Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1919-07-26
EPISODE T..
SYNOPSIS.

Jonn Davis and Hawk Morgan. ex
seutors or the estate of John Carr miner
oisasree over the disposition OF the profit,
OF the mine. Morgan, seeking the gold
and the girl for himself. and unsupported
py Davis. makes several attempts on the
hle or the latter, assisted by an accom-.
piice named Spider Bellas. Suspicion II
diverted to a mysterious hermit. M,racu.
iously epcaping the latest attempt on hi.
lie. Davis, In company with the Others
accidentally discovers Carr's hoard n,
gold. They remove the gold to the cabin
out IN the night II Is taken away by the
hermit. Morgan. feeling that suspicion Is
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
1oped Off, leaving Davis in a fiendish
trap of their own invention. While
he was lying drugged in the shack
they had bent a sapling down and
secured II In this position by means
OF rope. Then taking another lasso
they had fastened It 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 a fire close to
the rope which bound the sapling to
Its bent position, knowing that as
soon as the flames reached the rome
they would eat II 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 a rope
around his neck. Though he could
feel and dimly see the lariat that led
from his neck through the roof. he
could not see where It terminated and
beyond knowing that he was In des-
perate danger had little idea Of what
had taken place since he drank the
drugged 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 bow, and
led on by the loose powder which the
pair had scattered about, the flames
had begun to attack the building It.
self. Pungent wreaths were forcing
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
he 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.
NuIhCu ny tnc liuuIHk vi bdNfS
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 It's launches.
One glance around told her the
whole damnable story. Through the
circling smoke she saw the tree bent
over the shack. Its restraining rope
already half eaten through by the fire.
as 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 fire and smoke she struck
1t with the impetuosity Of flying
bomb. 1t gave way before her and
she burst into the room.
Through the smoke she saw that
the lower end of the lasso was fas-
tened about the neck of the man she
loved. and knew that In 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.
Hurry" he cried. make haste"
But ne had no need to urge the girl
to speed. Pausing but long enough
10 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
of the shack. Nor was she second
too soon. Scarcely had the released
Iasso coiled serpent.llke about the
beam than the fire-gnawed rope with
out parted.
Leaping Il the upright like n Gul-
liver bursting the bonds of Lillipu-
tians. II tore the roof from the struc-
ture as though II had been roof Of
paper, flinging IL In fragments high In
the air and scattering the remnants
over the rocks far and wide. The
wild burst of flame which followed
arose TO the height of the tallest trees
while myriads Of sparks went floating
aWay I'm the dim morning light