The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-02-19
XVII
Railway Takes Thought of
His Spells


he saw Lee disappear In the swift
waters of the torrent. He spun about
and struck the pistol from Joyce's
hands, pulled the girl to him, and
crushed her brutally against his
breast.
And Joyce, overcome by this eli
max of the nights work, suddenly re-
Taxed in his arms and tainted.
Railway laid her down on the sand
and looked at her in perplexity.
He discovered that he was some
what in the same situation as the
fox with the sack of corn and the
goose.
If he carried the girl through the
tunnel and left her while he went back
for the gold she might escape him.
On the other hand, if he left her In
the cave while he carried the gold
away, she might fling herself into the
stream in her despair. And some
one might take the gold.
The only thing for Railway to do
was to remove the gold and the girl
simultaneously. He carried the bag
of gold to the caves mouth, but in
was terrific. He reconciled himself
to his labors, however, by the reflec-
tion that the bag contained a fortune.
Then, returning to Joyce, he carried
her to the bag and set her down be-
side 1t.
1t was fortunate for him that Joyce
remained unconscious, or he would
have been impossibly handicapped in
his maneuvers. Cursing and strug.
Cling, first with the bag and then with
the girl, PATHWAY at last got them to
the rock at the foot of the tunnel
which Lee had so indiscreetly pointed
out to him.
Then arose the most difficult prob
lem of all. Either the girl or the gold
would have to be left on the upper
side of the tunnel while he went back
for the other. And during his absence
Railway shuddered at the thought
of any prowler coming along and max
ing off with the treasure.
He was not convinced in his mind
that his aides had not followed him.
Railway chose to leave the gold
in safety. It was the greater of his
two passions. Gathering Joyce in his
arms, he essayed the ascent of the
cliff.
How he got to the tunnels entrance
he hardly knew afterward. 1t was a
feat which only the p u of triumph
enabled MIN to accomplish. He had
to hold on with both hands while grip
ping the girl with the insides Of his
arms.
At length, however, he did succeed
reaching the tunnels mouth, drag
ging himself through, and pulling
Joyce through after him. The ascent
of the rock ladder was trifing In COM
parison.
He looked at Joyce. She was still
in a condition of profound unconscious
ness. Breathing an unvoiced prayer
TO whatever gods controlled his soul,
hat she would not awake, Railway
aid her down between the monolith
and the rocking stone, and went back
FOR the gold.
This job of hoisting the heavy bag
no the side of the cliff, required less
lexterity, but every ounce Of strength
hat he possessed. Inch by inch,
draining and %scrambling up the rocky
vail, Railway pushed it before him
bruised by the impact of the
reasure he got 1t safely within the
yunnel, and thence to the rocking
tone above.
He stopped to breathe. He wiped
he sweat from his face. 1t was not
-ery far from dawn. He must have
pent hours on that hideous task.
Then, carrying the bag and the girl
alternately, he pushed on toward the
He Weakened his aides with Z
Yellow. They came staggering out,
and half asleep.
start up the engine, Kramer he
houted. Wen haye to be on .