The Monticellonian., 1919-10-24


 We're talking.
 The first thing that Morgan ana the spider did as they entered the inn upon their return was to % to the room in the closet of which they had left Rainface The splintered door told them the whole story. Morgan uttered curse.
 "lf he meets Dayis he'll tell him all he knows, and then it will be an open ilsht. However, l guess we're q match for man and d girl Once more Bel las laughed sardonieaHy.
 "We ain't been yet, and we've had plenty Of outside help 10 boot" Ig- hfrins him the other went on:
 If We see Davis first well block the Indians game He drew forth | big roll of bills, Well. I've been robbed of this; savvyfn
 The Spider grinned.
 T get you. You missed it last night after Rainfaee left Us. If he tarns up, eae ef Us will try and get him before he can open his mouth. That's the best We can do. After we get into the mountains with the gang We won't care what he tells Hush, Here they come now"
 The door opened and into the room stepped Ethel and John. wet, muddy and forlorn looking, halting in sur pfiSe as they found themselves look ing into the muzzIes of Moreaa's and the Spiders drawn weapons With ex- pressions of relief the pair lowered their guns.
 "So yoare back again .e beamed the Hawk. as lie advanced with hand out stretched You sure gave Us 3 fright. Since they fried t8 chIoYoform us and We finally woke up to find you gone We've been half beside ourselves with anxiety. You look as though you had been through wind, fire and htgh Wa ter.
 Davis laughed
 And then some.' Briefly he told his story. then asked what had mean while happened to them Morgan an- sWered him.
 IT heats me. When the Spider and I Woke up We were tied hard and fast, but I got knife ana-weH lock ut these" He held up the lashings which Eanface had cut from himself. "Fhese are what they had us trussed up with. 1 wonder if it K that Indian that is making all this trouble2 I've been robbed of thousand dollars since he left as last night
 The face of Davis flushed.
 Cut that talk out Morgan" he warned sternly. I'd trust Rainface as I would Ethel-or you"
 And I would trust him as I would John, chimed in the girl. Morgan as sumed defiant tone.
 Where did he go then?'
 "Yes and why isn't he here?" chimed in Bellas.
 John waved them aside.
 Hell show up when the time comes. However there is no use in arguing over it. Let's get some breakfast and then go back to the clean hills I've had enough of this town.
 Morgan quickly assented
 "The same here. Spider, get the things ready for us
 With peace restored they started for the breakfast room, the Spider and Morgan wholly unaware that from the retreat into which he had slipped at the first sign Gf their outcoming the malevolent glare of the Indian bore upon their backs as he fingered his long knife. For Ranface had heard all, and his hatred for the villainous pair had become as deadly as the srew of q rattlesnake.
 At the railway station the returning travellers were met by the gang of miners. together with two engineers, an assayer and il gang boss. Morgan introduced John and Ethel to the crowd. with the explanation that the Spider had summoned the men from the city by telephone and that the latter had gone ahead on the express IO lllake arrangements Np lNN1iN1 'itN iii' As this was being done the Indian ar rived and unnoticed by anyone board ed the train from the opposite side and secreted himself. Morgan and the mine boss, who was none other than our old friend "Doctor" Fream, now shaved and otherwise disguised, took their seats in the smoker apart from the rest. The boss addressed his com panion.
 spider sw0re he'd have everything ready at the camp. I'll answer for the gang; aS for the rest, l can't tell yet.
 Good" returned Hawk. We'll fix them when we get them where there is nobody to butt in and spoil the game
 Reaching their station they were met by the Spider.
 "Knowing that we could not make the mine tonight, I have prepared an abandoned camp near here for our use until tomorrow, was his announce ment.
 Thankful that there was T place of rest near at hand, the party followed him until the selected place was be fore them. II consisted of one fairly good house consisting of three rooms, with other shacks adjoining it, Sup