The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1914-12-31


rope. breast.high. 10 serve a. hand.
rail.
Alan tested the bridge cautiously.
II bore him. lie returned. helped Rose
10 cross. and with her once safely
landed on the other side. took his life
In bis hands and. aided by . Rarcus
unanec,edly afflicted with qualms,
somehow or other lnelther OF them
knew precisely howl persuaded tho
burros 10 cross
After that though the way grew
more broad and easy aud even showed
symptoms Of decline. they bad not
enough strength tee TO sustain
through another hour.
And what they thought good for.
iune. OPPORTUNITY 1t this pass. brough,
them 20 = clearing dotted with tho
buildings OF an abandoned copper
mine Not . sal ~ss In evidence
there, but the rude structures offered
shelter for beast a. veil a. man.
Barely had they made Rose a. CON.
Portable - mlght BE- upon the rough
plank nooring Of one o. tho sheds
and iethered the burros out Of sight.
when Alan collapsed a. n druEKed.
while barcus, who had elected himself
to keep the first watch and purposed
doing 4 In a sitting position. with
his back against the doorjamb. felt
sleep overcoming him like . dense,
dark cloud
Awaking befell Mr. Barcus In a
fAshion sufficiently sharp and s,Ar,llns
10 render him Indifferent 10 the benea.
rial effects Of some eiEht hour az
dTeamlsss slumber
ts discovered himself lying rat On
his face. with somebody's lneonsidet.
ais. heavy hand purporely Erindlnr ihs
said face Into the aged and spllutery
planks % the shed iooFinE Al tho
same time other hands were busy
binding his own together BY tho
wrists and laShinE the same 10 the
small OF his back by means OF a cord
passed around his middle, while his
natural u somewhat spasmodic efforts |
to kick were sadly hampercd by the
TACT that mis- ankles had already been |
secured by means OF half dozen half
hiiohes and square knot
Hts hands attended to his head wus
released Promptly he Iifted Il and
essayed 10 yell: an effort rendered
shoriive by the gag thai was thrust
eet~een his teeth the instant his
Jaws opened.
Then he heard a laugh, a cold,
miTihlsss chuckle.
Nov the blood Of Thomas Barcus
ran cold COR he thought !. did: which
amounts TO much the same thingl.
For II his senses had played fair. the
laugh he had heard was the laugh OF
Mr Aarrpphat, head.deyll IN the sery.
leo OF Seneca Urine
He twisted his head TO one side
and glancing along the floor, saw moth.
ing but the wall. Twisted the other
Nay, at tbs cost Of a splinter In his
hose, the effort was repaid by the dis.
'overy OF Rose Urine IN a plight like
his own--wrists and ankles bound.
Jagged into the bargain-the width Of
he shed between them.
But OF Alan Law. no sign.
The heart Of Mr. Barcus checked
nomentariiy; hs shut his eyes and
'hi'ered In an uncomfortable seizure
4 dread.
Then. tormentsd beyond endurance
y the fears he suffered for the safety
4 his friend. he began to wriEElo and
quirm like a crippled snake. pain.
uliy inching his way across the floor
oward Rose-with what design. heav.
a alone knowsl Dimly his men.
al viaion comprehended the bare pos.
ibility OF his being able. with his fast.
fingers. TO work loose the
nots at Roses wrists; but deep In
Is heart he knew this TO be nothing
ut forlornest hope.
With infinite pains he had con.
lived TO bridge tho distance by hall,
possibly not quite 30 much. when
dark body put the sunlight OF the
pen doorway into temporary eclipse
mother followed IT, Boots clumped
cavity &c tho flooring. The laugh
bundled again. apparently IN ironlc ap. :
recitation of Mr.. Barcus' efforts. Two
airs OF hands seized him, one be.
cath the shoulders. the other be :
(Cont. on next page.)