The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-27

1n0 the 8tri Tor nlfps0II, ana unouspectcu
by Davis, whom Ethel really loves. makes
several attempts on the life Of the latter,
aAsisted by an Accomplice named Spider
H.Vos. Suspicion IL diverted to q mysteri-
E1Fmit. Davis. Hawk and the Spider
S&ke San Francisco to get machinery
H&i1$ the mine. Hawk and Spider
4nyis and leave him in an aban-
1Ahtn In imminent danger of = ter
J4An Davis, having rescued his NOR
I'll hut uasnspected enemy. Hawk
Meanan. from tn yultures and living
death. and having hauled him to safety,
tfipped and went over the cliff him
eeif. Hanging to tho end of the frayed
rope and fighting his way foot by foot
back to the edgp Of the brink. he might
have regained It despite his terrible
handicap had not the Spider coming
up and seeing his desperate plight.
ground the frayed section Of the lari-
At beneath his heel. And at that das-
tardly act the rope parted and John
went shooting downward to the rocks
below.
That he would have been crushed
to 4edth upon them there is no doubt
hsf not great good fortune come to his
pGpeae. Some distance in his fall,
1n1Rs eSdy crashed into tree that
tlgast Itself oUt ut sharp angle from
~ lReA = tia clih, and the resilient
1leAg = ~ pine, hrst bending be-
nq3A H. 41peeks moment later re-
o1e4 With : counter movement that
pssd the body aside ~ powerful
SSD1&ler does the form Of a weaker
am<xl~~>lHk T~n l. . nj
~ ledBe that prOtruded from the
nAein vail Of rock. lay there AZ insen-
Ggtp ~ the stones themselves, one arm
e1nglipg over space. 1t no happened
list this ledge. lying as 1t did on an in
curve Of the cliff. was not visible to
ene who stood upon the upper brink
q ths main descent.
spider Beslas, having done this dam
uable thing and for the moment dis
regarding the body OF his comrade.
threw himself upon his stomach and
peered over the edge. Far below him
he could see . small avalanche OF
stones and dust going down in gigantic
leaps. but nothing more. Feeling Ger.
tain that the body Of his foe was in
IL niast Of that roaring mass and
svsa nsw was bsaten out Of all sem
b1aAcs a huua1ity, he watched the
avalanchs gvDw u ~ each moment
until With = na1nH esuah. Il was lost
in the pines - hGRsvhArA bordered
the swestwasssrf et sEeS
He arsse salia ~ |t1lR - lsus
er lad 10 fear DaW1s ~ t4k - tlley
wsrs playing and turned ~
to III sepseless friend. suE61s
q litfle farther from the edge he d11n
. lnsk from his pocket and poured
sasan quantity of liquor down the 9th
er's throat. Revived by the stimu-
liant. Aorgan sat up. He placed his
hands to his cheek. WINGED from the
pain Of 1t and drew his palm away
covered with blood.
my 0od!" he cried with shudder.
"I remember now. The vultures!
What happened?"
Bellas. wiping the blood away from
his stin terrified pals face. was debat-
ing the words which should form his
answer.
Davis shot 4 couple Of them and
then hauled you up."
"Where is he nowr'
"He was bending over you and be
tween you and the edge. The ledge
broke and he fell. He caught the rope
somewhere as he was going down, but
II was frayed out and-well. look for
yourself" He picked up the broken
fragment and held 1t before the others
eyes. ut broke and he went to his
death In the valley. think his body
must have plunged into the river and
been swept away" Solemnly Morgan
turned upon him.
~Spider. did you push him over that
edger' The spider crossed his heart.
II did not, Hawk"
"And did you cut that roper The
other raised his right hand on high.
sSo help me God never laid hand
on 1t. was back yonder among the
trees when he slipped, and when ar
rived here he already had gone over"
I'm xiad you .had NO hand in It,"
muttered the Hawk AZ he arose. "Let's
be going back" Pausing but long
enough to permit the Spider to rough
II bandage his wounds, Morgan led the
way to the cabin.
with an exclamation Of dismay at
sight Of his wretched appearance.
ethel came hurrying forward to meet
him, Bridget wesnn close at her heels.
Rainface was dispatched for hot water
and medicaments. and Ethel rolling up
her sleeves begAht minlstering to the
wounded one.
.Ts2I me all about it, she demand
ca a. her deft fingers new on. The
rSn~k un~xwas,e,sI In \ Weak vOiCe. .aH
NATURALLY deeply hurt that you
folks suspected me Of not playing fair.
wandered of alone. The Hermit. who
fot some reason unknown TO me has
been doing all this mischief. attacked
rne. whsn was not looking. was
stTiAken 1aewn from behind, aid when