The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-12-31

Arms.
lessened p%erceptibly. thanks to the
strong current sucking through no
spillway. q
His shot few wide. but almost I'M
Tinctively his finger closed again
upon the trigger, and he saw the pad
die snap In twain. It's blade falling
overheard, And then the Indian fired
again. his bullet dron!ng past Alan's
ear.
As he fired in response Jacob start.
cd. dropped his rife and crumpled up
In the bow Of the canoe.
simultaneously earth and heavenr
rocked with n terrific clap OF thun.
der.
He turned again and ran swiftly
along the dam. toward two heavy tim
bers that bridged the torrent OF the
spillway.
Then n glance aside brought him w
with "a thrill OF horror: the suck rs
the overflow had drawn the canoS
within n hundred yards OF the spin.
way. The dend Indian in its bow. the
living woman helpless In its stern
II swept swiftly onward to destruo
ton.
His next few actions woe wholly
unprecedented. lie was conscious
only OF her white. staring face. her
strange likeness to the woman thai he
loved.
He ran ont upon the bridge, threw
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 beneats
the outer timber.
With a swiftness that passed conf
scious thought, he was aware Of thy
canoe hurtllng onward with the speed
OF Wind. its sharp PROV apparently
aimed directly for his head. Then
hands closed round his wrists like
clamps; a tremendous weight tore at
his arms, and with an effort OF incon-
ceivable difficulty he began TO lift
to drag the up out OF the foam.
Ing jaws ~ death.
Somehow that impossible feat Was
achieved; somehow the woman gained
n hold upon his body, shifted II TO his
belt, contrired iuexplicably to chamber
over him 10 the timbers: and some
how he In turn pulled himself up TO
safety, and sick with reaction aprawied
prone, lcngthwiso upon tina. foot.wide
bridge. above the screaming abyss. ,
Inter he became aware that the
womRn had crawlcl 10 safety on the
farther shore, and pulling himself to
gether, initiated her example. SOLID
earth undorioCt, he rose and stood
swaylng, hcset by n rront weakness.
Through tho gathering darkncys-G
CHASTITY twilight IN which the flaming
forests on the other shore burned with
an unearthly glare-he discovered tho
wan WRITTEN face OF Judith Trine
close 10 his and he heard her voice, a
scream barely audible above the com.
mingled voices OF tho conaagration
and the cascades:
You fool Why did you save me,
] tell YOU, | have sworn your deatb,-
The utter grotesqueness OF It all
broke upon his intelligence like tho
'e'eiatloh or some enormous funda.
mental absurdity in Nature. lie
laughed a little Historically.
Darkness followed, A fash OF light.
ming seemed TO fame between them
Ike a fiery sword. To its CRASHING
thunder. he lapsed into unconscious
ness.
When he reused. II was with a shiv-
or and a shudder. Rain was falling
IN torrents from a sky the hue OF
slate Across the lake dense volumes
OF steam enveloped the fires that
tainted beneath the deluge. A great
Missing noise filled the world, mutinx
even the roar of the spi,lway.
He was alone.
But In his hand, tattered and bruissa
by the downpour. he found-a roe.
CTO BE CONrTNyrun