The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-24

Hdffiediy unbuttoning her Jacket,
che whipped q playing card from her
pocket. . trey o. hearts. and with the
stub Of . pencil scrubbed three words
on it, face-"Danser! Go back!"
Then finding q small, nattish bit Of
rock, she bound the card to 1t with
Q bit Of string; and with one more
backward glance to make sure she
was not watched, approached the
brink.
Hopi Jim was meticulously shorten
ing the fuse, Marrophat kneeling by
his side.
In the canyon below the three we're
within two minutes of the danger
point.
It was no trick at all to drop the
stone SO that it fell within dozen
feet Of the leading horseman.
She saw him rein in suddenly, dis
mount, cast a look aloft, then dismount
and pick up the warning.
As the others joined him, he de.
tached the card and showed it to them.
At the same time Hopi Jim and Mar
rophat jumped up and ran back. each
Selling and holding his horse by nose
and bride.
Constrained to do likewise lest she
lose her mount, Judith waited with a
hghtened heart
The explosion smote dull echoes
from the tanks Of the Painted hills,
all browsing in the MONDAY hush:
the boulder teetered reluctantly on the
brink, then disappeared with tear
ing sound followed by rush Of earth
and gravel; a wide gap appeared in
the brink Of the trail.
Leaving Marrophat to hold the two
frightened horses while the girl
soothed her own, the bandit rushed to
the edge, threw himself nat and swore
bitterly, with an accent Of grievance.
- he rose.
From the canyon below . dull noise
of galloping hoofs advertised too plain.
" the failure of their attempt.
And Hopi Jim turned back only to
and Judith mounted. refining her horse
In between him and Marrophat, and
prepared to give emphasis to what she
had to say with an automatic pistol
that nestled snugly in her palm.
zone moment, Mr.. Slade." she sug
gested evenly. "Just'a moment before
you break the sad news to Mr.. Mario
PLAT. I've something to say that needs
your Observation-Disclosures, your respect
1t is this: am parting company will
you and Mr.. Marrophat. l am riding
on toward the west, by this trail.
either of you care to follow me'-th'
automatic flashed ominously in tn
sun glare-''it will be with full knowl
edge of the consequences. Mr.. Mario
PLAT will enlighten you II you hav
any doubt of my ability to take care O
myself In such affairs as this. II 20
are we'll advised, you will turn bac
and report failure to my father"
She nodded CURLY and swung he
horse round.
"And what shall l tell your fathe
from you?" Marrophat demande
sharply.
what you please" the girl replied
flashing an impish smile over-shoulde
but, since when l part company wit
you, part with him as well-for all {
me, you may tell him to go to tn
devil!"
WELL" Mr. Marrophat admitted col
fdentially to Mr.. Slade. I'm damned!
And that amt ALL" Mr.. Slade col
fided in Mr.. Marrophat. whipping OF
his own revolver: You're being hel
up, too. I'll take those guns Of your
friend, and what else you've got abo,
you that's Of value, including your hos
and when you get back to old ma
Urine you can just tell him, with m
best compliments, that I've quit th
job and lit out after that daughter ,
his'n. She's heap sight more attra
tive than nineteen thousand dollar
and not half SO hard to earn!"