The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-27

| sue he began carefully treaUng its
length. pausing not until he came to
its end. Here he found another short
ladder above which was a trapdoor,
and climbing 1t cautiously showed
the trap and stepped into small, dark
room. Seeing door upon one side he
silently opened 1t, his heart giving =
great leap at what he saw.
| He was pecring into Ethel's bed
room, and the girl, sitting before lit
tic table with her cheeks in her hands,
was gazing at his own picture. Bat
tered and dirty he sat his lantern
down, and approaching her quietly
from behind. laid his hand upon her
shoulder. Turning swiftly she looked
up-grew white then with low cry
threw herself Into his arms.
For several minutes, ObliviOus that
In all the world there existed others
than themselves, they abandoned them
selves to the caresses and whispers
which lovers know 30 we'll then John,
holding her of at arms length, smiled.
"Come. We must go and tell the
others ALSO" With Ethel clingIng to
his arm they entered the room where
Bridget sat on guard as formidable as
old Cerberus himself before the gates
of Hades. Dropping her weapon on
the heor the woman arose, mouth open
and eyes bulging at the sight Of the
man.
"Merciful hivens! An ,ye were not
kilt at all. at all" she gnsped rs she
stumbled forward to greet him.
Hardly. Bridget" he grinned. She
turned to the pair within the room.
Come out. both Of ye." Heads erect
and wearing the look Of men grossly
mistreated. the Hawk and Bellas en-
tered the living room. John thrust
forth his hand.
II can only ask your forgiveness,
boys. Ethel has told me all. and 1t
happened just as you said 1t did, Bel.
las. Furthermore, I have found the
real mine. Come on, all Of you. and
we'll inspect it."
"I1l stick behind and see that all
goes well here. You can tell me about
1t when yOu come back," said Morgan.
As he determinedly refused to accom-
pany them. they hurriedly made ready
and took their departure.
Left alone. Morgan began to prowl.
"Davis must have got in by some Sc
cret way" he muttered as he began
searching the floor. Presently coming
tn the closet Of the girls room he
raised its rug and at once saw the trap
cut in its floor. Quickly securing his
Winchester he also thrust his pistol
into his belt. raised the trap and went
feeling his way down the ladder.
Lighting his way BY the lantern
which Davis had left behind, he fol-
lowed the tunnel until 1t emptieti him
into the main cave. Above him he
saw the gold glowing daily, and easped
as the other man had done ~ cofnpse-
hension Of its great richness gri01aIly
forced itself upon him.
There are millions here, and I mean
to have all. And the girl ~ well, he
muttered. Setting the lantern down
he approached the growth which
screened the outside entrance to the
room. peering into the open air. In the
distance he saw the party from the
cabin coming up the, trail in Single nle,
John In the lead, and he picked up his
rife with cruel smile.
sNow have him." he whispeFed a.
he ran his eye along the barrel. The
roar Of his ride went resound1ng
among the hills, buffeting back and
forth like a shuttlecock. John, N the
act Of leaping across small nit,
plunged forward just as Ethel was
about to grasp his proffered hand.
Morgan, in the act of turning to dee.
felt a crushing blow from behiDd. and
throwing up his hands, collapsed with
q groan upon the floor.
Davis scrambled to his feet and
pointed to the moss-covered rock from
which he had slipped at the instant
the gun was discharged.
THAT was the luckiest misstep ever
made, for otherwise that bullet would
have gone through my head" he cried
as the Others came rushing to the spot.
He waved his hand at them. TAKE to
cover everybody-quick." I'll.
From the boulders behind which they
scuttisd they wstched the entrance
closely for several minutes. No soundS
came from within the cave, and con
vinced that whoever had fred the shot
had fed, Davis rushed the opening. gun
in hand, the others hot upon his heels.
Before them and lying senaeless upon
the floor was the body Of the Hawk.
Ten minutes later Morgan was able
to speak In faint tones.
after you left I stepped into Miss
Ethel's room, and much to my aston
ishment saw trap door in the door Of
her closet. Wondering Whit it could
mean, / descended through 1t, follow
ing q tunnel which led me into this
room. As I entered / saw that cursed
Hermit In the very act Of firing upon
you a. you approached, and made
jump for him. But in my weak state
he was too much for me and knl cked