The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-01-22

Well on his way. John was startled
at seeing an object fall close before
him, where 1t stood quiveSing in the
ground. A glance told him that 1t was
an arrow. and looking upward, he saw
. figure standing upon . ledge. who
with q threatening gesture sprangl
back and disappeared. Anseeed at
what he considered q dastardly At
tempt upon his life, Davis cooked his
ride and started forward on Q run;
Five minutes later Rainface, stepping
from behind tree with hand upraised.i
advanced upon the amazed John, and
without speaking, led him to q point
which overlooked Aorgan's troop just
leaving the shack. The Indians voice
fairly hissed, % great was his passion,
~He fnd gold. He steal It. He try
kin you. He bad man. Ne know"
For a moment John hesitated, then
noting the fearful earnestness Of the
other. he nodded.
TIL 90 down and sec about 1t. You
keep hidden until sec you" on he
went, half sliding down the trail.
Before Morgan he halted.
"What are you doing herer was
his demand. Paling with anger, the
Hawk gazed at him.
your he sneered.
"what did you put in that shackr
Nothing"
That's lie. You put gold there.
Are you a theft A traitorr The face
of the Hawk grew livid with rage.
John threw up his hand. and at tho
signal the old Indian sprang among
them, one long finger pointed at the
traitor.
"Heap big liar. Spider, too. Ne SEQ
you fix boat. cut rope-do everything"
he said flercely. Whipping out his
gun, the villain roared to his crew.
"Get 'em. boys. All the gold in the
shack for you If"
Seizing the man nearest to him.
Davis hurled him into the midst Of
the already onrushing pack. Two
leaps took him within the shack. Rain
face at his side. Instantly they
slammed the door shut and barred 1t.
by good fortune the windows of the
place being already heavily shuttered.
Barely in time they threw themselves
upon the floor. for the next instant .
rain Of bullets came splintering
through the door, while from knot
holes and cracks they returned tho
compliment As best they could. And
30 hot was the fire that the gang out
side broke and took shelter behind the
trees.
From their places Of concealment,
Fream, taking Morgan BY the sleeve,
pointed at the shack.
III we could cut those two lower
foundation posts on which the shack
rests, the whole shebang would siide
to the edge Of the cfiff and 60 smash-
ing down into the valley" The dark
face Of Morgan lighted.
"Good. I'll have It done" He called
to two Of his men.
You fellows take saws, and while
We divert their attention by sham
attack In front, you two sneak around
the other way and saw OF those posts.
Savvyf" With grins of appreciation
Of their opportunity to win reward,
rest Of the gang opened heavy hre
upon the little building.
Within the shack. John and Rainface
were battling desperately for their
lives. Lying upon the floor and en-
tirely out Of sight Of the rufaans
without, they kept so keen a watch that
no sooner was an arm or leg exposed
than 4 bullet soon found 1t, sending
Its owner down with a howl Of pain.
Davis turned to his partner with q
grim smile.
II guess we can hold them of, Rain
face. They can't get in, and unless
they can think Of some new devil
ment-" He ceased speaking and sat
up in alarm. Slowly but unmlstakably
the little building was beginning to
slide down the steep slope toward
where the cliff dropped in a sheer
plunge.
"Great God! We're going overt" he
cried.
Helpless, thrown this way and that
by the violent tippings of the affair.
they clung onto whatever came handi-
est, gazing into each others face with
the eyes Of men already dead.
In the very act of plunging into the
abyss. the stump Of one of the severed
SubDeft1s eaught upon peojectdon.
stopping the onward movement of the
building but bending and buckling
beneath the strain. A glance telling
him that It needed but 4 trining effort
to remove this last obstacle and send
the structure crashing to the bottom.
the Spider swiftly uncoiled a rope.
Almost quicker than can be told he
had made one end fast to the bent and
fast-weakening post, while a dozen
hands eagerly seized the other end Of
the lariat.
'Now. al together r. roared Morgan.