The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-01-15
EPISODE 13.
THE RIVER OF DREAD.

6VtSOO6 10.
THE RIVER OF DREAD.
Morgan and the Spider having suS-
pended the box Of INT from . linb
above the car tracks Of the electric
road. 30 arranged the small rope sus-
taining It that when the car bearing
John and Ethel passed the spot the
wheels would sever the line, thus let
ting the explosive fall upon the car.
This done. they drove to the top Of
nearby hill, from whose crest they
could gioat over the destruction Of
those who stood between them and
their svil desisns.
Being behind time the car approach
ed the trap at q terrific pace. John
and Ethel, who were standing upon
the front platform. saw the rope lying
across the way and suspecting that
called upon the motorman to stop. It
was too late to do this. however, and
seeing that the car must cross the
rope John did not hesitate. Seising
the girl in his arms he leaped from
lthe platform. BY great good luck land
ing upon q pile Of fresh dirt which
had been thrown up By some w0rkmsn
who were making an excavation near
BY. Scarcely had they stopped rolling
over and over when the exploui6n oc-
CURED just In the rear Of the speed
ing car. throwing It on end and crush
ing It like an eggshell.
Arising from where they had been
rolled by their impetus, the man and
woman approached the ruined car.
John. getting ON his hands and knees,
'peered beneath the ruin, then arose
with a grave face.
'The motorman IL deadNcrushed to
. jelly" he announced. The girl shud-
dered.
TT IL horriblel We escaped BY .
miracle" l !.
"It certainly was q close call for NJ.
However. we can do nothing here.
win notify the company ~ soon - We
reach the INN. Coos."
Being overtaken By a wagon . short
distance on they requested to BE- tahen
aboard. and . moment later found
themselves occupying . seat bssids tAs
driver. who obiisingiy took them to
the INN.
Morgan and the SPIDER from their
coign Of vantage upon the crest of tAe
hill watched the blowing up Of tho
car with absoFbed interest. A. -
entire framework arose In the air and
thsn fsll with Q rseeunding crash. The
Hawk clapped his companion upon The
back jubilantly.
They're done for this tina. bed
luck to them," he cried. But the Spider
had become pessimistic through many
failures.
~rm from Missouri" he returned.
i-Just wait until the smoke has blown
away before you begin to crow" A
moment later through the clearing air
they saw John and Ethel hurrying To-
ward the wreck. IS.
Told you 60" laughed the Spider
sarcastically. Morgan swore loud ana
hong.
IAN we can do 10 60 back to the
hotel and wait for them," he an
nounced ~ bis first rage began to cool.
He gave the wheel q twist and once
more they were upon their way.
Rainface. left in the closet bound
and gagged. stayed neither long. First
finding = nail that protruded from the
,eall. he sawed the bonds which held
his wrists against 1t until the thin
rope parted. then quickly unfastened
his ankles. The fact that the closet
door was locked gaye him small con-
Germ. Placing his back against 1t and
his feet against the opposite wall, no
gave 1t a shove which popped 1t open
las though it had been \ cigar box.
Crossing the outer room he took his re-
volyer from its place on the table.
Where it had been left by the ones
Who had made him prisoner, and buc-
kled 1t on. Feeling sure. as he did.
that Morgan and Bellas were the ones
who wsrs- causing the series Of acci-
Bsnts, and discouraged at his inability
TO convinte Davis Of the fact, he de-
cided to say no more. but rather to
constitute himself a silent and ever
watchful guard over the pair. AZ he
left the inn he caught a glimpse OF
Morgan and the Spider coming up the
road in small car. whereupOn he hid
himself in the wayside brush and
watched them pass. Shortly later
while ne was still lying in his retreat
and waiting for something to happen
John and Ethel rode up to the inn In
tie wagon, dismounted and also en-
tered. Expecting new devfltry to
break forth any moment now that the
four were again under the same roof
the indian arose and sneakink back 10