The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-08-01


been tumbIed unconscious in the drift
he picked up the lance from the place
where he had cast it and hastily en-
tered the barn. Passing into the har-
ness room he unbound the bowie-knife
from the handle of the rake, tossed
the handle aside and restored the
deadly blade to its sheath upon the
wall.
Then with a sweep of his hand he
removed the bandana handkerchief
which had concealed his face, after
which he took off the fur coat of
the old prospeetor, Carr. and once
more stood revealed clad In his own
apparel.
Within the living room of the cabin
Rainface, still lay sleeping upon the
floor by the fireplace. Well advanced
In years and wrinkled as the palm of
ones hand, he slept profoundly, light
covering over him. Through the win
dow in the lean-to out of which John
Davis had leaped in his pursuit of
the fleeing stranger a strong draft of
the cold mountain air came rushing.
creeping beneath the crack between
the loosely fitting door and floor of
the room. At once the temperature
of the inner room became sensibly
reduced, and as the chill fell upon
Rainface he drew his light blanket
closer in his sleep. grew quiet again
for moment, then slowly awoke and
sat up. AS his keen old eyes roved
about the room they apparently alight-
ed upon something that aroused his
suspicion, for arising silently he passed
to the door leading into the lean-to.
listened, knocked gently, then as there
was no response he turned the knob
and pushed the door ajar.
Cautiously he scanned the interior.
Nobody was there and entering he
crossed the room and peered out of
the open window. Once more moth
ing unusual met his gaze.
Without it was both showing and
blowing and through the flying flakes
he saw no disturbance of the snow
which spread the ground. Wondering
what had become of Davis he came
back into the living room. closing the
door of the lean-to behind him and
approached the door of the room IN
which Ethel slept. For moment he
hesitated, then raised his hand and
| knocked.
| Half a mile away from the cabin
and high up in the face of cliff,
screened from observation above by a
big overhang and also sheltered from
40 I,,,r lin, nf
| ragged rock, small cave had bur-
rowed itself into the side of the noun
tain. From tiny ledge of rock where
it had been placed, lantern cast its
| yellow flood of light over the stone
walls and floor of the place. Stand
| ing in the center of the room was a
man who was smooth shaven, wrinkled
and old; the sole occupant of this
hidden retreat; the Recluse of Mys-
terry Mountain.
AS he stood painting from his eff
forts of the run and after detachina
the rope by which he had gained this
place after escaping from Davis his
eyes chaneed to glance from the en-
trance and to the side of the precipi
tous descent close at hand. and an in
voluntary gasp escaped him. For dowr
the side of rock the body of a mar
was plunging in a fall that seemed
must result in certain death.
Throwing his rope in a swift turr
about a jutting piece of rock, hs
grasped both ends firmly and begar
letting himself down. Reaching {
place where he could secure footn:
he released the end of the rope tina
: he had been paying out, and drawing
it to him threw it in loose loops owe
his arm. Then running to the edg'
of the ledge upon which he had foun'
foothold he looked down just il
time to see John bringing up in ;
small avalanche of snow.
J Swiftly the Hermit acted. Agail
making his rope fast he lowered him
, self to the pile of snow and approach
, ing the PROSTATE form bent over II
Faint signs of life were visible. an
5 taking hitch around the silent figur
he climbed back to the mouth of hi
: cave and began hauling the limp forr
up. 1t was a difficult task and fey
/ men could have performed it, but tn
arms of the old Hermit of the Noun
tain were like bars of iron, and foo
by foot the burden arose. AT the en-
5 of several minutes of severe labor
the limp form was deposited upon tn
floor of the cave.
Again bending over the one WHOM
he had elevated to this place, the OH
Hermit carefully examined him. Th
heart was still beating and the breat'
! of life was parting the lips. No bone'
! seemed to be broken, and after II btie
examination the Hermit aishtene'
himself up.
"He isn't going to die" he mur
| mured HE is young and tongh a
Il hickory knot. He probably hit hi
head against something in that tum
BILE and for the time being is knocked
out B1t he will come out of II al
right"
For a moment he stood looking