The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-20

I'VE must be directly beneath her
bed. Quiet now" With INFINITE care
he pried aside one Of the loosely nall
ed boards which constituted the floor
ing Of the girl's bed room and wrig-
gled up out Of sight. while restrain-
ing his impatience with dimculty the
other waited. Five minutes later Nor
kAn returned. Rage cootorteL his face
and his voice shook with passion as
he hoarseiy whispered.
''Someone has beaten M to It. ills
gone-every sinker Of 1t. We will have
to wait until morning." Like whipped
ours they cfept out into the night. for
getting In their raee and disappolnt-
ment to close the cellar door behind
them.
Early morning found all the mem
hers of the household astir save Ethel.
As they were about to summon her to
breakfast she burst among them, her
face white and her hair streaming
down her hack. 4 Navajo blanket drawn
about her slender figure.
.The gold" she cried excitedly, a.
she clutched John. ut Is gone-van-
ished n mirage" With exclamatious
of astonishment and unbelief all rush
I'd into her room. It was ~ bare Of
the treasure as 4 garrett.
Mss6An tarned upon 'Dasis with m
ugly sco~I. -
"S>esns to me that 1t Is mp to you
10 explain this disappearance. Davis"
HOt1y the other answered him.
II know NO more about II fAan do
you. And II you dare tnsinu1te that
Ethel"
An exclamation from the girl drew
their eyes from each other. and look
Ing at the floor at which shs was point
Ing they saw the loosened board
thruugh which the Hawk had crept the
faf&ht before. With one accord they
rushed into the cellar and stood Eax-
ing at the freshly dug tunnel and other
|sisns Of the thiers work. Davis.
whirsing upon Morgan. addressed him
celdly.
~Yos suspected me. Morgan, but how
about yourself! Who opened that cell
ar door. and who made that holer"
"Do you mean" burst forth the
Hawk as with simulated anger he
made q step toward the other. Davis
doubled his lists.
"No!" cred Ethel a. she spranG be-
tween them. I'VE will have no fighting
here. We have other things to do"
With last evil glance at his success
ful rival, Morgan followed. by the
Spider. left the room.
II believe you are upon the right
track, John" said the girl % the pair
disappeared. Slowly he shook his
head. ~
"No. think was in the WRONG.
Ethel. Al 4 matter Of fact lost my
temper and said what had no right
to. 1t II the work Of that mad Hermit,
no doubt.
'sThen why does he attack only you."
she asked quickly"
ut does seem strange" was his
thoughtful reply.
Within the harness room Morgan
whiried upon his follower.
They are beginning to suspect me
and We have got to disabuse their lit
tie minds. Davis has been the victim
too many times, now I suppose have
got to be the goat to even things MP.
Cone along" Gathering up two lariats
they started up the mountain. side.
Shortly later they reached the brink
Of cii0 that overlooked . valley. the
opposite ride Of which was 4 long
rife shot away. Here Morgan threw
himself upon the ground while the
Spider. grinning over his task. bound
him With one Of the ropes, then loop
ing one end Of the other about his
chiefs body secured the other end to
a tree. Having made sure that every
thing was secure he raised the Hawk
in his arms and carrying him to the
edge Of the cliff lowered him over the
lip. and with last chuckle at his COM
panion's plight went hurrying away.
Soon later he entered the living room
to confront Davis and Ethel. The for
mer arose.
where II Aorgnnr No asked solic-
itously. seeing ths Spider alone. II
hspe he did not take me Seriously"
HE felt terribly about It and went
OF BY himself an hour Or 20 ago." was