The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-11-04

and exhausted. She could scarcely
make any Roadway at all In the nercs
eddies. But at least. she thought hur.
riedly, she was getting farther and
farther away from them down stream.
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 and
fred.
Suddenly a bullet struck Elaine's
paddle and broke II. Clutching the
useless splintered shaft. she was now
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 II anything had happened. As
they did so, tho naturalist poked his
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
where they had left Elaine. She was
gone!
Before they could turn the natural.
list locked the door, turned, and took
thu gfanu 1nusp tan NJ n finn
Then he ran out of the front door
and into the woods at an angle TO the
direction taken by Elaine, turning and
going down hill. where a rapid. swollen
stream curved about through a
gorge. AS no reached the stream he
heard a shot above.
lie 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
just coming up.
For, as best I could on horseback.
I had followed Elalne's car until at
last say that II had been abandoned.
Thoroughly alarmed, ] rode on, past
a deserted house, until suddenly
heard a shot and n scream. II seemed
to come from below me. and | leaped
of my horse, making for IL as fast az
| could. racing toward a stream whose
oar ! could hear.
There on the bank I came upon q
queer old codger. looking about wildly.
Was he the automobile thief? ! ran
forward, ready TO seize him. But AZ
I did so he whirled about. and with q
strength remarkable in one so old.
seized my wrist before I could get
his.
Look" he cried simply, pointing
up the stream.
| did. A girl in a canoe was coming
toward the falls, screaming, her
paddle broken and useless. My heart
leaped into my mouth. II was Elaine!
Come" he painted eagerly to me, IL
can save her. You must do just as /
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
yeritable maelstrom above the falls.
From the rock overhung also a tree
ut tho very edge Of the water.
There was nothing TO do but obey
Above, though we did not sec
them, Del Mar and his man were gloat-
Ing over the result OF their work. But
they were gloating too soon. We came
10 the rock and tho tree.
Here" cried the ncw.found friend,
I'll get hold OF the tree and then hold
Instantly he threw himself on his
stomach, hooking his leg about the
rec trunk. / crawled out over the
edge OF slippery rock to tho very edge
md looked over. 1t was the only
The old naturalist seized my legs In
MS hands slid down the rock, let
ing myself 30.
Literally, his presence OF mind had
invented what was really a life chain.
human rope.
On came the canoe, Elaine In II as
white as death, crying out and trying
o stop or guide 1t as. nearer and near.
n though the smooth, worn walls OF
he chasm, 1t whirled to the falls.
with a grip OF steel the naturalist
held TO the tree, which swayed and
'ont. while also he held me, as II In
| wise, head down.
On came Elaine-dIrectly at us.
She stood up and balanced herself
! dangerous feat in a canoe at n
line, but doubly 30 In those dark,
'wirllng, t~reacherous waters.
Steady" / encouraged. Grab my
As the canoe reached us she gave q
little jump and seized my forearms.
Ter hands slipped, but I grasped her
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.
held his grip and slowly began to