The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-01-15
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John finally assented. The blanket
having been hung. Ethel retired to her
compartment and John stretched him
self upon the floor at the other side Of
the screen. True to his word. Morgan
threw himself at length on the plat
form Just outside the window.
Awaiting only until he was assured
By the deep breathing from within:
that the pair were asleep. the Hawk
silently arose. The Spider was await
ing him beneath . tree. with the sigAt
scoundrels whom he had ensaasa ~
miners grouped around him. A. tAe
arch-conspiFator came up, Beilas
greeted him.
"How II everything insider he
asked. Morgan chuekled.
The lovefs are sound asleep. one On
one side Of the blanket and the ether
on the other. dreaming Of each etAsr.
6oubtless." TIE Spider laughed bss-
tally.
swell. wen give them their chance
to cling to each other. Being ts9dsr-
hearted, We win not part them on
earth. but win send them to Paradise
locked In each others afms."
Come on then" whispsfsd his com
panion. Treading with the utMsse
care. and keeping In the deepest sAad-,
ows. the pair soon reached The tiny
AFFAIR within which the unconscious
ones were peacefully sleeping.
First approaching the door. they in
serted q peg above the latch in such
manner that the latter could not b
lifted from the inside. Having thUs
made sure that the intended victims
could not make their escape In tAAs
direction. they crspt a. soft-fsoeed1y ~
foxes to the side Of the shack which,
contained the window. Producing n
piece Of wire from his pocket, AosgAn
fastened the frame down beyond .
possibility Of 1t being raised. then.
closing the shutters, fastened them In
the same way. With their prey now
cooped up in a tight box from which
1t would take considerable time to ee-
cape. even under the most favorable
auspices, the two blacklegs once moro
returned to their impatiently waiting
companions beneath the trees.
Everything is all ready. boys. 80
now let's get busy" he said. Silently
they repaired to small clump Of trees
nearby. where the Spider had pre-
Bearing these upon their shoulders.
they sneaked upon the hut. running a
pole under each end Of 1t beneath the
floor and the ground. The poles were
Of such length that they protruded for
several feet beyond the sides of the
building.
Everything being in readiness, at =.
signal from the Spider the eight men
bent their backs and slowly but surely
raised the light edihce from ita foun-
dations Bearing 1t q good deal ~
East Indian coolies carry . palanquin.
they slowly worked their way toward
the rushing river close at hand.
Despite the slowness and infinite
care with which the bearers Of tn
shack stepped. the tipping and sway
ing Of the AFFAIR quickly awakene1
those within. Ethel. finding herself
rolling across the floor. and greatly
alarmed by the slant Of the building.
cried out in alright. while John, at the
same instant landing with a bump
against the wall. opened his eyes,
Warned by the cry of the girl that
their victims were aroused and that
further caution was unnecessary, the
eight bearers quickened their pace.
Immediately the swaying Of the hut
became more violent. .-a>5s
ScramblinG to her feet, with much
- T<hv ~ n1r~
to him.
''Oh, what II - ahe cried. ut can
not he an earthquake. and yet" An
puzzled as she, the man worked his
way to the door and tried the latch.
Locked! Trapped" he exclaimed,
A. the horror Of the situation gradual
ly stole over his brain. Releasing him
self from the clutch Of the Eirl. he
found his way to the window and be-
gan tearing at 1t with his nngers. But
the work Of the would-be murtierers
had been done all too well and. despite
his strength, he found himself unable
to make an impression upon 1t. Sud
denly another cry arose from the
frightened girl.
"The water! It Is coming in through
the floor" Bending. John placed his
hand upon the boards upon which they
stood. Through every crack the river
was spouting thin volumes into the
closed room.
Rendered desperate by the thought
that they were to be drowned like
Gagged rats. the man again sought the
window. Kicking, striking and shov-
lhG Win ~ sAa1ldsr, he At last
wrenched a board from place and
thrusting his head out. surveyed the
scene. They were swinging wildly
down the maddened stream, swirling
I'm its eddies, tilting with the increased