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

upon Wntcn ne was I0eneo.
gold and girl. Curse him. he seems to
bear a charmed life, though" The
Spider raised the bottle.
His luck can't hold out forever
We've got two strings TO our bow this
time, and the scheme we have Just
thought out has got to work." The
other rascal clenchsd his fist and
struck the table.
ut would seem so. You 20 up the
trail in the morning and fix the dead
fall and l will look after the trapdoor
before anyone is up. One more drink
and then We'll turn in" A moment
later they had put out the light
| BY the first light of morning Nor
| gan crept cautiously down the cellar
| by means of the outside door. Care
| fully he examined the ceiling, until in
| the dim light he stood beneath the
| place he sought. Directly above his
head was trapdoor of sufficient di-
mensions to permit man to drop,
hinged upon one side and held up on
the other by huge iron bolt which
was worked by means of lever.
lCiuNlHE All tftl HUN HIS DOthbl,
the Hawk began carefully lubricating
the rusty iron lever. Finishing this
and being assured that all was in
working order, he left the cellar with
the secrecy with which he had come
Nor during this time had the Spider
been idle
Leaving the harness room In the
ghostly glow of daybreak, the Spider
found place on the mountain trail
that promised to suit his evil purpose.
A slight fall of snow had come during
the night, and trodding his way along
1t in such way that anyone follow
ing it would be sure to follow in his
steps, the Spider bent his steps be-
tween two trees with rough powders
upon each side of them, halting when
he reached the place he had chosen
At this point a huge tree trunk had
fallen until 1t hung above the spot,
caught in the branches of its fellow
trees, and here he began the setting
of his trap.
First cutting a trigger which he
placed and cunningly concealed across
the trail in such manner that a pass
ing foot would strike it. he cut the
log in such manner that the slightest
disturbance would send it crashing
down, inevitably crushing to death
whatever creature CHANGED to be pass
ing beneath. The connecting rope be-
tween the trigger and trunk he care
fully concealed with debris of the for
est then with a look of satisfaction
! for
which he stole away with the caution
Of lynx.
AS the breakfast horn blew, Nor
gan and the Spider came from the
barn with the sleepy air of men just
awakened from long nights sleep.
calling their mornings greetings to
those of the cabin they entered the
cabin and ate heartily as they talked
OF the events Of the day before The
Hawk turned to the others.
mfr, Bellas is a mining expert who
viii be of great assistance to us in
locating the missing mine" he said,
with meaning glance at the Spider.
lhls afternoon We will search the
nlils for it. Suppose that you, Rain
ace, give friend Davis the keys to
Narr's desk that he may look over
them while Bellas and | are searching
FOR the mine" John. still weak and
shaky from his fall Of the day before,
aoGded his assent
Il ain afraid could not keep M
with You today" ne acquiesced with a
weak smile. The prospect Of being
several hours alone with the giFl nj
his side was ample compeu a'i"u for
his aches aad bruises Of the day be-