Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-06-03

swsrec y hen the boon craNed is sOOu
.lr Ire soul
slowly and painfully these four
,clet along Al obscure trail that fol-
Owed the Vindings Of the little river.
until 4 branch struck into the main
stream and 20 discovered 10 them yet
another trail leading into the west
I'D canyon
Then again slowly and painfully
~ llcdd-i on following blindly an
--L-- t.-.. o.-zrd BY Fates as blind as
~.
Above them on the road they had
abandoned the crimson racer doubled
back 70 the point where II had passed
Judith and Barcus rs occupants de-
sc~nd=d explored and came present
e. Upon The trail O; the fugitiyes
Bloodhounds could not have set
led down upon a scent with more
good will and eagern,ss than Mr. Mar
rophat and his faithful aide.
The sun was high and blazing above
the canyon when the pursuit came
within rife shot OF the chase
\ spiteful shot reused the quar-
r., from pause Of lethargic dismay
due 10 tardy appreciation OF the fact
hat they had penetrated Witlrssly al
most 10 the end OF blind alley.
hasty council OF war armed Alan
sith Judith revolver and posted him
behind bow ldrr commanding the ap-
proaches 10 the chasm The weapon.
powerful - had range sufficient
20 numb the impetuosity OF the as
sassins and keep them under cover
and out OF sight Of the desperate es-
says the fugitiyes We're making 10
compass an escape
For In the shed behind an abandoned
log cabin-souvenir 10 doubt OF some
forgotten prospector- Barcus had IN
earthed length Of stout hempen rope
With the aid o, rusty shovel he
had hacked this into TWO equal lengths
one OF these lengths he proceeded TO
make fast around his own waist. then
around Rose :. The other he left to
b. similarly employed by Alan and
judith For IL was agreed that they
mus climb. and while the cliff offered
no problem 10 daunt a mountain climb
n Of any preteusions IL was consid.
cred best that the fugitiyes should be
hitched up in pairs against any pos
slb.lity OF a slip The pairing had
been determined b. the fact that
Barcus boasted some slight experience
IN mountaineering while Rose was
plainly the most exhausted OF the two
women the least able 10 help herself
in an emergency
He had worked his cautious way.
with the girl in TOW. TO d point mid.
way UP the face OF the Cliff following
q long diagonal that provided the cas-
lest climbing. when Alan stole back
70 Judith and reported that. on the
evidence OF observation and belief. he
was convinced that the pursuit had
turned back-perhaps for want OF am
munition. perhaps 10 execute some
less hazardous attempt upon the lives
OF the fugitives
Without delay. then. he made the
free end OF the rope fast around his
own waist and, following the way Bar
Gus had chosen. began the ascent.
Twothirds OF the climb had been
accomplished. and Rose and Barcus
had arrived in safety at the top. be-
fore the temptation to look down
proved irresistible.
Immediately beneath his heels the
face OF the cliff was deeply followed
out. leaving a drop OF 80 feet to a
shelving ledge OF shale as steep as a
roof. whose eaves-perhaps another
NIFTY feet below-jutted out over an.
other fall OF hundred feet.
Alan shutdered and swallowed hard
before resuming the ascent
Another 20 feet brought him TO
ledge quite six feet wide Offering a
broad and easy path to the summit
he gained this with a prayer OF heart.
ielt relief and was on the point OF
rising 70 MS feet when cry OF horror
from Barcus and scream of terror
from Rose, watching over the upper
edge. warned him barely in time TO
enable MIN to snatch at and grasp a
KNOB OF rock before Judith's weight
tautened the rope between them and
Jerked Alan's legs from under him
His feet and legs kicked the empty
air beyond the lip OF the ledge he
lay face downward. clutching desper.
ately the knob of rock. praying that II
might not come away In his grasn
that his grasp might hold. that Barcns
might arrive in time 70 save them
both. The rope was cutting into h,s
waist like a dull knife. The drag of
Judiths body was frightful He could
feel her swinging like a pendulum AZ
the end of its 30 feet and could
imagine but too wildly what wouId
happen II the rope should provo
faulty.
The fall OF 20 feet to the sha,a
ROOF was nothing What would foI.
low would. however. spell death Tba
impact Of her body would set tho
shaie in motion. like an avalanche
and beyond the caves was only emn,,
ness and the bowlder-strewn he'd .,
me chasm. hundred feet below