The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-23

ing that the chances were against the
last ones ability to Withstand the FUR
mace heat until his turn came, John
signaled Morgan to go ahead. without
waiting any second invitation, that
party seized the rope and climbed ana
was hauled from the fiery pit to the
breathable air above.
Leaving the two other men upon the
limb to haul up Davis, Rainface as
sisted the girl to the ground, where
she stood wringing her hands as she
implored them to hasten and draw her
lover forth. Morgan, aattening out
upon the branch, dropped the rope to
the remaining one and babe him climb,
at the same time slipping an open
knife from his wrist and holding 1t
concealed In the palm of his hand. AS
the lariat fell uncurling before him,
Davis seized 1t and began hauling
himself upward hand over hand, red
tongues of flame caressing his limbs
as he mounted foot by foot, CrOuching
above him upon the limb like pam
Their above his victim, the traitor Nor
gan glued his eyes upon the slowly as
cending figure.
Weakened by the terrible heat and
his hands hot and dry, 1t required
every ounce of Davis strength to raise
his body from out the roaring mass.
Yet little by little he fought his way
upward until his head and shoulders
appeared above the opening. Upon the
ground below Ethel was standing with
outstretched arms, and at his appear
aIce glad cry burst from her lips.
Morgan, eyes still fastened upon
him and hoping every second to see
him succumb to the heat and go tum-
bling back to his Heath, uttered saw
age curse beneath his breath as he saw
that the other, despite his terrible
Already the climbing one was but two
yards beneath the bough and in a mo-
ment more would reach safety. Were
the Hawk to send him back into that
roaring hell he must act both quickly
and skillfully, and with cry Of en-
couragement TO the man he hated he
extended his arm down the rope as
though to lend helping hand. And as
John with a look of gratitude raised
one arm to grasp the proffered palm
Morgan pressed the edge of the keen
blade to the rope. With cry Of des-
pair the betrayed one plunged straight
down into the heart of the furnace.
Paralyzed by horror at the sight,
Ethel covered her face with her hands
and stood swaying but unable to move.
Released from the weight of Johns
body by his fall, the limb containing
the Spider and Morgan whipped itself
sharply upward. The Spider was
thrown headlong to the ground and
Morgan, also dislodged, only saved him
self from following his victim into the
fire by q fortunate clutch Of the limb.
The knife in it's release twisted in his
hand, cutting cash in his palm; then
disappeared into the flames below.
Regaining the branch by desperate
effort, Morgan crawled it's length with
his limbs trembling beneath him until
he reached the trunk, from which he
dropped to the ground. At the same
time the rafters gave way before the
gnawing of the fire and fell into the
seething pit below with crash that
sent the sparks flying upward in a
spout of flame.
Morning found the girl still pros
trated and the red man sitting beside
her with a face as impressive as
though carved from stone. The Hawk
got upon his feet and thrust one hand
into his coat pocket.
"He's gone and we can do nothing
| more. We must get Ethel away from
here as quickly as possible. Rainface
and will take her back to the hotel.
Bel1as, you stay around until the fire
is out and see that nothing else
catches. Keep the Indians horse until
everything is safe, then come and re-
port what you find.''
| "All right" returned the Spider, and
Rainface acquiescing by nod they en-
deavored 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
broke down and permitted herself to
be supported to the van..
When John was cut loose by the
villainous Hawk he dropped like a
plummet, striking one corner of the big
| center stone Of the altar. Instructive
~ 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 q hole into which
the body of the man dropped. In his
fall he dragged after him the image
'of silva, which burst into pieces, some
of the fragments wedging the pivoted
stone so that it could not spring back
and close the opening.
John, stunned for the moment by the
fall, presently aroused himself. IN.
spection showed that he was in rude
cellar, the roof of which was upheld by
big columns formed of logs. Boxes
were scattered about and an ordinary
lantern hung from a peg. This he
took down, lighted and began an eX-
ploration of the place. A few mo-
ments' search revealed rough
puncheon door at far corner, and