Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-10-05
securely fastened to q tree.

Blake swung in under the brow Of the
cliff, out of their sight.
The rope Quivered through their I'm
gers, tautened and suddenly raced
scorchingly through, and the severed
end vanished into space.
There followed a crashing sound and
long afterward faint thud, after that
the echo Of hugh.
The four breathed heavily and wiped
the sweat from their faces. Andrews,
who had bought his own life from Pc
terson, slipped the knife back into his
pocket. They went into the nearest
shack and drank heavily.
Jack Blake looked down at the tum-
bled rocks far below as he dangled at
the ropes end.
Just then he swung under the cliff;
something grasped him firmly, and he
was drawn to a safe footing on a mar
row ledge thirty feet from the top Of
the precipice.
He gasped when he gazed into the
grinning face Of Patsy Denton.
"Whishtw cautioned Patsy, finger on
LID. Come inside, Blake, and listen to
me yarn"
"Then you didn't fall dowp-you
were not hurt'" asked Jack In amaze
ment.
Patsy's face darkened
mo thanks to them numbering VII
lains that I'm not Dead" he said.
"'Twas Peterson himself pushed me
over. What are ye dom down here"
Game after your remains" laughed
Jack.
Meantime Patsy had tugged persist
emily at the rope.
Suddenly he clung tightly to the face
Of the cliff, and as the length Of the
severed rope hurtled down from above
Patsy Denton managed to kick out a
large stone.
When the stone struck the bottom Of
the gorge Patsy laughed thinly.
THAT'S where we'd be, eh?"
"For all they know we are down
there" said Jack significantly. "But
what shall we do. Patsy?'
"Come along" said Denton, leading
the way along the six foot shelf.
when l was pushed over yesterday
me hands went fyin' out to catch hold
Of soInethin', and what should l grab
but that old granddaddy Of a root,
yonder. and swung in until me
toes gripped the earth. clawed hold
Of 1t. It's thankful l am that I'm
little whifret of feller; the old root
would have busted sure II you'd caught
It, Blake!'
They walked along the ledge until
they reached u triangular opening In
the cliff wall. They squeezed through
and found themselves In q crevasse or
part Of natural cave.
Patsy scratched match.
Look" he said tensely.
Jack Blake looked open mouthed.
There was dull yellow glitter in the
rocky walls Of the crevasse.
"Gold! The lost vein" muttered
Jack as he scanned the rich outcrop-
ping. II believe it's under your own
claim, Patsy"
mo, 'tisn't. I've figured it's under
nobody's claim yet You and me will
file against It, eh? Shure, didn't you
come down after me dead corpse~
BE grinned.
Then Jack told him about the draw
ing Of lots and how he had drawn the
ace Of spades.
"'Twas a lucky card for you,
Blake" said Patsy. "Now, I'm most
starved. I'm thinkin' 'twould be
good idea to steal along this passage
and-see, 1t slopes up-fnally come out
on the other side of the hill behind a
fur1e bush. It's food I'm wantin'.
ladr
"If you can wait until dark" sug-
gested Jack, I'VE can help ourselves.
Meantime forget your hunger If you
can. Let US talk about the girls wait
ing for US back home"
It was 10 o'clock. The four conspir-
ators were playing cards and drinking.
Suddenly Peterson pointed a shaking
finger at the window.
Look he shrieked.
They turned and saw two white faces
pressed against the pane.
"Ghostsv yelled Andrews and fed
into the night.
The other three followed at break
neck speed. They raced down the
trail, scared into sobriety, glad to leave
Death gulch far behind.
Months afterward they heard Of the
lucky strike In the Panamints and that
Jack Blake and Patsy Denton were
rich men.
And the newspapers told all about
the severed rope and the four who
were afraid Of ghosts.
The four looked sourly at one an
other.
"And they got the nerve to name the
mine the Ace Of Spadesr' groaned An
drsws.
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