Charlevoix county herald., 1914-03-14
THE
GREAT HESPER
BY FRANK BARRETT
FRANK BARRETT

the projecting crags that he had
long employed for that purpose.
There, sir" he said, taking his
torch from Lola, and holding it over
the black gulf, there's as pretty a
bridge and hand-rail as the heart of
man could reasonably desire"
For all that | held my breath as
saw him step out on the lower rope,
and make his way, holding by the
upper one, across that black abyss.
My turn came, and with the hood
humming in my ears, i stepped out
upon the rope. 1t swung to and fro
in the middle, and j was seized with
that irresistible suggestion of self
destruction which affects the magma
ton OF most people in looking down
from an extraordinary height.
Lola began TO cross before j was
well off, and when we stood all three
in safety on the ledge, a fervent
Thank God!' rose from my heart.
Wal, we've got to git back agin,"
observed Brace, as if my thankful
ness were a little premature; chow
ever, faint bad to think of Providence
when you're in danger, now, my gel,
it's for you to lead on"
You can stay here; you're too
heavy for where Pm going" said she
taking the torch from his hand.
With a swiftness that terrified me,
she went down the side of the preci-
pice, finding foothold where we, look
down from the projection, could find
none.
They don't know danger-kids
don't" said Brace, in a low tone.
end" he added, looking into the
depths about him uneasily, Il wouldn't
mind feeling the same myself. First
time | ever felt skeery, down this
hole, and Pm burned if it sha'n't be
the last. Pm gettin' too old to enj'y
risky work"
| could not take my eyes from the
light below, as it passed in jerks from
point to point. At last it stopped,
and after a minutes pause, to my
great relief, it began to return.
Quicker and quicker the light
danced along until | felt sick ana
giddy with fear for the girls safety;
and then, with one last bound, she
stood upon our shelf of rock, holding
the Great Hesper in her hand.
Gam / good" she asked earnestly,
nesting up TO my SIDE.
CHAPTER XXX.
It's the very same" said Brace,
taking the stone in his hand.
ado you take care of it," said I,
"for find enough to do to take care
of myself"
oval, reckon it won't be long
afore were on the best side o this
hole" he replied, putting the stone III
his pocket.
He was certainly i'll at ease ana
less confident than usual, for he tool
his torch and examined the fastenings
of the ropes, and then from AN ada
cent cavity he brought out another
coil Of cord, in which cross pieces OF
stout hickory were knotted at inter
walls of foot. He unfastened it anC
laid it loose upon the rock, with tho
topped end free.
"The ropes has been years expose,
to the damp, and they're bound to &c
one day. Hef they should happen t,
go this day, this here knotted rop,
may come in partic'lar handy. Yol
know how TO use it, my gel. Here's
for start"
With the torch in his hand he be.
gan the return along the rope.
He had got to the middle when he I
stopped.
whats that" he asked sharply, I
holding the upper rope with one hand /,
while ne raised the torch with the Z
other. and peered out into the dark. 4
ness.
Ii was fearful to see him standing I
here with the upheld torch over the I
awful chasm, the one luminous object 4
n the blackness.
did you hear anything, pardner?"
"No"
Seemed to me | heard a ride 4
'ocked. burned old foolw he NUT /
cred in self-reproach, as he continued .
his course.
Without accident, or other incident /
ne reached the ledge, and with a
yrunt OF content seated himself on a
,owlder, letting the torch drop by his
tide There was a pool of water
here; with a hiss the light went out.
The next instant there was flash
n the darkness beyond, followed by
/ sharp crack of rifle shot.
We could see nothing, but from the
edge opposite came groan, and
trace called family
Pm hit, pardner; look out for your
elf"
The shot had been fired after the
light was extinguished, leaving him in
'bscurity. The faculty that had
nabled the assassin to descend that
errible ledge in the dark had enabled
him to mark down poor Brace when
he was no longer visible to our eyes.
This reflection struck me as, torch
u hand. ! sprang upon the rope bridge
o cross TO my fallen pardner.
Back, pardner, back" groaned
Grace hes got the Hesper, and he'll
rave your life-backr'
raised my torch. and looking To-
ward the ledge, saw man kneeling
yer Brace.
He raised his arm to silence Brace,
md the light fell on the bright b'ade
# the knife in his hand shouted.
he saw me midway across