The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-07-25
Copyright 1879. BY NH.sr.sa

| the broad chimney. then loosening
piece of mortar dropped 1t into the
smoidering fire below. Awakened by
the noise and flying ashes, Rafnface
bent forward to see whence the dis
| turbance had come. AS his head and
shoulders appeared within the range OF
| vision of the downpeering one on the
roof. Morgan swiftly dropped the loop
| of his RATA about the others form
and drew 1t taut. Rainface, jerked
upward so that his toes barely touched
the floor. was fairly caught, but com
pretending the meaning of it all he
| squirmed until he managed to draw
| forth the plan that he had hidden In
his bosom. With last effort he
| dropped it upon the Goals and the pa
per old and dry. burst into a blaze.
With twist Of the rope about the
chimney. Morgan leaving his victim Sc
curely trussed up. came clambering
down and entering the cabin swiftly
searched the Indians clothes. Find
Ing nothing and filed with rage he
stepped back Just as Rainface with a
conclusive kick upset the table. spilling
its contents Gathering upon the floor.
Quick as the dart of weasel the
prowler left the room.
Attracted by the noise of the falling
objects Ethel and John rushed into the
room. The suspended body of Rain
face needed no explanation, and whip
ping knife from his pocket John
slnshed the imprisoned one free. Rain
face sinking to a chair quickly told
them all
'Ale not know who he was. Him
have a handkerchief across his face 4.
but wear old coat of master. Anyway
me hurn the map" Silently he pointed
at The few naky ashes upon the Goals.
"Some prowling thief that was pass-
ing this way" said John lightly HE
won't come again. All we can do is go
back to 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 and once more Hawk Morgan
entered His face was dark with anger
and disappointment that all his ef-
forts proved unavailing in that no plan
liil pPfii iounu. anu tlentIiluS MS HNt
he shook II in the direction of the
cnbin.
I'm get Won vet. Davis. and then the
fortune and the girl will he mine"
His glnnce fell upon heavy howie
knife that hung In its sheath on the
wall, and taking it down he tested its
edge. Then with flash Of his teeth he
picked up n hay rake from the floor
and severed IL just behind the wooden
prongS. Then with leather strap he
bound the handle of the knife fast to 1t
and crept ont into the night his dead
ly lance firmly gripped. Catlike he
crept toward the cabin.
Within the Iean-to John. who had
been reading by the light of a lamp
upon the shelf. had fallen asleep with
the glow still falling over him. His
bunk was against the lowest side of
the lean-to. and in order that he might
be ready for instant action should the
mysterious prowler return had removed
only his coat. vest and boots. A blan-
kef was thrown partly over him and
his revolver lay upon the table at his
side.
Carrying wooden horse to the side
of the lean-to and carefully placing 1t
in position. Morgan again mounted TO
the roof With hatchet he pried up
the weather strip and looked through
the crack between the shrunken boards
and gazing down upon the exposed
breast of the sleeping man. Cautious
ly he pointed the lance down through
the opening.
Slowly. silently the murderous wen
pon descended, inch by inch drawing
nearer to the heart of the sleeping one.
A moment more and 1t would have
been buried in the recumbent form,
but at that moment the guardian angel
which so often watches over US in our
helpless moments. interviewed to save
a life. Through the crack above great
snowflake sitting down fell upon the
cheek of the sleeper, and at its cold
impact John opened his eyes. And
though the thrust of Morgan was as
quick as the strike of a serpent, the
movements of John were even quicker.
One upward sweep of his hand and he
had grasped the lance just above the
murderous knife.
Now enSued silent struggle be-
tween the would-be assassin upon the
roof and the one who was fighting for
his life below. Taken at terrible
disadvantage. PROSTATE upon his back
and with nothing but his naked hands
with which to ward off death John
Davis struggled for his life. Three
times the terrible weapon, half
wrencheG from his grasp. plunged itself
! into the hunk hut each time by des-
perate twist of his arms and body he
diverted il 50 that the keen poiht
pierced nothing but the blanket. Yer
II did not seem thai he could much
longer avoid fatal thrust. At any
moment the blade might be twisted
through his fingers. half severing them
and should that happen the next in
stant the cold steel would pierce his