The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-12-04
EPISODE 7.
SYNOPSIS.

John Davis and Hawk Morgan, ex-
ecutors of the estate OF John Carr. MINER
disagree over the disposition of the profits
of the mine. Morgan. seeking the gold
and the girl for himself. and unexpected
by Davis, makes several attempts on the
life Of the latter. assisted by an accom-
plice named Spider Bellas. Suspicion IL
diverted to mysterious hermit. Miracu-
lously escaping the latest attempt on his
life. Davis. In company with the others.
accidentally discovers Cars hoard of
gold. They remove the gold to the cabin,
but in the night It In taken away by the
hermit. Morgan. feeling that suspicion n
beginning to fall upon him. fakes an at
tempt on his own life. They find Carr's
mine.
The Hawk and the Spider had gal
loped off, leaving Davis In fiendish
trap of their own invention. While
ohe was lying drugged in the shack
they had bent a sapling down and
secured 1t in this position by means
Of a rope. Then taking another lasso
they had fastened 1t to the tip of the
sapling, running the other end through
an unboarded piece in the roof of the
shack and fastening the moose about
his neck. Having completed this ne
farious work, they built fire close to
the rope which bound the sapling to
its bent position, knowing that as
soon as the flames reached the rope
they would eat 1t in two, whereupon
the tree would spring erect with ter
rife force, tearing the man apart after
the manner of one of the fiendish con-
trivances Of the Inquisition. This done
they beat hasty retreat. leaving their
victim to his fate.
Ethel Davis. awakened from her
sleep In the home cabin at midnight
by an evil dream. picked up a copy
Of Aesop's Fables from the table and
read until she became convinced that
John was threatened by some great
danger. Immediately she aroused
Bridget. and accompanied by Rainface
went dashing to the rescue.
Within the shack John, aroused by
the smoke from the stupor into which
the drugged coffee had put him, awoke
to find himself bound and with u rope.
around his neck. Though he could
feel and dimly see the lar1at that led
from his neck through the roof, he
could not see where 1t terminated and
beyond knowing that he was in des-
p4bate danger had little idea Of what
I'D taken place since he drank the
bagged cup. Vigorously he began
writhing and tugging at his bonds.
The smell Of the smoke and the
cracking Of the fire still further
alarmed him. Already the fire was
burning into the rope which held the
tree which was bent like a bow. and
led on by the loose powder which the
pair had scattered about, the flames
had begun to attack the building it.
themselves through the cracks and In
terstices Of the building and the cap
tive could feel the hot breath Of the
rising flames upon his cheeks. Plainly
ne was in imminent danger Of being
burned alive II nothing else. and he
redoubled his struggles to loose him
self from the thongs which fastened
him to the bunk.
Warned by the finding Of Davis
dead horse by the side Of the trail
that their assistance was sorely need
ed, Ethel and the Indian galloped wild
ly along the path. Reaching the
shack she pulled her horse violently
back upon its launches.
One glance around told her the
whole damnable story. Through the
circiing smoke she saw the tree bent
over the shack. its restraining rope
already half eaten through by the dre,
NJ well as the .lariat that hung from
the sapling through the hole In the
roof. The door Of the little building
was tightly latched, but rushing
through the IRE and smoke she struck
n with the impetuosity Of nyinE
bomb. It gave way before her and
she burst into the room.
Through the smoke she saw that,
the lower end Of the 1asso was fas-
tened about the neck of the man she
loved, and knew that in a second or
two more unless she saved him his
head must be torn from his body.
His face was toward her. contorted
from the violence of his struggles to,
escape his letters. At sight Of her
his lips parted. - (
~Rurry," he cried. "Make haste"
But he had no need to urge the girl
to speed. Pausing but long enough
to take in the scene with lightning,
glance. she leaped forward, knife In,
hand. One sweep Of the blade and
the rope was severed close above her
lovers neck, and the loose end spring.
ing up twisted itself around rafter
NJ the shack. Nor was she second
td|6 soon. Scarcely had the released
lasso coiled serpent-like about the
heam than the hre-gnawed rope With
out parted.
Leaping to the upright like Gui'
liver bursting the bonds Of Lill'pu-
t,ans. It tore the roof from the struc-
ture as though 1t had been roof OF
naper, hinging it In fragments high IN