Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-11-09

eQd1eS. but at i0asle sue tuOu5At Ae-
riedly, she was getting farther ane
farther away from them down stream
Up above, Del Mar and his MAI
came to the edge of the water. There
they stood for moment looking down
There she is" pointed the man.
Del Mar raised his revolver ane
fred.
Suddenly a bullet struck Elaines
paddle and broke 1t. Clutching the
useless splintered shaft, she was no"
at the mercy of the current, sweep
along like a piece of driftwood.
She looked about frantically. What
was that roaring noise?
1t was the waterfalls ahead!
In the meantime Del Mars other
two men had entered the house ano
had run upstairs, knowing wen ms
wrath If anything had happened As
they did so, the naturalist poked MS
head cautiously out of the kitchen
where he had been hiding. and saw
them. Then he followed noiselessly
his revolver ready.
Headlong they ran into the room
where they had left Elaine. She was
gone!
Before they could turn the natural
list locked the door, turned. and took
the steps down, two at time.
Then he ran out of the front door
and into the woods at an angle to the
direction taken by Elaine, turning and
going down hill. where rapid, swollen
stream curved about through
gorge. AS he reached the stream ne
heard a shot above.
He looked up. There was Elaine,
swept down toward him. Below he
knew the stream tumbled over tall
cataract into the gorge below.
What could he do?
A sudden cracking Of the. twigs
caused him to turn and catch sight OF
me, just coming up.
For. as best / could on horseback,
I had followed Elaine's car until at
last saw that it had been abandoned.
Thoroughly alarmed, | rode on, past
deserted house, until suddenly
heard a shot and a scream. 1t seemed
to come from below me. and | leaped
off my horse, making for it as fast as
could, racing toward stream whose
roar ! could hear.
There on the bank / came upon
queer old codger, looking about wildly.
Was he the automobile thief? ran
forward. ready to seize him. But as
did so he whirled about, and with
strength remarkable in one SO old,
seized my wrist before I could get
his.
'Lookt" he cried simply, pointing
up the stream.
did. A girl in canoe was coming
down toward the falls, screaming, her
paddle broken and useless. My heart
leaped into my mouth. 1t was Elaine!
"Come" he painted eagerly to me, Il
can save her. You must do. just as |
say"
He pointed to an overhanging rock
near by and we ran to it.
BY this time Elaine was almost upon
us, each second getting nearer the
veritable maelstrom above the falls.
From the rock overhung also a tree
at the very edge of the water.
There was nothing to do but obey
him. Above, though we did not see
them, Del Mar and his man were gloat-
ing over the result of their work. But
they were gloating too soon. We came
to the rock and the tree.
Here" cried the new-found friend,
''Pll get hold of the tree and then hold
you"
Instantly he threw himself on his
stomach, hooking his leg about the
tree trunk. l crawled out over the
ledge of slippery rock to the very edge
and looked over 1t was the only
chance.
The old naturalist seized my legs in
his hands. l slid down the rock, let
ting myself go.
Literally, his presence of mind had
invented what was really a life chain,
human rope.
On came the canoe, Elaine in it as
white as death, crying out and trying
to stop or guide it as, nearer and near
er though the smooth, worn walls of
the chasm, it whirled to the falls.
With a grip of steel the naturalist
held to the tree, which swayed and
bent, while also he held me, as if in
wise, head down.
On came Elaine-directly at US.
She stood up and balanced herself
a dangerous feat in a canoe at any
time, but doubly SO in those dark,
swirling, treacherous waters.
Steady" / encouraged. Grab my
arms!"
AS the canoe reached US she gave
little jump and seized my forearms
Her hands slipped, but / grasped her
own arms, and We held each other.
The momentum Of her body was
great. For an instant / thought we
were all going over. But the natural
ist held his grip and slowly began to
pull himself and US up the slippery
rock.
A second later the canoe crashed
over the falls in cloud of spray and
pounding water.
AS we reached the bank above the
rock / almost lifted Elaine and set her
down, trembling and gasping for
breath. Before either of US knew it
the queer old fellow had plunged into
the bushes and was gone without an.
other word.
Walter" she cried, "call him back.
| must tell him how much owe him
my 1ifet"
But he had disappeared, absolutely.
We shouted after him. 1t was Of no
use.
We'll. what do you think of thatg'
cried Elaine. 'He saved my life-then
didn't wait even to be thanked"
Who was he?
We looked at each other a moment
But neither of US spoke what was In