Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-08-05


Ing that the chances we're against the
Inst one's ability ID withstand the fur
mace heat until his turn came. John
sienaIed Morgan ~ 90 ahead without
waiting any second invitation, TINT
party seized the Eose aud climbed aad
was inuicsi from she fiery pit 20 the
breathable mir above
Leaving the two other men up0n The
limb to haul up Davis. Rainface as-
Sisted tlse girl TO The ground. where
Ghe stood wringing her hnnds as she
fsnnIoresi them to hasten md draw her
/ lover forth Morgan. flnttenlng ont
upon the branch. dropped the rope 10
the remaining one and hade him climb,
ut tlc same time slipping m open
knife from his wrist ard holding It
concealed Id the palm Of his hand. As
tile iatiat fell nncurling before him,
Tlayis seized Il and began hauling
himself upward hand over hand, red
tongues DC flame caresslna hts limbs
rs He mounted fopt by foot CrOuchlng
above him uron the limb ike d pam
tiieF above his victim. the traitor Nor
ran glued his eyes upon the slowly as
cending figure.
Weakened hy the terrible heat and
hts hands hot and dry, It required
every ounce OF Davis strength to raise
his body from ONT the roaejng nls IS.
Yet Httle BY little Ire fought his way
upward until his hcad md shoulders
appeared above the opening. Ulson tho
ground below Ethel WAS standing with
outstretchcd arms. and at bis appear
afce glad cry burst from her lips.
Morgan. eyes still fastened upon
him and hoping every second TO see
him succtlsnb Iii the heat and III kt1ni-
bling bncl 10 his Heath. uttered SAY.
age curse beneath his breath as he Raw
TINT the other. despite his terrible
handicap, was about To gain the limb.
Already the climbing one was bnt two
yards beneath the Dough and Iii mo-.
ment more w0uld reach safety We're
the Hawk fo send him back into tIsat
rearing hell he must net both quicl.l 81
and skiEEfully, and with a cry Of en-.
enlargement To the nan he hated he
extended MS arm down the rona. as
though To lend Il helping hand. And rs
John with look OF gratitude raised
one arm to grasp the profgered palm
AgOegan pressed the edge 81 the keen
blade to the rope. With aeery or des-
pair the betrayed one plunged struisht
down into the heart OF the furnace.
parnlyzcd by horror at the sight,
Ethel covered her fuce with ller hands
and stood exaying hut nnnble to move.
Released from the weight of Johns
body nv his fnil, the limb containing
tho Spider and Morgan whipped itself
sharply upward. The Spider WIS
thrown headlong 10 the ground md
Morgan, also iislodgcd. only saved hiIn-
self from following his victim Into the
Are by 4 fortunate clutch az the limb.
The knife IN It's release twisted In his.
hand, cutting d cash lii his palm; then
disappeared into the flames below.
Rcgaining the branch Is n desperate
effort. Morgan crawlcd its length With
his limbs trembling beneath hlTa until
ne reached the trunk. from which he
dropped To the ground. AZ the same
time the rafters gave way before the
gnawIng 0f the fire and fell into the
seefhing pit below with d crash that
sent the sparks flying upward m
spout Of fame.
Morning found the girl still prs
fruted and the red man sitting beside
her with face rs impressive as
though carved from stone. The Hawk
rot upon his feet and thrust one hnnd
into his coat pocket.
tiles gone and we can do nothing
more. We must get Ethel ayay from
here as quickly as possible. Rainface
and VIII take her back III the hotel.
BeIlas. ron stay around until the fire
is out and see that nothing else
clutches Keep the Indians horse until
everything Is safe. then come and re-
port whaf ron fnd
'All right. returned the Spider. md
Iaainface acQuiescing hy nod they en-
,lcavored to lead the girl away. Strug
Cling and protesting that she would
never leave the place until her lovers
body had been recovered, she at last
hrpke down and permitted herself to
be supported to the van
When John was cut loose BY the
yiIlalnous Hawk he dropped like
plnmmet. striking one corner OF the big
center stone Of the altar. Instructive
III throwing out his hand he clutched
one arm Of the figure. and at that
wrench the idol. which was pivoted in
the middle. swung on It's balancing
point. thus revealing hole into which
tho body Of the man dropped. In his
fall he dragged after him the image
of silva. which burst info pieces. some
af the fragments wedgins the pivofed
stone 50 TINT IL could not spring back
and close the opening.
John. stunned FOR the moment by the
fall. presently rsed himself. In
spection showed that he was n rude
cellar, the roof Of which was upheld by
big columns formed Of logs boxes
were scattered about and an ordinary
innteFn hung from peg Tlais he