Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-10-11


Kneeng beside the boulder he dug busily for
an instant then lodged the stick to his satisfaction
and attached the fuse.
But while he was so engaged and Marrophat
aided him, all interest, Judith was taking ad-
vantage of their disregard OF her.
Hurriedy unbuttoning her jacket. she whipped
a playing card from her pocket Trey OF Hearts
and with the stub of a pencil scribbled three words
on its face-"Danger! Go baekl"
Then finding a small, fsttish bit OF rock she
bound the card to II with a bit Of string and with
one more backward glance to make sure she was
not watched, approached the brink
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
fell within a dozen feet Of the leading horseman.
She saw him rein in suddenly, dsmount. cast a
look aloft, then dsmount and pick up the warning
At the same time Hopi Jim and Marrophat
Jumped up and ran back each Selling and holding
his horse by and bride.
Constrained to do likewise lest she lose her
mount, Judith waited with a lightened 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 a tearing sound followed by
rush Of earth and gravel; q wide gap appeared
in the brink OF the trail.
Leaving Marrophat to hold the two frightened
horses while the girl soothed her own, the bandit
rushed to the edge, threw himself nat and swore
bitterly with accent of grievance as he rose.
From the canyon below q dull rumor Of gallop-
ing hoofs advertised too plainly 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 automatic pistol that nestled
snugy in her palm.
zone moment, Mr.. NSlade," she suggested evenly:
"just moment before you break the sad news to
Mr.. Marrophat I've something to say that needs
your Observation-Disclosures your respect. 1t is this:
am parting company with you and Mr.. Marrophat.
riding toward the west. by this trail II
either OF you to follow me"-the automatic
flashed ominously in the glare-"it will be with
full knowledge of the consequences. Mr. Mario
phat will enlghten you If you have any doubt Of
my ability to take of myself in such affairs
this II you we'll advised you will turn back
ard report failure to my father"
She nodded CURLY and swung her horse round,
And what shall l tell your father from you:"
Marrophat demanded sharply.
What you please" the girl replied. flashing an
impsh smile over-shoulder. But since when /
part company with you, part with him as we'll
for all of me- may tell him to go the DEVIL"
Well" Mr.. Marrophat admitted conhdentally to
Mr.. Slade, I'm damned"
And that amt ALL" Mr. Slade conhded In Mr.
Marrophat, whipping out his revolver: you're
being held up too. I'll take those guns Of yourn,
friend. and what else you've got about you that's
Of value, including your hoss-and when you get
back to Old Man Urine you just tell him. with
my best compliments, that I've quit the Job and lie
out after that daughter Of hisn. She's heap sight
attractive than nineteen thousand dollars and
not half so hard to earni"
T-BURNT FINGERS
Once she had lost touch with her fathers crea-
lures he girl drew rein and went on more slowly
and cautiously
Below her. in the valley, the lower trail wound
its facile way. From time to time she could dis
Germ upon some naked stretch OF it's length cloud
OF dust. perhaps three mounted figures scurrying
mady on with fear of death swapping at their heels
1t was within an hour of midnight, night bell
clear and bitter cold on the heights and bright
with moonlight, when Alans party made its last
pause and camped to rest against the dawn, uncon
scous of the fact that, a quarter Of a mile above
them on the upper trail, lonely woman paused
when they paused and made her own camp on the
edge of a sharp declivity.
The level shafts OF the rising sun awakened her
She sat up rubbed her eyes, yawned, stretched
limbs stin with the hardship Of sleeping unyield
ing. sun-baked earth-and of sudden started up,
surprised by the grating Of footsteps on the earth
behind her.
Before she could turn. however, she was caught
and wrapped in the OF Hopi Jim.
She mustered all her strength and wits and Will
for last struggle-and in a frenzied moment
managed to break his hold tribe, enough to
able her to snatch at the pistol hanging from her
belt and present it at his head
But it exploded harmlessly, spending its bullet
the blue of the morning sky
And now all hint of mercy left his eyes: remained
only the glare OF rage He put forth all his
strength In turn, and Judith was a child in his
hands. In half minute he had her helpless, in
much time more her back was breaking across
his knee, while he bound her with loop after loop
of his rawhide lariat.
Then, leaving her momentarily supine the
ground Hopi Jim caught and unhobbed her horse,
and without troubling to saddle it. lifted the girl
to its back and placed her there.
She painted prayer for mercy He laughed in
her face bent and kissed her brutally, and stepped
back still laughing, TO admire his handiwork
Thus he stood for instant between the horse
and the edge OF the declivity fair mark. stark
against the sky, for one who stood in the valley
below, folding his rife with eager fingers waiting
Just such opportunity with the impotence that he
had waited 1t ever since the noise of debTs kicked
over the edge by the struggling and woman
had drawn his attention to what going ON
above.
AS Alan pressed the trigger and the shot sounded
clear in the morning stiffness, Judith saw look OF
aggrieved amaEement cross the face OF Hopi Jim
Slade
Then he threw his hands out clawed blindly n