expectant,
Her quick ear told her 1t was Dunn.
Presently he came In sight, and her
heart sank like lead. His face car.
lied covert look of triumph. In.
stinctively she knew something had
happened to Ralph. Soon as his foot
steps had died away, she sprang into
the road and sped up the hard noun.
tain road like a startled fawn.
Her one thought was of the man
she loved better than life. She had
no definite idea where to look for
him; nor had 1t occurred to her to
alarm the man. She knew he was In
grave danger somewhere on that bleak
mountain side, and on her rested the
task of rescuing him; so, painting and
trembling, she sped on. Every few
steps she stopped and called his name
No answer come back. but the moan.
ing of the light breeze through the
woods On she pushed to the top OF
ridge. 1t had got quite dark now.
Pausing on ledge almost on the top
of the cant. she shouted:
Ralph! Ralph! where are your"
Here, Rita, at the top of the can't"
came the quiet, reassuring reply. With
a glad cry she hurried to the top OF
the ridge, where lone spruce stood.
Then she stopped, and her heart
sprang into her throat. She saw his
danger, and swayed dizzily.
Courage, my little girl, courage"
came from the smiling lips in cool,
even tones. This is some of that devil
Dunn's work. When my back was turn,
ed the coward laid me out. Take heart,
little one, we win yet" 1t was an ap.
palling situation. Ralph was bound
to the lone spruce with piece OF
snub warp. The spruce was near
ly cut off. so that 1t cracked ominous.
ly in the rising wind.
Rita heard it roaring In the distance,
and knew when that wave reached
them the spruce would break and leap
over the ridge to the north, sheer |
drop of one hundred feet. A name
less terror seized her as she frantically !
dug at the knots, and the rising wind
roared In her ears like the knen OF |
doom.
Take 1t easy, Rita, dear. there IL
plenty Of time" his cool voice reas
sured her. my knife is IN my pocket
tear il out and cut the warp