The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18
Lxxi-CLoslNG IN.

8 For half an hour more they pushed
on at the best speed to be oDtained if'tn
their weary animals Mt length drawing
b elm at n point where the trail crossed
tho ridge and widencd out upon long.
n broad Ledge that overhunE the valley
+ OF the lower trail. with clear drop to
Z the latter from the brink of good two
hundred feet.
One hasty look back and down into
= the valley evoked grunt OF satisfac-
tlon from Hopi jim.
Just In time" he asseverated. Here
they come. Ten minutes more. :"
His smile answered Marrophats with
Nunspeakably cruel signiicauce.
.TexSs will sleep better tonight
when he knows how I've squared the
i deal for hint the bandit declared.
what are you going to dor Judith
demanded. refining her horse in beside
NIarrophat az the latter dismounted.
A gesture drew her, attention to a
huge boulder poised insecurity on the
very lip of tho chasm.
e Wore going TO tip that over on your
friends, Miss Judith" Marropiat re-
piled, with smack of relish In his
voice. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ?
What more can you ask 2"
* She answered only with an irrepres-
Siblc gesture of horror Marrophats
laugh followed her az ahe turned away.
For some moments she strained her
vfsion Sainiy. cndeavoring To penetrate
the turbulent currents Of superhcated
air that til]cd the valley. Then she
made out indistinctly the family
marked lire Of the lower trail; and i'm
iuediately she caught glimpse of three
small figurcs. mounted, tofling painful
~ toward the point where death
awaited them like Il bolt from the blue
Hastily che Elnnccd over shoulder;
Ifopi Jim and Marrophat. ignoring her,
: were strainiUg themselves against the
boulder without budgips II an inch
FOR all its apparent nicely OF poisc.
For AN instant Il wild hope flashed
. through her mind, but II was imme-
diately exorcized when Hop Jim
stepped back and uttered a few words
OF which only two-"dynamite" and
"fuse"-reached her ears.
Then ne turned and numbered heavily
: on to Il rude and weather beaten plank
cabin which, almost entirely hidden In
the brush that hedged the trail. had
until that moment escaped Judith's
notice.
i In II space of time incredibly brief
he had kicked open the door, entered
and returned. bringing In one hand a
2 short length OF dynamite, in the other
a coll OF prepared fuse and n.small
) spade.
KneeIing beside the boulder he dug
busily for Rn instant, then lodged the
: stick to his satisfaction, attached the
fuse, and. breaking off. edged on his
:; belly 10 the edge OF the cliff and looked
: down, carefully calculated the length
OF the fuse by the distance of the party
down below from the spot where the
& rock must fail.
but while he was so engaged and
> Marrophat aided him. all eager interes,,
:. Judith was taking advantage OF their
= disregard OF her
Love had changed the nature Of this
y!oman almost beyond her own appre-
citation. 4 fortnight since she would
4 have stood by and applauded the IN.
3 :senuity OF the scheme, callous to the
: hideousness OF the end ii was designed
20 compass To-day she felt :,
{ little faint and sick when she consid :
cred what might bcfall were she unable
10 give warming.
Ilurriedly unbottoning her jacket she
whipped playing card from her peck
!, ct. "A Trey az Hearts and Witk the stub
Of pencil scrubbed three words on It's
3 iace--"Danecri Go back
Then finding n small. fiattish Bit OF
Z rock, she bound the card TO IL with :,
hit Of string: and with one more back
= ward glance To make sure She was not
2 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.
x II was no Trick at all 10 drop the
. stone so that ii fell within II dozen feet
+ - the leading horScman.
She saw him rein in suddenly. dis
= mount, east look aloft, then dismount
and pick. up the warming
AS the others joined him. he detached
: the card and showed II 10 them.
At the same time Hopi Jim and Mar
+ rophat jumped up and ran back, each
( SELLING and holding his horse by nose
and bride
= Constrained TO do likewise lest she
lose her mount. Judith waited with a
+ ljRhtened heart . ..
IContnued To-Inorrow.l