Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-10-05

VAIN To draw mana ana loot, lust
balancing on the Jagged surface Of
rock, looked death in the face I'M
1linchingly.
He had always admired Monica,
uad even cherished hopes Of her
himself, until Pennington had
stepped in. The sight of her stand
ing there by the side of Chai-Hung
maddened him. he tried to collea
his thoughts and, as he did so, the
real significance Of that solitary
rampant was borne upon him. Clay
had told him after their first at
tack that behind the rude fortress
was a sheer drop of eight hundred
feet. Her presence there was a
warning to Pennington to ceasa
fire.
He wriggled into the shelter Of
the next boulder ahead, conscious
only of desire to do something
Twenty yards from the wall, he
realized that the firing had stop
ped As he watched his opporun-
ity to scramble under the wall it.
self, his eye caught a second fig
ure far to his right, a short swarthy
scarecrow with long knife be-
tween his teeth.
"Rabat-Pilai! The creature pas
ed out of sight and Dawson lay
very still while all around reigned
q silence that tugged at his nerve
strings. The sun beat mercilessly
down on him and he shifted his ba.-
tered topee back over the nape OF
his neck, wondering all the time
what Chai-Hungs next move would
be.
Suddenly from their own lines a
single rifle-shot rang out. The man
on the wall clapped a hand to his
side then swung his arm forward
as if to send his victim tottering
backward.
Dawson cursed the fellow under
his breath. It was sheer madness
to pick off the bandit, for he stood
so close to the girl that the faint
est touch must assuredly carry her
with him.
A rock, dislodged from some
where, slid into space, and two
hands appeared on the wall, inches
only from where the girl stood. In
PEELED from behind, she slid for
ward with a little scream into the
ruins, and Chai-Hung turned with
snarl upon Chinese Pennington.
He had discarded his sling, but
Dawson could see that his wounded
arm panied him greatly.
He hit Chai-hung with all the
force he could muster, over-bal-
anced with hte sheer foce of I'M
ract-and the two men disappear
ed together into the abyss.
As if at a given signal, the at
lacking force rose and advanced
at the double; but Dawson, anxious
only for the safety Of Monica and
his best friend, Numbered ahead Of
them into the shattered stronghold.
He found Hewitt's sister. bruised
but nniniured, half-buried in heap
Of debris.
Dear Mr.. Dawson, she muir
INJURED incoherently "I'm so glad
you've turned M. 7 was beginning
to think all my friends had de-
serted me-" Hc severed her bonds
with his knife and she caught his
sleeve between her numbed fingers.
"Tell me where's Peter? Why ism I
he here?"
Dawson choked.
ut twas Pennington who saved
you" he stammered. He'll find
out Tor you in minute"
He pushed a fresh clip into his
pistol and made her take 1t. A sec
ond later he was staring blankIy
into space.
There was a track-a foot wide
Between the base of the wall and
The cliff-edge. A couple of yards
below the path the face of Rabat-
Pilai grinned up at him. This amaz-
ing being was hanging on by his
fingers and toes, with the limp
form of Peter Pennington pressed
between him and the face of the
rock.
Dawson dropned To +he nath