The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-12-02

Pausing only long enough to make
certain that there could be no mis-
take-and having this certainty made
doubly sure by Jimmy's action in ris-
ing from his seat and firing over the
windshield pointbank at Alan as this
last stood waiting in the roadway
zle round until it bore directly on the
car.
The power of its stream was such
that the car was checked instantly in
its tracks: and before the water could
have been shut off or the stream d.
verted. the machine was driven back
TO the very lip of the cliff and over
It completely, taking with it those
twain upon whose efforts all the hopes
of Seneca Trine of late had been cen.
tered.
A death that was merciful, in that
it was instantaneous, awaited them at
the foot Of the cliff.
be accorded her, and quickly, and
that the sacrifice it should demand
would be complete.
| Now prayers are sometimes an
swered when the boon craved is good
for the soul
Slowly and painfully these four
toiled along an obscure trail that fol-
lowed the windings Of the little river.
until branch struck into the main
| CT nd ~ OF
another trail leading into the west
ward canyon.
Then again slowly and painfully
they plodded on following blindly an
other trail blazed by Fates as blind as
they.
Above them. on the road they had
abandoned, the crimson racer doubled
back to the point where 1t had passed
Judith and Barcus; its occupants de-
scended, explored. and came present
ly upon the trail OF the fugitives.
B!oodhounds could not have set
tied down upon a scent with more
good will and eagerness than Mr.. Mar
rophat and his faithful aide.
The sun was high and blazing above
the canyon when the pursuit came
within rife shot Of the chase.
A spiteful shot reused the quar-
tet from pause OF lethargic dismay
due to tardy appreciation Of the fact
that they had penetrated witlessly al
most to the end OF blind alley.
A hasty council Of war armed Alan
| tr{t Ind rcup1yar r,notoH him
behind bowlder commanding the ap-
proaches to the chasm. The weapon.
powerful As, had o range sufficient
to numb the impetuosity Of the as
sassins and keep them under cover
and out OF sight OF the desperate e.
says the fugitives were making to
compass an escape.
For in the shed behind an abandoned
log cabin-souvenir, no doubt, OF some
forgotten prospector-Barcus had un-
earthed q length Of stout hempen rope.
With the aid Of rusty shovel he
had hacked this into two equal lengths.
One of these lengths he proceeded to
make fast around his own waist. then
around Roses. The other he left to
be similarly employed by Alan and
Judith. For it was agreed that they
must climb, and while the cliff offered
no problem to daunt mountain climb
err Of any pretensions, 1t was consid-
cred best that the fugitlves should be
hitched up In pairs against any pos
sibility OF a slip. The pairing had
| l@k nd 1,N 70
Barcus boosted some slight experience
in mountaineering. while Rose was
plainly the most exhausted of the two
women, the least able to help herself
In an emergency.
He had worked his cautious way,
with the girl in tow, to point mid
way up the face OF the cliff. following
a long diagonal that provided the cas-
| lest climbing, when Alan stole back
to Judith and reported that. on the
evidence of observation and belief, he
| was convinced that the pursuit had
turned back-perhaps for want OF am
munition, perhaps to execute some
| less hazardous attempt upon the lives
Of the fugitiyes.
Without delay, then. he made the
free end of the rope fast around his
own waist, and, following the way Bar
Gus had chosen. began the ascent.
Twothirds OF the climb had been
accomplished, and Rose and Barcus
had arrived in safety at the top. be-
fore the temptation to look down
proved irresistible.
Immediately beneath his heels the
face of the cliff was deeply followed
out, leaving a drop OF 81 feet to a
shelving ledge of shale as steep as a
roof, whose eaves-perhaps another
fifty feet below-jutted out over an
other fall OF hundred feet.
Alan shuddered and swallowed hard
before resuming the ascent
Another 20 feet brought him to
a ledge quite six feet wide. Offering
broad and easy path TO the summit.
He gained this with prayer OF heart
felt relief and was on the point OF
rising to his feet when a cry Of horror
from Barcus and scream Of terror
from Rose. watching over the upper
edge, warned him barely In time to
enable him to snatch at and grasp .
knob Of rock before Judith's weight
tautened the rope between them aud
jerked Alan's legs from under him.