The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-20

8esveS. SUO0euIy tne IOUf Ce4Se0 tueaf
efforts and stood looking at each other
in wonderment. for apparently coming
from within the wall Of rock they
heard rhythmical tap. tap. tap that
could scarcely have been made By
other than human hands.
"It's that Indian,~ Whispered the
Hawk to his pal. sBut where is Davis
body" With q Wild tide Of hope rush.
ing to her heart, Ethel picked up q
crowbar and began diGging frenziedIy.
while urged to EFFORT BY her importunI-
ties Morgan and Bellss again fell to
laboring at her side. Five minutes
later they tore down 4 great rock, and
scarcely had 1t landed at their feet
than from out the opening 1t revealed
Davis came crawling. The next In
slant Ethel was In his. arm4
"Hell's hounds!" gritted Morgan.
did ever 4 man have such lucky
The Spider gave him . vicious nudge.
"Shut up you fool, or you'll give us
both away. "Join In the mesrymakins
now. and take II out Of his hide later"
Swallowing his anger Morgan se!sed
the escaped ones hand ana wrunE 1t
warmly Ms he congratulated him upon
his miraculous deliveranee.
"Aore work Of that Mysterious
Stranger, I suppose. But ono Of these
days we'll get him," said Davis.
EYE must be starved nigh unto death.
and II needs-A fun stomach to keep
up with 4 divil like him. Come home.
all Of ye, for I've the makIn's. Of 4
wonderful FEAST" urged he pfxctical
Bridget. High Of spirits. they beBan
their return. ts.s
Half way upoa-tlsesr Journey. pe-
cuiiar screen Of vines attracted tie At
tention Of John. and upon his ealllAg
the attention Of the otlers to 1t. all
dismounted. A moment's investieation
revealed the fact that The vines screen
ed the entrance to anothee cave, asd
pushing them aside all entered. The
hrst thing that met their eyes was =
small, casket-shaped box labeled -John
Carr" and further exploration reveal
ing the fact that q number Of similar
boxes labeled in the same way were
scattered about. Eagerly they gather
ed about their hnd.
"Anyway we'll and out what Is in
them" laughed Morgan. ~ inserting
the cad Of q pick beneath the cover
Of one he tore the fastening on. With
low cries Of wonderment the beholders
shrank hack. clutching each other.
their eyes protruding. unable to be-
heve their senses. For from bottom
to cover the box was nlled with rudely
melted but selld inGots Of pure gold.
The Hawk dropped upon his knees
before It. running hts hands through
the yellow metal. clinking inGot against
ingot. His face held the hush Of
drunkard and his eyes were agiow ~
his voice arose in . hoarse whisper.
"The mine! The minei At last We
have got II"
"And . good quarter Of million yel-
low boys must be In those boxes, too."
croaked the Spider. NO less avaricious-
u than his chief" Davis, putting his
arm around Ethel, spoke:
TT II great-wonderfuI-a hope
with the finding Of II our dangers have
come to an end. But We had best BE-
getting II out Of here. The cabin IA
the place for 1t tonight where We can
guard It."
.Right-o," sang Morgan, ~ he leap
ed to his feet. Hastily iuprovisiws
saddle bags from coats. BLANKETS and
whatever came handiest. they dump
ed the precious metal into its new r.
ceptacles and loaded It upon their
horses. Then walking at the heada of
their animals they cQntinued their way
fIlied WIN suppressed excitement.
That night. praying for peaceful
slumbers, they placed tie treasure In
Ethel's room intending to decide upon
its disposition In the morning.
With the Hawk and the spider eone
to their rest Ia the harness room. Brid-
get asleep and RainfAee curled up be-
fore the fireplace. Ethel raised her
lips to Johns In q good niGht careoR.
Softly her arm stole abost his neck.
~God has been good 10 u John.
dear. He has saved you and me from
many perilA am eoaag to thank
Him. Good nisht."
Good night. dearest" he Whispered.
kissing her many timeA
The moon had arisen and the still
ness Of midnight hovered over the
place. The door Of Ethel's closet open
ed softly and the face Of the Hermit
appeared. smiling ~ he saw her sleep
ing peacefully. Crossing the room with
noiseless steps he raised two Of the
goad-giutted bags in his arms and re-
entering the closet disappeared throagh
the trap. Three times more he re-
peated this, the last time bearing with
him the flnai nugget, and with FIRE
well smile ut the still sleeping girl he
closed the door and openedett no more.
Scarcely had he taken his silent
farewell than the Hawk and the Spa-
der, sneaking from the harness ronm
Tools In hand. nneped the collar door