The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-11-13

They Fought Like Madmen.
done my best. l suppose it's wrong
to give up-but they've made it too
much for me. this time"
II know" she said gently.
"You"-he stammered-"you're not
afraid?"
There is nothing to fear" she said.
but death. :"
"Then," he said more bravely, after
time-the water now was near his
chin-"good-by -good luck!"
mot yet, dear friend" she returned,
mot yet"
But the sun was perilously close
upon the rim Of the world. But little
time, and 1t would be night.
He closed his eyes to shut out the
vision of its slow, implacable descent.
The water was now almost level
with his lips; it seemed strange that
his throat could be so dry, SO
parched
He opened his eyes, shuddering.
tits good-by now" he faltered.
mot yeti" her voice rang beside
him. vibrant. Lookup there-along
the cliff"
He lifted his gaze
Two men were running along the
cliff-and the man in the lead was
Alan. But his, lead was very scant.
and the man who pursued was one of
Judith's, and stuck to the trail like a
bloodhound, fresh from the leash.
And now the water was at his lips;
Barcus could no more speak without
strangling.
or sudden he groaned In his heart;
though there was no passable way
down the cliff, still the sight Of his
friend alive and unframed had brought
with 1t thrill Of hope; now that hope
died as he saw Alan stumble and GO
to his knees.
Before he could rise the other was
upon him, with the fury of wolf seek
ing the throat of stag.
For an instant they fought like mad.
men; then, in trice, the sky line
OF the cliff was empty; one or the
other had tripped and fallen over the
brink, and falling had retained hold
OF his enemy and carried him down as
well.
By no chance, Barcus toid himself,
could either escape uninjured.
Yet, to his amazement, he saw one
man break from the others embrace
and rise. And he who lay still, a
crumpled, inhuman heap upon the
sands, was Judith's man.
With violent effort Barcus lifted
his mouth above water and shrieked,
Alan! Alan! Help! Here-at the
end of the point-in the water-helpi"
A precious minute was lost before
Alan discovered their two heads, SO
barely above that swiftly rising flood.
Then he ran toward them as he had
never run before, and as he came
whipped out jack-knife and freed its
blade.
Even so-since it was. of course.
Rose whom Alan freed the first
Barcus was half-drowned before Alan
nelped him in turn up to the beach.
AND as this happened the last blood
red rim OF the sun was washed under
by the waves.
Two minutes later the lifeboat was
anoat, and Mr. Barcus, already recoy-
ereu, was laboring with the fiywheel
Oh the motor, stimulated to supreme
9Aertion by the sight OF party. led by
JUDITH racing madly down the beach.
but It was not until well out from
snore and on the way to the safety
promised by the mainland--now read
=! ulscernible on the horizon-that
any one OF them found time for speech.
men Mr.. Barcus Strengthened up
from his assiduous attentions To the
motor and observed:
You bear charmed life NV al.
venturous friend. want to tell Won
Inat when saw you go over that cliff
made up my mind your usefulnasa
YOU'D YOU'D be at least permanently i'm.
paired. AS IT is. don't mind tel,ins
~, 'nat II ever get out Of this affair
,,1o I'm going to have try At YOUR
''e Iyeef Just cnce, for luckl" 4