The Monticellonian., 1919-10-31

men hack among he trees. they pres errIy reaI7ea-e5 bearing a good sized ] log between them. Next uRwrappilg their lariatS trem their waists they l fastened two f them together in order ! to secure greater length ef rope. after which the moose of one was slipped about the log 1t 8 further order from Morgan the section of tree trunk was showed out into the stream. Seiz- I ed upon hy The current f waS whirled along untH f bumped against the house where il remained securely lodged. A cry ef jay arose from the lips of the watching girl.
 Having regained his breath and hearing the voice es Ethel. John sat up. A glance showed him the manner of escape which had been provided. and sliding down the roof he seated him. self upon the log. Morgan. stepping to the rivers brink. picked up the rope, at the same time calling 10 his fellows:
 Lend q hand here, men" His three 1 followers immediately seized the line just above him.
 "Now, 70 heave :" called their leader.
 Removed from it's resting place by the strain upon the rope, the log swung into the center of the race. is lower end pointed straight for the falls. a short distance below. Before the strength of the four upon the shore f swung slowly inward until t was within q dozen feet of sheal water, and then it was that the Hawk ven tured another trick in the desperate game he was playing. Seeing that the eyes of his companions. as well as those of the girl. were fastened upon fhe man who stra1dled the log, he drew q knife from his wrist and. with one swift move cut the rope upon which they were hauling. Released from it's restraint, the log went plungine on is way to the falls below, bearing with 1t the man who once more had been the victim of his rivals treachery.
 The scream of the girl was close followed by the cry of Morgan.
 sThe rotten thing broke Secretly poeketine his knife. he hurled the tell tale rope into the stream. as If in great anger. Down the pass. rolling. tum- bling and leaping, the log went racing with the man elinging desperately to it until q violent toss of the trunk of the tree broke his hand-hold and he found himself unsupported in the midst of the leaping waves. With the cataract close below him. he aban- doned hope
 And that he would have been lost there can be no question had not seeming miracle happened. From the brush which bounded the shore a lariat came uneeiiing like q serpent through the air. the moose settling firmly about his shoulders Totally unaware what had happened, but feeling his down. ward course suddenly checked. and seeing the rope, the half-drowned one seized it and pulled himself ashore. Believing that the unfortunate in the river was doomed beyond the pow er of man to save him, those upon the bank went racing with the stream. What was their amazement, q moment later, to see him whom they had given up for lost crawling out upon the bank. Silently they all traced the lariat to it's end. only 10 find il fastened secure ly to a tree, and Wifh no one in sight.
 Well, III be blessed Just how did this come about. Davisf" easped the a~tonished Hawk QuIte frankly, the one addressed admitted that he did net know.
 T can't explain t, folks. I felt the H6oSe settlp about me and grabbed tle rope. am aS much puzzled as you eau Be. or course some one threw it., Fge 4Got@
 They shook theif heads stupidly Tainface, watching them from Hear= HE covert with a look of satisfaction ! IL hIS eEsS alaue could have furnished fHe explanation.
 @Eat IaH did ge come to he locked ia thar house aud thrown into thp stream when you 8ere on watch. Nor j -aa:@ demanded John as he fixed his eyeS steadily upon the other. The Hawk raised protesting hand.
 T nas awakened from my sleep by hearing some one proving ahout Seent.ne danger, I enaeavored b catch him, and he lel me mile away through the darkness before he gave He the slip When l returned the house was gone, and I immediately summoned Spider and theee men. That
 hermit k etill up to Ills old tricks
 Back tHey went td camp. John and
 Ethel bringing up in the rear, one Yei
 arm about her waist.
 Well ia advance of the rest and he
 yoEd their earshot Morgan addressed
 Blackie
 Ut will be worth five thousand ts
 you to see to it that he permanent!
 disappears. The Spider and I hay, tried time and again but he alway hobs up serenely. Maybe you will pla.
 in better luck" The one addressed l nodded
 Gimme q little on account. and IT take g whirl at him. Pocketing th } roll of bills which the other slipped | ) him, Blackie touched his cap and starr
 cd for the sleeping place of the crew 7 They found the camp in great excite