Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-06-02

Dnck before dark
-All right. assented Davis, and
side BIZ side they started on.
Along the mountalnsisie they went
until they reached rayine which was
OF considerable depth save at one
point where an oyerhangfng shoulder
Of the rock mss somewhat similar
iut on the otmA side. al this point
Inc gap was narrowed to d distance
which could be bridgei 81 fallen
tree. and IN facf as they arrived upon
It's edge they saw that PROSTATE
pine. 81 d sire that would easily hear
tbe weight of man. traversed II from
edge TO edge. They paused before Y
scanning ii With care.
III VIII take us over easily enough.
laughed the Hawk. However. you
had better LET me so ahead so il nny
thing should happen Il would be mc
instead Of sou that took tie tumble
Mighty decent OK you, Morgan, but
I don't want anybody 70 take any risk
on my account. returned Davis Hut
pushing the other good .uatnretily
aside the pIotfer mounted the trunk
and balancing himself with his arms
crossed hi safety. John followed him
with eqnai ease.
Upon the other side they separated,
Morgan going up the ridge at the left
and John pursuing his way straight
on and kecnIy surveying the lard.
scape about. He had accomplished
but short distance when ne saw the
form of Spider Belias standing beside
d tree, and suspicious that this might
be fhe unknown stranger who was
plotting against his life, join drew
his gun md ordered him 10 throw m
his hands. But darting behind the
tree like weasel the spider darted
away, with John IN hot pursuit.
Barely waiting until John was ont
Of sight the Hawk returned 10 the
tree. Hastily drawing his small shovel
and saw from their places Of conceal,
ment he fell TO work upon plan TINT
promised TO forever rid the world Of
the rival whom he hated With ak his
rats soul. For ten minutes he worked.
with desperate energy then With his
task finished to his satisfaction he
covered all fraces Of his efforts with
snow and taking his place behind a
tree sat down to watch tile end of the
man whose existence bid fair TO
thwart his evil designs
Darting amongst the trees With sur.
prising swlftness of fool. the Spider
was upon the point Of eluding the pilr-
suing Davis when ne stumbled and
fell lleaiiong. Close before him was
rift deep and steep. and In the very
act OF being precipitated down 4
where ne would have fallen mingled
corpse almost at the foot OF his walt.
Ing confederate. the hnnl II John
leaped forward and dragged the other
to hts feet and safety.
'sWho are your he GemRhded a.
they faced each other.
The reply III the one who had inst
been saved from death was blow In.
the face. Taken wholly ~ surprise.
the rescuer was nearly knocked from.
his feet. but quickly recovering his
balance closed with his treachero,ls
enemy. Still partially dazcd By the
blow John fought ferceIy but the
other securing a favorable hold threw
him heavily. For I moment they
rolled upon the edge Of the descent.
Then John having regained his
strength lifted his foe fn his arms and
hurled him over the edge Breathless
from his efforts the victor stood look
Ing at the place where the other had
disappeared.
Seeing that the other hnd vanished.
from the scene, John glanced about.
1t was growing dark and remembering
that he was to meet Morgan before
night fell ne retraced his steps to the
fallen pine. AS he reached II the
Hawk arose from his seat and vel
coined him.
Better hurry or We will be caught
out here la the mountains after Cur.
few. he warned. and With nod the
unsuspicious one stepped upon the
now nearly sawed through tree. He
had taken but q few steps when a
warning crack startled him. and With
the trunk slowly bending beneath MS
weight he turned In q desperate ef-
fort to again reach terra frma. Buf
before ne could regain II the treach
@rously cut support gave way and the
trunk began rushing down. Knowinr
that 10 faIl with II meant death. John
Ieaped sideways into an overhanglna
tree. CIusching wildly at the branches
as he sought TO stay his fail, By great
good fortune ne finally checked himself
and brought up hanging to q limb by
one arm. Slowly. painfully he grasped
the supporting branch with bis other
hand and began to draw himself up
ward.
From the opposite side Of the gap
the Hawk saw that his victim was
about to save himself. and driving
his revolver leyeIed II 81 the cllngins
man.
There was fash and roar, and
the fran bough cut ~ the bullet broke
beneath the weight Of the one who