The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-07-10

twisting form. To the stakes he tied
his stout blanket, fashioning q life
net, as 1t were. Then a bullet from
his rifle severed the rope scant inch
from Dicks head, and Van Brunt, fall
ing on the sloping ledge, slid off and
landed safely in the blanket Tomas
cut his bonds and Dick, taking only
moment to bathe his swollen wrists,
helped the Indian to place the net be-
meath Teel. In this way and in an In
credibly short time all were saved but
Polly, who, unconscious of what was
going on, hung limp in midair.
1t was an anxious moment for Dick
as he gazed aloft at the suspended
girl and measured the distance she
must fall before she would be re-
ceived at the bottom by the net, and
he shuddered at the risk to which
they must subject her. But already
she was unconscious, and unless they
got her down and revived her very
soon she would undoubtedly perish
from the exposure to the blistering
heat and the squeezing of the rope
which was around her.
"Hurry up, Tomas, and use extra
care in making that blanket fast to
the stakes" he commanded as they
bent to their task. Tomas nodded.
you no be afraid Tomas will make
any mistake. He have squaw down
here in n jiffy. He fix the blanket
so she fall into 1t soft as a feather
from the wing of a bird"
Once more the blanket was spread
and again the Indian raised his rife,
the rope parted and the girl fell prone
on the ledge. She rolled partly over
the edge but did not clear it. AS
the group of rescuers looked at her in
expectancy, cry of horror rose from
their lips as. the head of a great noun
tain lion appeared right beside Polly
almost on top of her.
Dick and the Indian kept their
heads. Tile former snatched up
rifle and as he fired the lion with a
snarl withdrew its head. Tomas as
quickly sent n larat to the cliff,
where 1t caught firmly about project
ing rock.
ing his rifle. AS If in answer. Polly's
body was drawn slowly back from the
edge Of the cliff. Pistol in hand, and
with q knife between his teeth, Dick
sprang to the rope and was up the
side of the cliff In a fash, those below
standing with rifles ready should the
lion again appear.
Knowing that POlly's life was at
stake and that he must reach her in
very few moments or she would be
clawed and bitten to death by the
ferociOus beast above that even then
was dragging her senseIess body away
to his lair, Dick went up the rope
with an agility that aroused the
greatest wonder in those who stood
below cheering him on. In an incred-
IDLY short time he had reached the
ledge above, and pausing only long
enough as his eyes rose to its level
to take in the situation with one
glance, he gave his body final con-
vulsvc heave. Over the edge he went
with the agility of an ape and stood
confronting the pair on the narrow
shelf of rock.
Snarling above the girls body stood
the lion as Dick gained the ledge. He
made one spring at Dick, but bullet
caught him in midair. This gave Dick
time to unsheath his knife. A blow
from the animals paw robbed him of
its use, but not before he had forced
it over the cliff. AS 1t fell q dozen
bullets ended It's career.
Dick tenderly picked up his wife,
mercifully unconscious but not even
scratched by the lions claws, and low
cred her to earth, following down the
lariat. She was quickly revived, and
while coffee was being prepared,
Tomas told of how Scarface' had
robbed his fathers grave of the sixth
piece Of flag, and when he learned of
Dicks connection with the flag, he
eagerly enlisted on his side. And
when all had rested after their meal,
he repeated his oath of vengeance
and, pointing out on the desert, said:
"Get horses-follow white devils"
"Where do you suppose they will
go, Tomas" asked Dick as he slipped
his arm around the now fully revived
Polly. 81 am afraid they have gotten
away from us for the time being"
The face of the Indian darkened as
he remembered the insult which the
fleeing desperadoes had paid to the
grave of his father.
II follow them If they go all so far