Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-05-27
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sEnolsierIng fire below Awakened b.
the noise and flying ashes. Ralnface
bent forward to see whence the dis
turbance had come. Az hts head and
shoulders appeared within the range Of
vision OF the downpeerlng one on the
roof, Morgan swiftly dropped the loop
Of his riata nhout the others form
md drew 1t taut. RnInface, jerkcd
upward So that his toes barely touched
the floor. was fairly caught. but com
pretending the meaning 81 II all he
sqnlrmed until he managed 10 draw
forth the plan that he had hidden In
his bosom. With last effort ne
dropped II upon the Goals and the pa
per. old and dry. hurst into a blaze.
With q twist of the rope abont the
chimney, Morgan leaving his yIctitl se-
curely trussed up. came clambertng
down and entering the cabin swiftly
searched the Indians clothes. Find.
Ing nothing and filled with ruge he
stepped back just dis Rainface with 4
conclusive kick upset the table. splitting
Its contents Gathering upon the hoor
Quick as the dart III weasel the
prowlcr left the room.
Attracted by the noise III the falling
objects Ethel and John rushed Into the
room The suspended body Of Rain
face needed no explanation. and Whip
ping d knife from his pocket John
slashed the imprisoned ane free. Rain-
faea sinking Ia philIr quickly told
them all
Me not know who he was Him
have handkerchief neross hts face,
hut wear OH cont or inaster, Anyway
me burn the map" Silently he pointed
AT tile few flaky ashes upon the Goals,
some prowling thief Tint wis pnss-
Ing this way said John lightly. "He
Won't come again. All We pan do II 10
back ID sleep. little girl For the first
time realizing that SHE WAS clothed
only as she slept, the gIrl turned and
fed from the room.
The door Of the harness room again
opened md once more Hawk Morgan
entered. Ills face was dark With anger
and disappointment TINT nlI his efs
forts proved nnavniIing III that no Rlan
had been found and clenching his fiat
he shook ii In the direction Of the
cabin.
''I'll get yoi vet. Davis, and then the
fortune and the girl Will be mine.
Ills glanee fen apon d hpRvy bowie
knife that hung III IT'S sheath on the
walt and taking Il down he tested it
edge. Tilcn With d iiash of his teeth ne
picked up hay rake from the floor
ana severed II lust behind the wooden
ptnngs Then With n leather strap he
bound tile handle of the knife fast to Il
and erept ont Into the night, his dead
IA lance firmly rrlpped. CaslIke ne
crept toward tile cabin
Within the lenn-to John. who had
been reading hy the light Of lamp
upon the shelf. had fallen asIeep with
the glow stu fulllng over him. His
bunk was against tie lowest side of
the lean-to. and in order that he might
be ready FOR Instant action should the
mysterious prowior return had removed
only his cont, vest and boots. A blan-
ket was thrown partly over him and
his revolver Iay upon the table at his
side.
Carrying Il wontlen horse 10 the side
at the lcan.to and carefully placing u
In position. Morgan again mounted %
the roof With h Ratchet NE pried M
the weather strip and looked through
the crack between the shrunken boards
and gazing down upon the exposed
breast OF fHe sleeping man. Cautious.
III he pointed the lance down through
the opening.
Slowly. silently me mlrderous weas
p0n descended, Incil BIZ inch drawing
nearer To tie heart of the sleeping one.
A moment more and II would have
been buried In the rcenmbent form.
but ak TINT moment the guardian angel,
which 70 often watches over us Ii our
helpless moments, interviewed 70 saye
d life. Through the crack above great
snowflake sitting dOwa fell upon the
cheek Of the sleeper. and nj its cold
impact. John opened HIS eyes. And
though the thrust Of Morgan was 90
quick aa the strike Of Il serpent, the
81 John were even quicker.
One upward sweep Of his hand and be
had gFasped the lance just ADORE the
murderous knife.
Now ensued silent struggle be-
tween the w0uld-be assassin upon the
roof and tie one who was fighting for
his life below. Taken at terrible
disadvantage. PROSTATE upon his back
and with nothing buE his naked hands
with which 10 ward OH death. John
Davis struggled for his NE. Three
times the terrible weapon, half
wrenched from his grasp, plunged Itself
into the bunk, bus each time BY dee
perafe twist 81 hia arms and body he
diverted 1t 10 that the keen point
pierced nothing but the blanket. Yet
Ii did not seem that be could much
longer avoid fatal thrust AZ any
r10rnent the blade might be twisted
through his fingers. half severfag them
and should that happen the NEXT In
gtant the cold steel would pierce his