The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-10-24

he disappeared. a vague uneasiness in
her breast.
Well on his way, John was startled
at seeing an object fall close before
him, where it stood quivering in the
ground. A glance told him that 1t was
an arrow. and looking upward he saw
a figure standing upon a ledge. who
with threatening gesture sprang
back and disappeared. Angered at
what he considered dastardly at
tempt upon his life. Davis cooked his
rifle and started forward on run.
Five minutes later Rainface, stepping
from behind tree with hand upraised.
advanced upon the amazed John. and
without speaking, led him to a point
which overlooked Morgan's troop just
leaving the shack. The Indians voice
fairly Missed, so great was his passion.
| He find gold. He steal 1t. He try
kill you. He bad man. Me know"
For a moment John hesitated. then
noting the fearful earnestness Of the
other, he nodded.
"Tll go down and see about it. You
keep hidden until / see you" OF he
went. half sliding down the trail.
| Before Morgan he halted.
what are you doing here?" was
his demand. Paling with anger. the
Hawk gazed at him.
"Since when was 1 accountable to
your" he sneered.
"What did you put in that shack?"
Nothing"
"That's lie. You put gold there.
| A ho 20
of the Hawk grew livid with rage.
John threw up his hand. and at the
signal the old Indian sprang among
them, one long finger pointed at the
traitor.
Heap big liar. Spider, too. Me see
you fix boat, cut rope-do everything"
he said fiercely. Whipping out his
gun, the villain roared to hts crew.
Get 'em, boys. All the gold In the
shack for you If"
Selling the man nearest to him.
Davis hurled him into the midst of
the already onrushing pack. Two
leaps took him within the shack, Rain
face at his side. Instantly they
slammed the door shut and barred 1t.
by good fortune the windows Of the
place being already heavily shuttered.
Barely in time they threw themselves
upon the floor, for the next instant a
rain of bullets came splintering
through the door, while from knot
holes and cracks they returned the
compliment as best they could. And
so hot was the fire that the gang out
side broke and took shelter behind the
trees.
From their places of concealment.
Fream. taking Morgan by the sleeve,
pointed at the shack.
"If we could cut those two lower
foundation posts on which the shack
rests, the whole shebang would slide
to the edge of the cliff and go smash
ing down into the valley" The dark
face of Morgan lighted. +
"Good. I'll have it DONE" He called
to two of his men.
you fellows take saws. and while
we divert their attention by sham
attack in front. you two sneak around
the other way and saw Off those posts.
Savvy7" With grins of appreciation
of their opportunity to win reward.
the scoundrels crept away, while the
rest of the gang opened a heavy fire
upon the little building.
Within the shack, John and Rainface
were battling desperately for their
lives. Lying upon the floor and en-
tirely out of sight of the ruffians
without, they kept so keen watch that
no sooner was an arm or leg exposed
than a bullet soon found 1t, sending
its owner down with howl of pain.
Davis turned to his partner with a
grim smile.
| 81 guess we can hold them of, Rain
face. They can't get in, and unless
| they can think of some new devil
ment--" He ceased speaking and sat
up In alarm. Slowly but Enthusiastically
the little building was beginning to
slide down the steep slope toward
where the cliff dropped in sheer
plunge.
Great Godl We're going overt" he
cried.
Helpless, thrown this way and that
by the violent tippings Of the affair.
/ they clung onto whatever came handl.
est, gazing into each others face with
the eyes of men already dead.
In the very act OF plunging into the
abyss, the stump of one of the severed
supports caught upon projection,
stopping the onward movement of the
building but bending and buckling
beneath the strain. A glance telling
him that it needed but trifiing effort
to remove this last obstacle and send
the structure crashing to the bottom,
the Spider swiftly uncoiled a rope.
Almost quicker than can be told he
had made one end fast to the bent and
fast-weakening post, while dozen
hands eagerly seized the other end OF
the lariat
Now, all togetherw roared Morgan,
There was mighty heave upon the
rope, and before it the weak support
gave way. Pofsing itself for a mo.