The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-19
ospyrisht, 1911, By Louis Joseph vaaoS


Hurriedly unbuttoning her Jacket,
she whipped playing card from her
pocket. a trey O. hearts, and with the
stub of pencil scrubbed three words
on its face-"Danger! Go back!"
Then finding small, fattish bit OF
rock, she bound the card to it 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 we're
within two minutes OF the danger
point. "....H.....
1t was no trick at all to drop the
stone SO that It fell -yithin a dozen
feet of the leading horsemau.
She saw him rein in suddenly, dis.
mount, cast look a1oft, then dlsmouut
and pick up the warning.
AS the others Joined him, he de-
tached the card and showed 1t to them.
At the same time Hopi Jim and Mar
IVIJ1dL JulAPGu ny anu AhA HdkhI Sa&hA
Selling and holding his horse by nose
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 tear
Ing sound followed by rush of earth
and gravel; a wide gap appeared in
the brink of the trail. 0.
Leaving Marcophat to hold the two
frightened horses while the girl
soothed her own. the bandit rushed to
the edge, threw himself fat and swore
bitterly, with an accent of grievance,
as be rose.
From the canyon below a dull noise
OF galToping hoofs advertised toe 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
bad to say with an automatic pistol
that nestled snugly in her palm.
zone moment. Mr.. Slade," she sug-
gested evenly. Just moment before
you break the sad news to Mr.. Marco
plat. I've something to say that needs
your attention-likewise your respect.
It is this: I 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-"it will be with full knowl-
edge OF the consequences. Mr.. Mario
phat will enlighten you II you have
any doubt of my ability to take care Of
myself in such affairs as this. II you
are we'll advised, you will turn back
and report failure to my father"
She nodded CURLY and swung her
horse round.
"And what shall tell your father
from you?" Marrophat demanded
sharply.
what you please" the girl replied,
flashing an imptsh smile over.shoulder.
But, since when part company with
you, l part with him as well-for all OF
me, you may tell him to go to the
devil!"
WELL" Mr.. Marrophat admitted con-
fdontially to Mr. slade. "I'm damned"
And that amt all" Mr.. Slade con-
fided in Mr.. Marrophat, whipping out
his own revolver: You're being held
up, too. III take those guns OF your'n.
friend, and what else you've got about
you that's of value, including your boss
and when you get back to old man
Thine you can just tell him, with my
best compliments, that I've quit the
Job and lit out after that daughter OF
hls'n. She's heap sight more attrac
tive than nineteen thousand dollars,
and not half 80 hard to earn!"
NLAnrER XXXIV