Charlevoix county herald., 1914-03-14

opened ner DeaullIul eyes, anu SfnleI,
as she took my hand. She could 10
no more.
CHAPTER XXI.
Il knOwed it must go one day. How
fare you, pardner," called Brace from
the opposite ledge.
Looking across, saw him sitting
on the bowlder binding his arm with
his neckcloth.
Lola is hit. The villain has done
his work." | said.
He'll never do no more" Brace
answered, pointing up the ledge.
Van Hoeck had tried to escape the
way he came, after shooting Lola,
and had got some distance along the
ledge when the great rock opened and
slid away.
He stood on the narrow path now
"a CHASTITY spectacle. A piece of
quartz had struck him on the head;
a thin stream of blood was trickling
down his cheek. In one hand he held
the Great Hesper; in the other he
grasped his rifle.
But he dared not move from the
position he had reached when the roof
tilted up; for the light that burst in
had blinded him once more. The SEN
sitive retina had closed over the pupils
and the blank sightless eyes stared
wildly round, incapable of seeing.
him by going along the ledge
will you save him ?" | asked.
mot |, pardner,' he replied. Il
leave him to Providence, be his end
what it may. The shot he fired at my
poor youngster started the consarn,
and brought the whole thing down.
IT'S God Almighty's judgment. Let
it be-"
Van Hoeck let the rifle slip from his
hand; how insignificant to us seemed
the sound that came up from below,
as the weapon struck rock, after the
mighty discord that had Numbered in
our ears, and yet TO him how terribly
We could see his hand quivering as
he CROPPED along the edge of the wall.
In vain now he strained his eyes TO
see the ledge by which he had fol-
lowed us. Yet he could not stand for
ever there.
He found crevice for his fingers,
and made a step forward; he advanced
again, but the rock he put his foot on
was a piece of the debris that had
fallen upon the ledge. 1t rolled under
his weight. He staggered back,
swinging his arms in the vain attempt
to get an equilibrium, then he shot
forward, and fell headlong down,
down, down into the abyss.
/ held my breath; it seemed min
ltes before that hollow pong" reach
ed our ears, telling us that Van Hoeck
was gone forever. and the Great Hes
per with him.
There was cord, and to spare, in the
oils. Weighing one end with d
stone, threw an end across to Brace,
and when the cut ropes were knotted, I
and bridge once more formed, he I
and knclt down by me over
loor Lola.
He examined her wound, and shook |
MS head in silence; there was no hope.
We made mattress of the rugs on
he smoothest part of the rock and |
attempted to lift her upon it. But /
he movement gave her pain, and she !
notioned us to desist. Then pointing /
upward, she made signs for us to |
cave her.
Not while you are with US, my |
,oor GEL" said her father, with more !
enderness than | had ever heard in /
lis voice.
We had the flask, and some food IN
| wallet. We ate when we were hun
Try, seated beside Lola.
Then exhausted with fatigue, ami
he terrible strain we had been. SUD
ected to, we unconsciously fell
lsleep, with our backs resting against
he rock. The last thing of which /
vas conscious was the pressing OF
'ola's lips upon my hand.
Brace touched my arm.
"Pardner," he said, in tone OF
I'VE, "the Kids gone"
| looked where ] had seen her lying
With her face to my hand. She was
zone literally. There was a little
tain of blood upon the rock-a drop
urther on, another close to the edge
If the platform. She had kept her
,romise-she had been good; and now
he sufferings of her short life weco
'nded.
"She knowed it was no good our
vaitin'-poor little cuss."
] felt something in my hand; OPEN
NO it, | found a ring I had bought
or Lola. She had slipped it there
'efore she went
Sir Edmund and Edith came TO San
Diego in June, the loveliest season OF
hat lovely land. The air from the
ca tempered the suns heat. The
limitations were already burdened
With fruit, everywhere there was a
edolence of e-blossom-"a very