The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-10-02

A Tremendous Weight Tore at HIa
lessened perceptibly, thanks to the
strong current sucking through the
spiIlway.
His shot few wide, but almost in
stinctively his finger closed again
upon the trigger. and he saw the pad
die snap In twain, its blade falling
overheard. And then the Indian fired
again. his bullet droning past Alan's
ear.
As he fired in response Jacob start
ed, dropped his rife and crumpled up
In the bow OF the canoe
simultaneously earth and heavens
rocked with terrific clap OF thun-
der.
He turned again and ran swfu "
along the dam, toward two heavy q -
bers that bridged the torrent Of la
spillway.
Then q glance aside brought @m 40
with a thrill OF horro-r; the suck OF
the overflow had drawn the canoe
within a hundred yards OF the spill
way. The dead Indian In AS bow, the
living woman helpless In its stern.
It swept swiftly onward to destruc-
ton
His next few actions were wholly
unprecedented He was conscious
only Of her white. staring face. her
strange likeness to the woman that he
loved.
He ran out upon the bridge. threv
himself down upon the innermost tim
Der. turned. and let his body fall back
ward. arms extended at length, and
swung. braced by his feet beneath
the outer timber.
With sviftness that passed con-
scious thought, he was aware Of the
canoe hurting onward with the speed
Of wind, its sharp PROV apparently
aimed directly for hts head. Then
hands closed round his wrists Ike
| clamps: a tremendous weight tore at
his arms, and with an effort Of incon-
ceivable difficulty he began TO lift,
to drag the woman up out Of the foam
ing jaws of death.
Somehow that impossible feat was
achieved: somehow the woman gained
a hold upon his body, shifted It to his
belt, contrived inexplicably to Chamber
over him TO the timbers: and some
how he in turn pulled himself up TO
safety, and sick with reaction sprawled
prone. lengthwise upon that foot-wide
bridge. above the screaming abyss.
Later he became aware that the
woman had crawled to safety on thf
farther shore, and pulling himself to-
gether. initiated her example Solid
earth underfoot. he rose and stood
swaying. beset by q great weakness.
| Through the gathering darkness
/ CHASTITY twilight IN which the flaming
/ forests on the other shore burned with
1 an unearthly glare-he discovered the
wan. WRITTEN face Of Judith Trine
I close to his and he heard her voice,
scream barely audible above the COM
mingled voices Of the confiagration
| and the cascades:
You fool. Why did you save me3
l tell you. have sworn your DEATH"
| The utter grotesqueness OF it all
/ broke upon his intelligence like the
| revelation OF some enormous funda-
mental sbsurdity in Nature. He
| laughed little Historically
Darkness followed A fash of light
ming seemed 10 flame between them
like a fiery sword. To its crashing
thunder, he lapsed into unconscious
ness
When he reused. it was with a shiv-
er and 8 shuddeF. Rain was falling
1 In torrents from sky the hue OF
slate. Across the lake dense volumes
of steam enveloped the fires that
tainted beneath the deiuge. A great
Kissing noise filed the world. muting
even the roar of the spillway.
He was alone.
But in his hand. tattered and bruised
by the downpour, he found-a rose.
~.raNyr-rN-rrurr,