The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-15
CHAPTER L
Retribution.

| Retribution.
And yet the very consciousness OF
the girls danger was all the stimu.
| liant that Alan needed to recall him to
| himself.
Once arrived with Barcus at the top
of the cliff, he lost no time in setting
about preparations to effect her res.
cue.
In this business Fortune smiled upon
him. as it were, by predisposition.
A broad roadway ran along the top
of the precipice, turning of at a
little distance to the right, to descend
the mountainside. And just beyond
this turning Providence had chosen
to locate the camp Of hydraulic min
ing outfit.
Alan's appearance at the top, in
fact, was coincident with the arrival
at that point of half a dozen excited
miners; and he had no more than
voiced his demands than three of their
number were Fastening back to the
camp to procure rope and more hands.
Within five minutes Alan, against
the protests OF Rose and Barcus, was
being lowered over the edge and down
to the shale roof on which he land
ed at spot far to one side of Judith.
to escape all danger of sending a sec
ond landslide down upon her.
Picking his way carefully down to
the very brink, Alan edged along this,
more than once saved a fall to death
only by the rope, until he stood inn
mediately below Judith.
Then pausing, he instructed her
carefully, tossed the end of the rope
into her hands, and when she had
wound it twice round her arm, crept
up to her side and helped her make it
fast about her body.
His signal to the miners that all
was well educed prompt response.
There was giddy interval in which
the two swung perilously between
heaven and earth. Then they stood
once more in safety.
Supported by sympathetic hands.
the quartet staggered into camp,
their story, as condensed by Barcus
and breathlessly confirmed by Alan,
already winning them enthusiastic
champions.
And this was very we'll for them.
For they had no more than seated
themselves and begun to appreciate
what perils they had escaped, when
the rumble of motor car sounded be-
yond the shoulder Of the hill
Startled by this alarm once more
into full command Of his tagging fac.
ulties, Alan rose and stumbled out
INTO the roadway, taking cognizance
Of such facilities for defense as the
camp afforded and issuing instructions
with a voice vibrant with fear. not
for his own safety, but for the safety
of those whom he loved.
Not far from the point where the
road swung from the cliff to thread
the camp the hydraulic nozzle was in
action, its terrific force of water melt.
ing the mountainside away ton nv ton
Toward this Barcus ran at top spee1l
gaining the man in charge Of the NOR
zle Just as the car swung round ira
bend.
Pausing only long enough to maLo
certain that there could be no mis-.
take-and having this certainty mada
doubly sure by Jimmy's action in ris.
ing from his seat and firing over tho
windshield pointblank at Alan as thia
last stood waiting in the roadway
Barcus and the miner swung the No.,
zle round until it bore directly on the
car. - 1he
The power Of its stream was snch
tnat the car was checked instantly i
It's tracks; and before the water could
have been shut OF or the stream ~
Verted' the machine was driven hacl
to the very lip of the cliff and ouoA
y completely, taking with II tbosa
twain upon whose efforts all the hon.
OF Seneca Trine Of late had been -
tered. oeen cen
q death that was merciful il -.
y was instantaneous, awaited tnan, nae
the foot of the cliff. 'nen az
cro BE CONTINUED,
His Position,