The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1919-08-15

tors of the estate OF John Carr. miner,
and joint guardians OF his adopted daugh-
ter Ethel, quarrel over the disposition Of
the profits OF the mine Morgan secretly
makes several unsuccessful attempts on
the life OF Davis. in one OF which the lat
ter is rescued by mysterious hermit.
Morgan summons villainous aceomplce
named Spider Bellas and they plot TO XIII
Davis.
John Davis. tricked into crossing
the log Which had been nearly sawed
in two by the would-be murderer.
Hawk Morgan. made wild sideways
leap as the trunk gave way beneath
his weight. Landing in the branches
OF a nearby tree he went crashing
through them until by good fortune
he managed to hook one arm over a
slender bough and stay his descent.
From this he hung for moment. then
as he felt his strength come back he
reached up and grasped the limb with
his other hand. Hawk. seeing that
his intended victim was about TO save
himself, drew his weapon and fred.
The bullet half severed the limb which
gave away and John again plunged
downward.
Had it not been that there were n
number of fir and cedar trees pro-
jectfng from the side of the steep in
cline, Davis certainly must have ended
up dead man. As il was, however
their tops through which he fell while
not rugged enough to tear him limb
from limb checked his fall greatly,
snow which had avalanched down from
the ridge Here he lay motionlesS. al
most completely buried one arm thrust
above the surface.
From the brink of the canyon side.
Morgan, the arch eonspirator, peered
as the other man went crashing down
In his long fall. A wolf-like smile
spread the watchers face.
Hes gone to glory this time. all
right. and the girl and mine will even
tually all belong to me-
On the other side of the gap from
which Spider Bellas had been hurled
by John when the former tried to kill
him. the Spider arose from the little
ledge upon which he had fallen little
the worse for the battle he had been
engaged in. Limping slightly and ours
ing beneath his breath he started TO
cross the ravine lower down. The
noise Of Davis falling body made him
turn his head, and for an instant he
-, II. IL.
where he stood he was unable to see
tive termination of the fall. but upon
the opposite side of the brink he saw
the figure of his confederate, the
Hawk. and waved him salutation of
triumph over the success of their plan.
This done the Spider resumed his
way, his intention being to join the
Hawk upon the other side.
Morgan, seeing his victim end up
motionless body at the bottom of the
canyon. set about celebrating all
traces of the fact that he had been
tampering with the fallen trunk of the
pine. whereupon he began to retrace
the trail Leading to the cabin. Ethel.
seeing him approach, opened the door
and came forth To greet him. Hastily
the Hawk told her of the accident to
John, the breaking of the tree beneath
him and his fall to death. White of
face the girl paused only long enough
to throw on a heavy wrap. and closely
followed by Ranfaee they retraced
their steps to the scene Of the tragedy.
The Indian. following with ropes and
blankets, met the Spider and was told
who he was. whereupon that rascal
reiterated the story of Morgan and the
four FASTENED on to their grewsome
task of reseuing the body.
While this had been happening the
Hermit of the Mountain. fur dressed
and ON hunting trip. CHANGING to pass
along the bottom of the canyon. saw
gun and cap lying upon the snow. In
stantly his keen eyes swept the side
of the descent noting the broken tree
tops through Which John had crashed.
Realizing that someone had fallen
through them he began casting about.
a moment later discovering the out
standing arm of the snow-huried one.
Bending over him and finding him
senSelesS. the old Hermit quickly ex-
amined the body for signs of life.
Finding them. he Strengthened up and
looked around.
Above him some twenty feet WAS a
ledge of rock from which howlder
projected, and unviuding his lariat
from his body he made cast that set
tied the Moose around the hewlder.
Then fastening the loose end of the
rope about the SeHSeless form, he as
cended the laSSo hand over hand until
he stood upon the ledge This done. il
was but the work Of couple of min
uteS for him to hoist the recumhent
figure to his perch Next he raised
the form OF Davis To his shoulder and
bore him away. having left no clue
behind him on the snow as To how he
had vanished with the unconscious
man he had found.
The rescue party finding the place
where Davis had fallen SAN the marks
in the snow where someone had ap.
preached him. but no trail leading
away from the spot So far as they
could discover both the dead man and
the finder of the body had vanished