The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-10-03

or two more before life within the
place was impossible. Yet there were
two men to make the ascent. Know
ing that the chances were against the
last ones ability to withstand the fur
mace heat until his turn came, John
signaled Morgan to go ahead. Without
waiting any second invitation, that
party seized the rope and climbed and
was hauled from the fiery pit to the
breathable air above.
Leaving the two other men upon the
sisted the girl to the ground. where
she stood wringing her hands as she
| implored them to hasten and draw her
lover forth Morgan flattening out
upon the branch, dropped the rope to
| the remaining one and bade him climb,
at the same time slipping an open
knife from his wrist and holding it
concealed in the palm Of his hand. AS
the lariat fell uncurling before him,
Davis seized it and began hauling
himself upward hand over hand, red
tongues of flame caressing his limbs
as he mounted foot by foot. Crouching
| above him upon the limb like pam
| ther above his victim, the traitor Nor
gan glued his eyes upon the slowly as
cending figure.
Weakened by the terrible heat and
his hands hot and dry, it required
every ounce of Davis strength to raise
his body from out the roaring mass.
Yet little by little he fought his way
upward until his head and shoulders
appeared above the opening. Upon the
ground below Ethel was standing with
outstretched arms, and at his appear
aIce glad cry burst from her lips.
| Morgan, eyes still fastened upon
him and hoping every second to see
/ him succumb to the heat and go tum-
bling back to his leath, uttered saw
age curse beneath his breath as he saw
| that the other, despite his terrible
handicap, was about to gain the limb.
Already the climbing one was but two
yards beneath the bough and in mo-
ment more would reach safety. Were
the Hawk to send him back into that
roaring hell he must act both quickly
and skillfully, and with cry of en-
couragement to the man he hated he
extended his arm down the rope as
though to lend a helping hand. And as
John with a look of gratitude raised
one arm to grasp the proffered palm
blade to the rope. With cry of des-
pair the betrayed one plunged straight
down into the heart of the furnace
Paralyzed by horror at the sight,
Ethel covered her face with her hands
and stood swaying but unable to move.
Released from the weight of Johns
! body by his fall, the limb containing
| the Spider and Morgan whipped itself
sharply upward. The Spider was
thrown headlong to the ground and
Morgan, also dislodged, only saved him
| self from following his victim into the
fire by fortunate clutch of the limb
The knife in its release twisted in his
hand, cutting cash i'll his palm; then
disappeared into the flames below.
Regaining the branch by desperate
effort. Morgan crawled Its length with
his limbs trembling beneath him until
he reached the trunk, from which he
| dropped to the ground. At the same
time the rafters gave way before the
gnawing of the fire and fell into the
seething pit below with a crash thai
sent the sparks flying upward in s
spout of flame.
Morning found the girl still pros
trated and the red man sitting beside
her with a face as impressive a.
| > l. i. II rr.I
got upon his feet and thrust one hant
into his coat pocket.
He's gone and we can do NOTHING
more. We must get Ethel away from
here as quickly as possible. Rainfac'
and l will take her back to the hotel
J Bellas. you stay around until the fir.
is out and see that nothing els,
catches. Keep the Indians horse unit
, everything is safe, then come and re
. port what you find"
"All right" returned the Spider ant
Rainface acquiescing by nod they en-
deavored to lead the girl away Strug
Cling and protesting that she woult
never leave the place until her lover
body had been recovered, she at las
biohV N'Nii anu pNll.ilttcu iiSlStll u
be supported to the van.
: When John was cut loose by th
. villainous Hawk he dropped like
} plummet, striking one corner of the BIZ
| center stone of the altar. distinctive
) ly throwing out his hand he clutchet
one arm of the figure. and at tha
l wrench the idol, which was pivoted Ii
the middle, swung on its balancing
: point thus revealing hole into whicl
: the body of the man dropped In hi
; fall he dragged after him the imag
of silva, which burst into pieces, SOM
of the fragments wedging the pivote,
, stone so that it could not spring bacl
: and close the opening.
: John, stunned for the moment by th
fall, presently aroused himself. In
? spection showed that he was in a rud
cellar the roof of which was upheld b,
big columns formed of logs. Boxe
were scattered about and an ordinar,