The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-05-01

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the horse that had been shot Under
him. and Judith sat her horse calmly
smiling sweet insolence Into the exasl
perated countenance OF Marrophat
Incidentally the fugitives disapt
peared round n bend In the road that
led directly into the wild and barren
heart OF the Painted hills.
In tho brief interval that elapsed boz
foro his return with Hopi Jim, Mario
phat contrived to persuade the bandit
that Judith had been, at least indiI
roctly, responsible for the catastrophe,
with the upshot that. temporarily
blinded TO her destinations by tho gilt
ter OF nineteen thousand dollars In the
near distance, Mr.. Slade maintained
hie distance and a deaf ear to her
Establishments. The only information
as to their purpose that she was able
TO extract from either man, when the
pursuing party turned aside from the
main trail, some distance from Mosa,
was that Hopi Jim knew n short cut
through the range. via what he termed
tho upper trail. by which they hoped
to be able to head the fugitives of be-
fore they could gain the desert on the
far side OF the hills.
Only at long intervals did they draw
rein TO permit Hopi Jim to make re!
connolseance OF the lower trail that
threaded the valley on the far side OF
the ridge.
Toward noon he returned In haste
from tho last OF these surveys
scrambling rocklessly down the noun
tnIn-sido and throwing himself upon
his horse with the advice:
We've headed 'em-can make II
now II we ride like all get-outl"
For half an hour more they pushed
on at the best speed to be obtained
from their weary animals. at length
drawing rein at point where the trail
crossed the ridge and widened out
upon long. broad ledge that over
hung tho valley OF the lower trail. with
n clear drop to the latter from the
brink OF u good two hundred feet.
One hasty look back and down into
the valley evoked q grunt of satinfac-
ton from Hopi Jim.
Just In time" no Rsseyerated. Hero
they come! Ten minutes more :"
His smile answered Marrophats
with unspeakable cruel Significance.
Texas will sleep better tonight
when he knows how I've squared the
deal for himl" the bandit declared.
What are you going to dot" Judith
demanded. refining her horse In beside
Marrophat ns the latter dismounted.
A gesture drew her attention TO n
huge boulder poised insecurely on the
very lip OF the oaasm.
We're going TO tip that over on
your friends. Miss Judith" Marrophat
replied. with n smack OF relish In his
voice simple at--efiicient-ehi
What more can you askf"
She answered only with an irreprens-
ible gesture OF horror. MarrophHt's
laugh followed her as she turned away.
For some moments she strained her
vision yainly. endeavoring TO pene-
trRto tho turbulent currents OF super.
heated air that iilled tho valley. Then
she made out indistinctly tho faIntly
marked line OF the lower trail; and
Immediately she caught a glimpse Of
three small figures. mounted, toilinE
painfully toward the point where death
awaited them like bolt from the blue.
Hastily she glanced over-shouider:
lIOpi Jim and Marrophat. ignoring her.
were straining themselves against the
boulder without budginE Il an inch.
for all It's apparent nicely OF poise. For
an instant n wild hope flashed through
her mind. but Il WAS Immediately eI-
orcised when Hopi Jim stepped back
and uttered few words OF which only
two--"dynamilo" and "fuse"--reachec
her ears
Knoeliny beside the boulder hs dug
busily for an instant then lodged the
stick TO his satisfaction. attached the
fuse. and breaking on. edged on his
belly TO tho edge OF the clitf and
looked down. carefully calculating the
length Of ths fuse by the distance OF
the party down below from tbs spot
where the rock must fall.
hut while he WAS so engaged and
Mnrrophat aided him. all eager inter
est. Judith waa taking advantage OF
their disregard OF her.
HurrIedly pnbuttoning her Jacket.
she whipped u playing card from her
pocket. trey o. hearts. and with tho
stub OF n pencil scribbled three words
on It's face-"Dangerl Go back!"
Then finding a small. nattish bit OF |
rock. she bound tho cara to Il with |
n bit of string; and with one more
backward glance TO make sure sha |
was not watched. approached the
brink.
Hopi Jim was meticulously shorten. |
Ing the fuse. Marrophat kneelins by
his side.
In the canyon below the three were
within two minutes Of tho danger
point.
II was no trick at all to drop the
stone 80 that II fell within a dozen
feet OF the leading horseman.
She saw him rein In suddenly, dis,
mount, cast look aloft. then dismount
and pick up the warning
AZ the others Joined him. he do.
tached the card and showed II to them.
At the same time Hopi Jim and Mar,
rophat Jumped up and ran back. each
Beizing and holding his horse by nose
and bride.
Constrained TO do likewise lest she
lose her mount. Judith waited with q
ightened hoart
Tho explosion smote dull echoes
from the TANKS OF the Painted hills,
all browsing In the MONDAY hush:
he boulder teetered reluctantly ON the