The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-11-06

body. and for an instant my brain
seemed TO reel with dizziness. The
danger confronting US was not 30
much mine as hers. These men were
not soldiers but desperadoes. the scum
OF the hills. and they had come actu-
ated by one object only--the posses
sion OF Major Harwood's daughter
What the real purpose OF the Cowans
might be could not even conjecture.
but this night raid was. beyond all
doubt, part OF that same foul plot
which had involved the cowardly muir
der OF the father That had been the
work of the elder Cowan. and now had
come the turn OF the son. Here was
the elimination OF the feud between
the two families. the blood-anger which
had smoldered for years. finally to ind
AT expression in this outrage under
the guise OF war. With the major
dead. and his only child married to
Anse Cowan--whether by force. or
otherwise--the account would be
closed. Once legally this villains wife
all her inheritance would be In his
control. Death, even. was far prefer.
able to falling alive into their hands.
/ felt instinctively that II would be
her choice She had uttered no sound.
no cry after that first startled excla'
nation. Suddenly her hands grasped
mine in which gripped the revolver.
do not shoot-not yeti" she whis-
pered. the sound OF her words barely
audible. wait: there is one chance
still that we may deceive them"
"A way leading out? You mean Q
secret passage?"
mo, but a spot where we might
hide. and be overlooked. | am sure
none OF these men know this house;
Anse Cowan has never been inside OF
II. and most OF the ruffians with him
are from beyond the mountains II
they do not find us here when they
search they will believe we have es
capped"
"They will discover the preacher" l
protested, yet with a faint throb OF
hope. He will be heard from pres,
emily. and they will learn the truth
from him"
"All he knows--yes; but that is not
much. He cannot be sure that we have
not had time in which to get safely
away"
She drew me back, and | yielded to
the grasp OF her hand. The darkness
was intense, but she moved swiftly
and surely, as though knowing init.
mately every inch OF the way: her fin.
gers touching mine were warm and
! firm, no longer trembling. The door
| in front crashed. and an oath rumbled
upward; to the rear light flashed, its
reflection reddening the stair. Aided
by its distant flicker we raced back
down the upper hall TO where II mar.
rowed. A ladder stood there leading
upward TO a small scuttle above. In
! stantly my mind grasped her plan
the attic II we could attain the attic
unseen. drawing the ladder up after us
and lowering the cover over the hole
our presence In the house might re
main unsupported.
II see what you mean" I said swift
ly. go up first Miss Noreen--hurry.
She crept through the narrow scut
tlehoe. her supple. sleader body find
ing easy passage. With two blows oil
my boot ! loosened the supports. free
ing them from the floor. and mounted
recklessly. Already men were on the
stairs. the CLEAN OF an approaching
light rejecting along the sidewalks
There was light flooring above. anC
sufficient space in which TO move free
ly, although I could see nothing. no
even the breathless girl at my side
Together we grasped the upper rungs
and drew up the ladder, sliding II II
behind us on the floor. The scuttl,
cover was on hinges. and II slipped
over the edge OF the hole noiselessly
We lay there pressed closely together
in silent suspense. We could distin
guish the opening and closing o
doors. and the sound OF voices calm,
TO others on the floor below One,
some fellow. apparently just beneath
us. ripped out an oath.
We'll. by God, Jack, do you suppos,
Nichols has dared play such durnet
trick on me and squealed to the girl?
Hanged II know" was the sullei
reply. But IL don't look like thar wa
soul in the house"
felt her hand touch mine softly
and bent my head until her lips wer'
at my ear.
THAT was Anse Cowan," she whis
: pered. Il recognize that voice. Wha
. do you suppose they will do now"
My fingers frightened their grip; tn
men below had moved on, their voice
grumbling along the hall
, They will discover the preache
u presently" | said. endeavoring to maxi
I my words as reassuring as possible g
! only wonder they have overlooked hin
g SO long; supposed he would make al
/ cutlery"
e She drew In her breath sharply. an
h sat Up. The movement was noiselesi
d but In the instant OF intense siIenc