Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-27

frighten them was SUFFICIENT. Several otheri
were running across the sand to the cave
attracted by the noise and the cries OF
the foremost pursuers.
Then he gave a steady pull 10 the cord
The sharp crack Of rife came from the
vicinity OF the old quarry. He saw the
nash among the trees. Almost slmutane-
ously bright light leaped from the opposite
ledge Illuminating the vicinity like a meteor
II liz up the rock, showed Iris Just vanishing
into the safety OF the ledge. and revealed
jerks and the Dyaks to each other There
Followed Instantly n tremendous explosion
that shook earth and air. dislodging every
loose stone in the southwest pile OF rocks,
hurting from the plateau some of Its occu-
pants and wounding the remainder with a
shower of lead and debris
The island birds, long since driven 20
the remote trees, ciRmored in raucous peal,
and from the Dyaks came yells Of fright
or anguish.
The sailor unmolested further. reached
the ledge to find Iris prostrate where she
had fallen, dead or unconscious, he knew
not which. He felt his face become gray
In the darkness. With a fierce tug he
hauled the ladder well away from the
ground and sank TO his knees beside her.
He took her into his arms There was
no light He could not see her eyes or
lips. Her slight breathing seemed 70 indl-
cate fainting At. but there was no water,
nor was II possible TO adopt any OF the
ordinary expedients suited to such a seizure.
He could only walt In a dreadful silence
walt clasping her to his breast-and dumb
ly wonder what other loss he could suffer
ere the final release came.
At last she sighed deeply. A strong
tremor of returning life stirred her frame.
Thank God 70 he murmured, and bowed
his head Were the sun shining he could
not see her now. for his eyes were blurred
Robert she whispered.
"Yes, darling"
Are you safer"
Safe! my loved onei Think Of yourself,
What has happened to your"
II fainted-I think. have no hurt. I
missed you! Something told me you had
\ gone. 1 went TO help you. or die with YOU
And then that noise! And the light What
did you do?"
He slenced her questioning with a pas
sionate kiss. He carried her to a little
nook and fumbled among the stores until
he found bottle Of brandy. She drank
| some. Under its revvifyng influence she
was soon able to listen to the explanation
he offered--after securing the ladder.
| In tall tree near the Valley of Death
| he had tightly fixed a loaded rife which
| pointed at loose stone In the rock over
hanging the ledge held by the Dyaks. This
| stone rested against a number of percussion
4
| in direct communication with a train OF
powder leading to a blasting charge placed
| at the end of a twenty-four-inch hole drilled
| with a crowbar. The impact of the bullet
against the stone could not fail to explode
| some of the caps. He had used the con
| tents of 400 cartridges to secure, suffi
| cheney of powder. and the bullets were all
| crammed into the orifice, being tamped with
| clay and wet sand. The rife was fired by
means of the string, the loose coils of whlc'
| were secreted at the foot of the poon. BY
| springing this novel mine he had effectuallS
removed every Dyak from the ledge. ovei
| which It's contents would spread like s
| fan. Further. It would probably deter tn,
survivors from again venturing near tina
fatal spot
| Iris listened, only half comprehending
| Her mind was filled with one thought tC
i the exclusion of all others. Robert hac
left her, had done this thing without tell
ing her. She forgave him. knowing he acted
for the best, but he must never, never de-
ceive her again in such a manner. She
| could not bear It,
| What better excuse could man desire foi
| caresslng her, yea, even squeezing her, until
the sobs ceased and she protested with q
weak little laugh
Robert. l haven't got much breath-af-
ter that excitement-but please-leave me
| the remains!"