The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-08-22

lots OF the estate OF JOhn carr, miner,
and joint guardians of his adopted daugh-
ter, Ethel disagree over the disposition
of the profits of the mine. Morgan, seek
ing the gold and the girl for himself,
and unsupported by Davis, makes several
attempts on the life of the latter. with
the assistance of accomplice named
Spider Belas. Suspicion is diverted to
a mysterious hermit. Ethel is seized and
hidden in a barn where she overhears
part of plot to trap Davis She escapes
and goes to his rescue Davis is buried
by giant boulder.
Ethel Carr, rushing into the Devils
Pocket in which the Spider at the di-
rection of Hawk Morgan had planted
the explosive with set trigger. trip
ped over the rope and exploded the
dynamite. Struck on the head by
flying stone, she fell beneath the fol-
lowing shower of dirt and rock.
John Davis, rushing to her rescue.
saw a great boulder, which, loosened
by the blast, was slowly descending
and about to crush the life out of
her. Bracing himself as a pillar be-
meath it, for a minute he managed to
stay its descent, then as his strength
gradually oozed from iisn ne bent
beneath the terrific weigit and gave
way, falling backward end being COW
cred by the looee5isss mass until he
was buried from Asat.
From shofi distance away the
Hawk and tha Spider, seeing the girl
and Davis rom into the cave and
hearing .t3 roar of the explosion,
knew wHss must have happened to
the pa'r For a second they stared in
to thsb others face, then with an oath
Morgan Ieaped forward with his con-
fetlerate close at his heels. The In
dian. Rainface, followed in their
tracks. Reaching the rock pile which
now covered the floor of the cave. the
two white men stood before it as
though paralyzed until the Hawk,
arousing himself to action, began tug
ging frantIcally at big boulder. The
Spider laid hand upon his shoulder
Its no use. He's done for" With
out ceasing his efforts Morgan made
answer.
II am not thinking of him. but Of
her.
'.She's n goner too, and there is no
use of wasting your strength. Come
on We still have the mine and that's
the most important thing"
For moment the Hawk hesitated,
then permitting himself to be per-
suaded by the other. reluctantly de-
sisted from his efforts and the two
mounted their horses. Rainface still
staring at the pile.
"Coming?" asked Morgan. The In
dian shook his head.
mo. Me stay here Making no
further effort TO persuade him, the
two ruffians went riding away.
Barely giving them time to get out
Of sight Rainface went TO a small
sapling. quickly trimmed it into lev
er and began to pry at boulder.
Working furiously and with despair in
his heart, he had soon rolled It to
one side and thus cleared the way to
further effort.
Displaying great strength and en-
ergy despite his age. the old Indian
worked with such vigOr and success
that in a short time he had cleared
away great mass of rocks. disclos-
ing a great boulder resting upon
SUftlitE Ollt, anu Dtututil ibt hiNii
thus providentially formed lay the
hody of Davis. Instantly grabbing
him by his legs the rescuer drew him
forth. the movement unbalancing the
lily poised rocks that they crash
ed into the opening his body the mo-
ment before had occupied. Securing
cold water from a nearby stream, the
ancient Indian dashed ii into the face
of the unconscious one, who, saved
from being crushed by the accident of
the arch. presently sat up, little worse
for his strenuous experience.
"Ethel!'' he cried, his first thought
heing for the girl. He staggered to
his feet and approached the wall at
the caves mouth. Laying his hand up
on his arm, Rainface pointed his
finger.
After you rest then me show you
another way in there"
"Show me now commanded John,
and with a nod the Indian led the way
Morgan and Bellas. reaching the
cabin. coolly told Bridget what had
happened. sitting unmoved through
the first wild outburSt of grief of the
heartbroken Irish woman. When at
length her self command returned, she
arose silently and getting her cruei-
fix, took it into Ethel's room and hung
it at the head of her bed
Meanwhile Davis and Rainface had
reached long tunnel which led down
into cave, and stopping only long
enough to kindle pine torches pro-
ceeded on their way guided by their
Pickering and variable light, event
ually reaching the main cave which
was of considerable extent. Quickly
they approached the wall Of rock in
the mouth and there paused. For
Ethel was not there.
My Cod" cried John. "She fell
clear, vet she is gone. What does it
mean?" Rainface shook his head in
Toystification.
ehN Il bafa we