Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-28
6DW-Lith Known & CurpanJ

Rays strong arms went about her,
Nelson and Chan were on their
feet now. and they regarded her in
the utter silence of amazenent.
Breathing fast, Ray came behind
her.
Build up the fire, Chan" he said
in a strange, grim voice. I'VE want
to see what we've caught"
Obediently Chan kicked the Goals
from under the ashes, and began to
heap on broken pieces of wood.
Slowly the fires glow crept out to
her, revealing her wide. frightened
eyes and the dark. spectacular faces
OF the men. Then Ray spoke sharp
ly:
We'll why don't you question
herr" he demanded of Nelson. IT
suppose you know what she was
doing. She was trying to steal food.
1t looks to me like she's gone yer
to the opposite camp"
Her father sighed. us that so.
daughter?" he asked simply.
81 was trying to take some of
your food-to Ben" Beatrice replied
softly. Hes in need of It."
You see, they're on intimate
TERMS" Ray suggested viciously.
Ben was in need OF food-so she
came here to steal it."
But Nelson acted as If he had not
heard. why didn't you speak to us
and tell US you were safe?" he
asked. We've come all the way
here to find you"
Perhaps you did. II you had
been here alone, 1 would have told
you. But Ray and Chan came all
the way here to find Ben. They in
tend to kill him when they find him.
II didn't want him killed."
Slowly her father shook his head.
But I can't save him now. He
brought this on himself"
Remember. he was in the right"
the girl pleaded brokenly. You
won't-you couldn't be a partner to
murder"
Nelson Strengthened, his eyes
steely and bright under his grizzled
brows. Only too well he knew that
this was the test. Affairs were at
their crisis at last.
IF one of you dares to lay a hand
on Beatrice. I'll kill him whore he
stands"
Even as he spoke his thought
went to his rife. leaning against a
dead log ten feet away. The Jealousy
and rivalry and hatred between HIM
self and Ray had reached the crisis.
Ray leered, his muscles punching.
And l say TO you. you're a dirty
traitor. too" he answered.
Nelson leaped forward with all his
power and if his blow had gone
home, Ray would have been shat
tered beneath it like a tree in the
I0nfNfnr h1nct PIN , ,. ~
were incredibly swift, and his rifle
leaped to his hands.
The barrel cleaned. The road re-
echoed in the silence. Nelson's
head bowed strangely: and for a mo-
ment he stood swaying, then pitched
forward in the dew-wet grass.
Beatrice's last defense had fallen,
seriously wounded; and Rays arm
seized her as, screaming, she tried to
flee.
The shot that wounded Jeffrey
Nelson carried far through the
forest aisles. 1t came clear as a
voice to the cavern where Ben lay.
The man started violently in his
cot. His entire system
seemed to react.
The truth was that the sound
acted much as a powerful stimylant
his retarded nervous forces. HIS
mind gave a great leap and remem- |
bered it's familiar world.
The only possible explanation for
the shot vas that a rife had been
by some invader in their valley
in all probability Nelson or n Of
men.
He looked out of the door of the
cavern, trying to get some idea of
the lateness of the hour. The very
of the darkness indicated
the night was far advanced.
Instantly his keen eyes saw the
CLEAN of the camp fire on the
distant margin of the lake. His
straining ear caught the faintest. al
most imperceptible vibration in the
air-but Ben recognized it in a
flash. In the sullen light OF that
distant camp fire, Beatrice had
screamed for aid.
Swiftly he started down the glade
her.
Yet in a moment he knew that un- |
less he conserved his strength he
could not hope to make a fourth of
the distance. At the first steps he
swaked, half staggering.
Likely he would come too late to
change the girls fate. Yet even