Evening journal., 1914-10-26
MIRAGE

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Copyright 1914 by Louis Joseph vance,
MIRAGE
sYNopsIs-The 3 Of Hearts $ death sign en-
SS ossR % sR'Ss the agency OF his judith
asans' Allan & % son % % S seen @ nSS be nGereS Tne
helpless cripple Alan loves and loved by Rose S9dh
circumstances Alan her life and so
new love the old hatred and jealousy OF
heir friend I5arcus take refuge in the
arid mountains bordering the arizona aesers Su1sn' %
attempt upon their lives In return Tor
back OF horse Alan shoots the aeeompiee ana
THE MAN IN THE SHADOW.
Two hundred feet if one, Hopi Jim fell from the
lip of the cliff Then suddenly the Thing that had
been Hopi Jim Sade checked in its headlong
descent by the outstanding trunk Of tree, over
which it remained, doubled up, limp, horrible
The miniature landslide that had been caused by
his fall went on, settling gradually as the slope
became less sheer. Only part of It, double hand
rnl Of pebbles gained the bottom Of the canyon.
Its mufled impact on the ground round his feet
roused the man who had compassed the bandits
death from the pose he had unconsciously assumed
on the instant OF firing.
He stepped back and snatched up case contain
ing binoculars.
Not before the glasses were adjusted to his Wis
ion did he find time to respond absenty 70 the
alarmed and insistent inquiries of his two com
nanions man OF his own age anu d sNi Vi SoHe
years less, who had been wakened from their sleep
bv the report of the rife.
Now the latter pucked his sleeve momentarily
DETECTING the glasses from the object Wnlch tney
we're following so sedulously as It moved along tne
heights: wildly running horse with woman
bound helpless upon its back, both sharply III sl-
houette against the burning blue
"Alani" the girl demanded, what is It? Why
did YOU nre? Why won't you answer me2 What
is it?" ,-,..- -
Win the glasses the runaway horse that fed so
madly along the perilous and narrow track of the
hill trail.
swung sharply and thrust the glasses in'o 'ne
hands Of the girl
Judith" he affirmed with a look OF poignant
eolicitude shes roped to the back OF that crazy
broneho-helplessl See for yourself: one false
step-suppose stone turns beneath its hoof-
she'll be killed.
sscl, that few against the sky Alan turned to the
two horses hobbled near by and seizing saddle
threw IL over the back Of one.
At this the other man strode to his SIDE and drop
ming OBTAINING hand upon his arm, asked;
what are you going to DO.
Alan shook the hand of and went with his
selfappointed task
GO after her Tom. Of course he replied. What
else? That animal is crazy tell you
s'Even SO" Tom Barcus argued. you can't climb
that hillside on horseback-and If you could, you'd
be too late to catch up much less prevent an 40
cident'
q know 1t. But suppose it doesn't fall
You know what's beyond these hils-desertl And
the Girl is helpless tell you bound hand and foot
Think Of her being carried that way-all day. per-
haps-face up TO this brutal SUM!
You're raving" Barcus commented in a hope
less turn. He looked to the girl "Rose-Miss
Trine-reason with this madman-"
Dropping the glasses, the girl came swiftly and
confidently to her lovers side lifting her lips to
Go. sweetheart" she told him. Save her IL
YOU cam"
Then hoofbeats drumming on the hard-packed
earth of the canyon trail struck hundred echoes
from its rugged rocky walls.
Mr.. Barcus showed Rose Trine face almost
mdicrous with its anguished smile that was In
tended to reassuring.
~I.et,s look sharp and follow him as quick may
be-" he urged. lightning will never strike us so
long as we stick TO Mr.. Law Of the charmed life
but I don't mind telling you once out OF his com
pany I'm just naturally afraid OF the dark
1.-THE TRAIL OF FLYING HooF-PRINTs.
In the still air of that young day the chill OF
night fingered stubbonly-and would until the
shadow of the eastern rampant had crept slowly
down the canyons western wall, telescoped upon
itself and vanished, letting in the sun to make the
place pit of torment and Of burning.
Refreshed from rest and exhilarated Dy TINS
grateful coolness his horse responded willingly to
the first light touch OF Alan's spur In twinklne
the overnight camp dropped from view behind the
rounded shoulder of hillside, mesquite-cloaked'
Then from its first spirited flight the horse set
tod down TO steady going heightened its stride
and ran for leagues with the long, apparently ef
fortress and tireless lope Of the painsbred broncho
ventre-a-terre.
Alan's departure from camp had anticipated pS
a round quarter-hour the appearance on the uppel
trail of friends of the slain bandit, to the number
Of four OF FIVE who had both discovered and recoV
cred his body, called his death murder and piedgeS
themselves to its avengement-laying responsDh
lty for the putative crime at the door OF the maj
and woman to be seen in the canyon, Immediately
below the OF Hopi Jims fall.
Between the moment when discovery Of the mel
IN the ridge trail interrupted their simple and hur
led breakfast and that which found Rose and Bar
,us mounted on the back Of their own horse ant
making the best of their way down the canyon II
pursuit of Alan. but little time had lapsed.
And even with its double burden. their hors