The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1914-12-17
now II we ride like all get.outl-

upon long broad ledge that over.
hung the valley Of the lower trail, with
a clear drop 10 the latter from the
brink of good two hundred feet.
One hasty look back and down into
the valley evoked a grunt OF satisfac.
ton from Hopi Jim.
Just in time, he asseyerated. Here
they comet Ten minutes more %
His smile answered Mauophat's
with unspcakable cruel significance.
Texas will sleep better tonight
when he knows how I've squared the
deal for himl" the bandit declared
What are you going TO dog" Judith
demanded. refining her horse In beside
Marrophat as the latter dismounted.
A gesture drew her attention to u
huge boulder poised insecurely on the
very lip OF the chasm.
Were going to Up that over on
your friends. Miss judith" Marrophat
replied. with smack Of relish in his
voice simple eficient-eh
What more can you ask"
She answered only with an irrepress.
bile gesture OF horror Marrophat's
laugh followed her as she turned away.
For some moments she strained her
vision yainly, endeayoring 10 pene-
trate the turbulent currents OF super
heated air that filled the valley Then
she made out indistinctly the family
marked line Of the lower traE land
Immediately she caught = E.in.VsS, Of
three small figures. noun ed. t0lling
painfully toward the point where death
awaited them like a bolt from the blue.
Hastily she glanced over shoulder:
Hopi Jim and Marrophat. ignoring her.
were straining themselves against the
boulder without budging II an inch.
for all LIS apparent nicely OF polse. For
an instant a wild hope flashed through
her mind. but II was Immediately ex.
orcised when Hopi Jim stepped back
and uttered few words OF which only
two-"dynamite" and fuse" reached
her ears.
Kneeling beside the boulder he dug
busily for an Instant then lodged the
stick to his satisfaction attached the
fuse. and breaking on. edged on his
belly TO the edge Of the clln and
looked down. carefully calculating the
length OF the fuse by the distance OF
the party down below nom the spot
where the rock must fall
But while he was so engaged and
Marrophat aided him. all eager inter.
est. Judith was taking advantage OF
their disregard OF her.
Hurriedly unbuttonIng her Jacket.
she whipped a playing card from her
pocket. trey o. hearts. and with the
stub OF a pencil scrubbed three words
on its face-"Danger! Go back"
Then finding a small. fiattish bit Of
rock. she bound the card TO u with
bit OF string; and with one more
backward glance TO make sure she
was not watched. approached the
brink.
Hopi Jim was meticulously shorten.
ing the fuse. Marrophat kneeling BY
his side.
In the canyon below the three were
within two minutes Of the danger
point
II was no trick at all to drop the
stone so that Il fell within a dozen
feet Of the leading horseman.
Sine saw him rein In suddenly. dis.
mount. cast look aloft. then dismount
and pick up the warning.
As the others Joined him. he de-
tached the card and showed II TO them.
AT the same time Hopi Jim and Mar.
rophat jumped up and ran back. each
seizing and holding his horse by nose
and bride.
Constrained to do likewise lest she
lose her mount, Judith waited with
llghtened heart
The explosion smote dull echoes
from the TANKS of the Painted hills.
all browsing In the MONDAY hush:
the boulder teetered reluctantly on the
brink. then disappeared with q tear.
Ing sound followed by a rush OF earth
and gravel. a wide gap appeared In
,he brink OF the trail.
Leaving Mhrrophat to hold the two
NFN u
soothed her own. the bandit rushed to
the edge. threw himself fat and swore
bitterly. with an accent Of grievance.
as he rose.
From the canyon below a dull noise
Of galloping hoofs advertised too plain.
ly the failure Of their attempt
And Hopi Jim turned back only to
find Judith mounted. refining her horse
in between him and Marrophat. and
prepared TO give emphasis to what she
had to say with an automatic pistol
that nestled snugly In her palm.
One moment. Mr.. slade," she sug.
gested evenly. Just moment before
you break the sad news TO Mr.. Mario
phat. I've something TO say that needs
your Observation-Disclosures. your respect.
II is this: am parting company with
you and Mr. Marrophat am riding
on toward the west, by this trail II
either OF you care to follow me"-the
automatic flashed ominously In the
sun glare-"lt will be with full knowl.