The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-01-01

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two men to make the ascent. Know
ing that the chmnces we're 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 and
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, lattening out
upon the branch. dropped the rope to
the remaining one and bade 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.
himself upward hand over hand. red
tongues Of fame cnressing his limbs
as he mounted foot by foot. Crouching
above him upon the limb like q pam
ther 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
ance glad cry burst from her lips.
Morgan, eyes still fastened upca
him and hoping every second to see
him succumb to the heat and 60 tum-
bling back to his leath, uttered = sav-
age curse beneath his breath as he saw
that the other. despite his terrible
handicap, was about to gain the limb.
Already the climbing one was but two
yards beneath the bOuGh and In mo-
ment more would reach safety. We're
the Hawk to- send him back into th&t
roaring hell he must act both quickly
and s2<lllfully. and with a cry II en-
courngement to the man he hated he
extended his arm down the rope rs
though to lend helping hand. And as
John with look Of gratitude raised
one arm to grasp the proffered palm
Morgan pressed the edge Of the keen
blade to the rope. With q cry OF des-
pair the betrayed one plunged straight
down into the heart Of the furnace.
Faralyxed by horror at the sight.
Ethel covered her face with her hands
and stood swnying hut unable to move.
Released from the weight ~ Johns
body BY his full. the limb containing
tho Spider and Morgan whipped itself
sharply upward. The Spider was
thrown headlong to the GFUsnd and
NsGEan. also dislOdged, only sGved him
self from following his victim into the
Are by fortunate clutch OF the limb.
Tie knife In its release twisted In his
hand. cutting a cash In his palm; then
disappeared into the flames below.
ReRnining the branch BY a desperate
effort. Morgan crawled it's senEth with
his limbs trembling beneath him until
he reached the trunk. FROM which he
<irup,ed to the ground. At the same
time the rafters gave way before the
Enawiuig OF the flre and fell into the
seething pit below with crash that
sent the sparks flying upward In =
spcut Of flame.
Morning found the girl stfll pros
trnt~d and the red man sitting beside
her with face as Impressive rs
though carved from stone. The Hawk
got upon his feet and thrust soe hand
into his coat pocket.
70 "He's gone and we can do soothing
more. We must get Ethel awqy from
here as quickly as possible. Rainface
and I will take her back to the hotel.
Bellas. you stay around until TIE fire
is ont and see that nothing else
catches. Keep the Indians horse until
everything is safe. then come mud re-
port what you find." .f
"Aii right" returned the Spider. and
Rainfnce Acquiesclng by u nOtl they ell
denvored to lead the girl nway. 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
villnInous Hawk he dropped like a
plummet. striking one corner Of the biE
center stone Of the altnr. Instructive
ly throwing out his hand he clutched
one arm of the figure, and ut that
wrench the idol, which was pivotei In
the middle. swung ON Its balancing
point. thus revealing hole into which
the body Of the man dropped. In his
fall he dragged after him the image
of silva. which hurst into pieces, some
of the fragments wedging the pivoted
stone 40 that It could not spring back
and close the opening.
John, stunned for the moment by the
fall, presently aroused himself. In
spectiop showed that he WAS in n rude
cellar, the roof of which was upheld by
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