The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-30
THE SKYLINE
OF SPRUCE
BY EDISON MARSHALL
Copyright. less, Little, Brown s Company

her head had not taught hcr 70 nc
ccpt such u thing as thisi surely this
would he spared her, az least, There
Is kindly blind spot IN the brain
that often viii not let the ugly truth
90 home.
For a strange. sull moment Rays
face seemed devoid OF all expression.
II was flat and lifeiess as dark clay
Then Beatrice felt the insult OF his
QuickeninE gaze
'Put a rope around her wrists.
Chan" he said we don't want 20
take chances on her getting away"
lie spoke slowly. rather fatty.
There was nothing that her senses
could seize n-elthcr In his face
or voice. 20 justify the swift. stranE.
Inns horror that came upon her. He
stood simply gazing. and as sho met
his gaze her lips parted and drew
hack In a grimaoe OF terror. thus
they stood until the blood began 20
leap fast In CHAINS veins. She needed
mo further disillusionment Chan
spoke behind her. startled oath cut
or short. and she felt him moving
swiftly toward her. 10 was her Last
instant OF respite. and her muscles
Sc, and drew for a final. desperate
attempt at self-defense.
She wore iien's knife at her belt.
and her hand sped toward Il. But
the motion. fast as IL was. came too
la,s Chan saw T.: and leaplng
swiftly. his arms went about her and
pinned her own arms TO her sides.
She tried In vain 10 fight her way
out OF his grasp. She wrlthed.
screaming; and In the frenzy OF her
fear she all but succeeded In hurting
him off. she managed 10 draw tho
knife clear OF the sheath. yet ahc
couldn't raise her arm 20 strike, Ray
was aiding his confederate now: and
in an instant moro abe was helpless
Their drawn faces bent close 90
hers she felt their hot hands as
they drew her wrists IN front OF her
and fastened them with a rope. mot
too tight, Chan" Ray advised we
don't want her 10 get uncomfortable
before we'ro done with her. Don't tic
her ankles. she can't run thru tho
brush with hor arms lied Now give
her moment 10 breathe"
They stood on each side OF her. re-
garding her with secret. growing ex-
element. Already they had descend
ed too far 20 know pity for this girl.
The wide-opcn eyes. 10 dark with
terror and In contrast with tho stark
9aleness OF her face. tho lips that
tremblet 10 plteoualy. tho slender.
girilsh figure 20 helpless 10 their do
PRAYED desires moved them not AZ all
Tho scene was one OF nsyer-to-be-
forgotten vividnesa The tenderness
and mercy. most Of all the restraint
that han become manifest In men In
these centuries since they have left
their so'>sst lairs 70 live In permanent
abodes. had no place hero. About
them riisged the prtmeval forest, en-
silyercd by tho moon: the fire
cracked With = dread ferocity: and
at tho e6xs OF the thickcta tho mo-
tioniess form OF Jsffery Nelson lay
with faoe buried In the soft, summer
grass All was siisnt and motionieex,
nnccpt the nnrcs cracking Of the
fire: except a curioua intarifttant.
upward twttching Of tia corner Of
Rays npx-
80 you and Ben are bunkies now.
are your no asked slowly. without
omphaxia
but the girl made no reply. only
gazing At him with starting eyca
"a traitor 70 Us. and Bcn,s squawl-
He turned forcely TO Chan 7 Eues-
that gives as right 10 do what wn
want to with her. And now abs can
yell u she wants TO for her lover
to coma and save her
She did not even try TO buy theis
mercy hy taforming them where thoy
might find Ben. Only too well nhs
know that their dreadful intentions
could not be turned aSido: abe would
only sacrifice hon without aidins
horseif. Ray moved toward her. his
eyes deeply sunken. the pupils abnor-
nally enlarged
You haven't lost all your looks. =
he told her brcethisssiy. That
mouth Is still pretty enough TO kiss
And guess you won't slap--this
| time
He drew her toward him. his dark
face lowering toward hsrn shs
struggled. trying TO wrench away
from him. Helplsss and alone, this
moment Of dnal horror was ut hand
In this last instant her whole beins
ieaped again TO Bon--the man whose
strength had been her fort thrrcui
all their first weeks In the wilds, bui
whom she had left helpless and sicl
in the distant cavern Yet even nov
he would riso and como 10 her II h,