Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-04-06

the shortest cut, ana Inat was acloSS
the face of the sheer cliff. For the
first time she understood how serious
was their plight.
The glance of the girl swept again
the face of the wall he must cross. 1t
could not be done without rope. Her
fear-flled eyes came back to his. Its
my fault. made you come" she said
In low voice.
sNonsense, he answered cheerfully.
"There's no harm done. If | can't
reach the stairway can come back
and go down by the trough"
Sheba assented doubtfully.
II had come on to drizzle again.
The rain was fine and cold, almost a
mist, and already it was forming film
of ice on the rocks.
81 can't take time to go back by the
trough. The point is that don't want
you camped up here after night. There
has been no sun on this side of the
spur and in the chill of the evening 1t
| must get cold even in summer"
He was making his preparations as
he talked. His coat he took off and
threw down. His shoes he tied by the
laces to his belt.
"rll try not to be very long," he
promised
"Tt's Gods will then, so 1t is" she
sighed, relapsing into the vernacular.
steady, for the heart of the girl was
heavy. She knew she must not pro-
test his decision. That was not the
way to play the game. But somehow
the salt had gone from their light
hearted adventure.
Elliot took her little hand In warm.
strong grip. you're not going to be
afraid. Wen work out all right, you
know"
eyes"
"Tts not just the thing to leave
lady In the rain when you take her
for a walk, but 1t can't be helped.
Wen laugh about it tomorrow"
Would they? she wondered, answer
ing his smile family. Her courage was
sapped.
He turned to the climb.
"You've forgotten your coat" she re-
minded.
"I'm travelling light this trip. You'd
better slip 1t on before you get chilled"
Sheba knew he had left 1t on pur-
pose for her.
Her fascinated eyes followed him
while he moved out from the plateau
across the face of the precipice. He
had none of the tools for climbing
no rope, no Ratchet, none of the sup
port Of numbers. All the allies he
could summon were his bare hands
ard feet, his resilient muscles, and his
stout heart. To make 1t worse, the
ice film from the rain coated every
jutting inch of quartz with danger.
But he worked steadily forward.
moving with the infinite caution Of one
who knows that there will be no
chance to remedy later any mistake.
A slight error in Judgment the failure
in response of any one of fifty muscles,
would send him plunging down.
Her eve left him for an instant to
sweep the gulf below. She gave a
little cry, ran to his coat, and began
to wave it. For the first time since
Elliot had begun to traverse she took
the initiative in speech.
Il see some people away over to the
left, Mr.. Elliot. I'm going to call to
them" Her voice throbbed with hope.
But 1t was not her shouts or his,
which would not have carried one
tenth the distance, that reached the
group In the valley. One of them
caught a glimpse of the wildly wav-
Ing coat. There was consultation
and two or three fluttered handker.
chiefs in response. Presently they
moved on.
Sheba could not believe her eyes.
They're not leaving us surely?" she
gasped.
That's what they're doing" an
sWered Gordon grimly. "They think
we're calling to them out of vanity
to show them where we climbed"
"Oh| She strangled a sob.
I'm going to make it. think I see
ny way from here" her companion
called across to her. "a fault runs to
he foot of the stairway, if l can only
10 the next yard or two"
lie did them, by throwing caution TO
he winds. An icy, rounded boulder
projected above him out of reach. He
lnfastened his belt again and put the
'hoes, tied by the laces, around his
neck. There was one way to get across
o the ledge of the fault. He took
ioid OF the two ends Of the belt.
'roucned and leaned forward on fin
oes toward the knob. The loop of the
'elt slid over the ice-coated boss
lhere was no chance to draw back
low, to test the hold he had gained
the leather slipped he was lost. His
'ouy swung across the abyss and his
eet landed on the little ledge beyond.
Ills shout of success came perhaps
en- minutes later. 1--WE reached the
talrway, Miss O'Nein. I'll try not to
e long but you'd better exercise to
eep up the circulation. Don't worry,
tease. III be back before night"
I'm SO glad" she cried joyfully. "T
'as afraid for you. And I'll not worry
bit. Good-by."
EIlinf mod ~.