The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-10-08

Il
Up above, Del Mar and his man
came to the edge OF the water There
they stood for a moment looking down
There she is," pointed the man.
Del Mar raised his revolver Rn0
fired.
Suddenly a bullet struck Elalne's
paddle and broke It, Clutohing the
useless splintered shaft, she was nov
at the mercy OF the current, swept
along like a piece of driftwood.
She looked about frantically. What
was that roaring noise?
II was the waterfalls ahead
In the meantime Del Mars other
two men had entered the house and
had run upstairs, knowing we'll his
wrath If anything had happened. As
they did so, the naturalist poked hi6
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
WhNlS tuoy uau iSAL Eldlhe' pAS was
gonel
Before they could turn the natural.
ist locked the door, turned, and took
the steps down, two at a time.
Then he ran out Of the front door
and into the woods at an angle 10 the
direction taken by Elaine, turning and
going down hill, where a rapid, swollen
stream curved about through a
gorge. AS he reached the stream he
heard a shot above.
He looked up. There was Elaine.
swept down toward him. Below he
knew the stream tumbled over a 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,
had followed Elaine's car until at
last ! saw that 1t had been abandoned.
Thoroughly alarmed, ! rode on past
a deserted house, until suddenly l
heard a shot and a scream. 1t seemed
to come from below me. and | leaped
off my horse, making for it as fast aa
could, racing toward a stream whose
roar l could hear.
There on the bank l came upon
queer old codger, looking about wildly.
Was he the automobile thief? l ran
forward. ready TO seize him. But as
did so he whirled about, and with u
strength remarkable in one so old,
seized my wrist before l could get
his.
Look" 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 Elainei
"Come!" he painted eagerly to me, Il
can save her. You must do just as l
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 we're gloating too soon. We came
to the rock and the tree.
Here" cried the new-found friend,
I'll get hold of the tree and then hold
you"
Instantly he threw himself on his
stomach, hooking his leg about the
tree trunk. 1 crawled out over the I
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
ing myself go.
Literally, his presence of mind had
invented what was really life chain
1 human rope.
On came the canoe, Elaine in it as
white as death, crying out and trying
o stop or guide it as, nearer and near
,r though the smooth worn walls OF
he chasm, it whirled to the falls.
With a grip of steel the naturalist
leld to the tree, which swayed and
,ent, while also he held me, as if in
/ wise, head down.
On came Elaine-directly at us,
She stood up and balanced herself
| dangerous feat in canoe at any
ime, but doubly so in those dark,
wirling, treacherous waters.
STEADY" I encouraged. Grab my
Lrms!"
AS the canoe reached us she gave
title jump and seized my forearms.
Ter hands slipped, but l grasped her
'wn arms, and we held each other
The momentum of her body was
,reat. For an instant / thought we
we're all going over. But the natural
st held his grip and slowly began to
ull himself and us up the slippery
ock.
A second later the canoe crashed
yer the falls in a cloud of spray and
ounding water.
AS we reached the bank above the
ock almost lifted Elaine and set hel
own, trembling and gasping for
reath. Before either of us knew it
he queer old fellow had plunged into
ne bushes and was gone without an
ther word.
Walter" she cried, "call him back
must tell him how much owe him
ly life!"
But he had disappeared, absolutely.
ye shouted after him. 1t was of no