Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-19


Kneeling beside the boulder he dug busily foi
an instant then lodged the stick to his satisfaction
and attached the fuse
But while he was so engaged and Marropha
aided him, all eager interest Judith was taking ad
vantage OF their disregard OF her.
Hurriedly unbuttoning her jacket she whipped
playing card from her pocket, a Trey Of Hearts.
and with the stub Of a pencil scrubbed three words
on it's face-"panaeri Go baoki"
Then finding small, hattish bit Of rock che
bound the card to It with BIT OF string; and with
one more backward glance TO make she
not watched approached the brink.
In the canyon below the three within two
minutes Of the danger point.
II was trick at all to drop the stone that It
fell within dozen feet OF the leading horseman
She saw him rein in suddenly, dismount cast
look aloft, then dismount and pick up the warning
At the same time Hopi Jim and Marrophat
Jumped up and ran back, each seizing and holding
his horse by and bride
Constrained 10 do likewise lest she lose her
mount, Judith waited with lightened heart
The explosion smote dull echoes from the TANKS
OF the Painted hills all browsing In the MONDAY
hush' the boulder teetered reluctantly the brink
then disappeared with tearing sound followed BY
a rush OF earth and gravel; a 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 fat and swore
bitterly with an accent Of grievance. as he rose
From the canyon below a dull rumor OF gallop
ing hoofa advertised too plainly the failure OF their
attempt.
And Hopi Jim turned back only to ma 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
snugly in her palm
zone moment MT sade" she suggested evenly:
"just moment before you break the sad news 10
Mr.. Marrophat. I've something to say that needs
your Observation-Disclosures, your respect. It Is this:
am parting company with you and Mr.. Marrophat
am riding on toward the west, by this trail n
Of mi
flashed .inously in the gare-"it viii be with
full knowledge OF the consequences Mr.. Mario
PLAT win enlighten you II you have any doubt OF
my ability to take OF myself In such affairs as
this II you well advised you viii 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 ar
impish smile overshoulder. but, since when
part company with you, part with him we'll
for all OF you may tell him to 80 to the devili
WELL" Mr. Marrophat admitted confdentially 10
Mr. slade I'm damned"
"And that amt all" Mr. sade confded in MI
Marrophat whipping out his own revolver: you're
being held up. too. I'll take those guns OF your'n
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 can Just tell him, with
my best compliments. that I've quit the Job and 1T
out after that daughter OF hisn. She's a heap sight
more attractive than nineteen thousand dollars, and
not half so hard to earn"
Iv-BURNT FINGERS.
Once she had lost touch with her fathers crea.
lures. the girl drew rein and went slowly
and cautiously
Below her. in the valley, the lower trail wound
ifs 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
madly with fear OF death swapping at their heels
Il within hour OF midnight, night bell
clear and bitter cold on the heights and bright
with moonlight, when Alans party made ts last
pause and camped 10 rest against the dawn uncon-
scious OF the fact that, a quarter OF mile above
them on the upper trail. lonely woman paused
when they paused and made her own camp the
edge OF a sharp decvity.
The level shafts OF the rising awakened her
She sat up rubbed her eyes, yawned stretched
limbs stin with the hardship Of sleeping on 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 arms 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 trihe enough to
able her to snatch at the pistol hanging from her
belt and present it at his head
But it exploded harmessly, spending its bullet
on 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 child in his
hands. In half a minute he had her helpless in
his knee, while he bound her with loop after loor
of his rawhde lariat.
Then, leaving her momentarily supine On the
ground. Hop Jim caught and unhobbled her horse
and without troubling to saddle IT, lifted the cir.
TO its back and placed her there.
She painted prayer for mercy. He laughed ii
her face bent and kissed her brutally and stepped
back, still laughing, to admire his handiwork
Thus he stood for instant between the hors,
and the edge Of the declivity. a fair mark, starl
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 h
had waited It ever since the noise OF debris hcket
over the edge by the struggling and
had drawn his attention to what going
above.
AS Alan pressed the trigger and the shot sounded
clear in the morning stiffness. Judith look
aggrieved amazement cross the face OF Hopi jim
Slade.
Then he threw his hands out cawed blindly
the air. staggered, reeed against the horses hanl
heavily that II SHE'D in fright and abruptly she