The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-17

was to remove the gold and the girl
simultaneously. He carried the bag
OF gold to the caves mouth, but In
! spite OF his great strength, the weight
was terrific. He reconciled himself
to his labors, however. by the refec-
ton that the bag contained a fortune.
Then, returning to Joyce, he carried
her to the bag and set her down be-
side It.
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, Railway 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
halfway 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. 1t 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 spur Of triumph
enabled him 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
in reaching the tunnels mouth, drag
Joyce through after him. The ascent
of the rock ladder was trifing in COM
parison.
He looked at Joyce She was still
In condition Of profound unconscious
ness. Breathing an unvoiced prayer
to whatever gods controlled his soul,
that she would not awake, Railway
laid her down between the monolith
and the rocking stone, and went back
for the gold
This Job Of hoisting the heavy bag
up the side Of the cliff, required less
de1terity, but every ounce Of strength
that he possessed Inch by inch,
straining and scrambling up the rocky
wall. PATHWAY pushed 1t before him
until, bruised by the impact of the
treasure, he got 1t safely within the
tunnel, and thence TO the rocking
stone above
He stopped to breathe. He wiped
the sweat from his face. 1t was not
very far from dawn. He must have
spent hours on that hideous task
Then. carrying the bag and the girl
alternately, he pushed on toward the
house. He Weakened his aides with
below. They came staggering out,
drunk and half asleep.
Start up the engine, Kramer" he
shouted. "We'n have to be on our
way by daylight. Gimme a drink!''
He gulped down half bottle Of his
own liquor. The reaction after his in
credible labors, the possession Of the
gold. the supreme triumph of that
night exalted him. But he was anxious
TO get away as soon as possible.
At Siston lake, which was only a
few hours journey by motor boat, he
would be In his own retreat. He
could wait till then to enjoy success.
He gloated as he looked down at the
unconscious girl.
Something had gone wrong with the
engine, and Railway fused and
TUNED while Kramer, the mechanic,
was repairing 1t. The packs were got
together, the engine overhauled
Railway placed the bag Of gold dust
IN the middle Of the boat, and car
ried Joyce to It He laid her down
and they pushed off.
Joyce had fallen into a profound
sleep Of exhaustion. She began to
stir stretched out her arms.
"Iee. dear" she murmured.
She opened her eyes and looked into
Railways vulpine face. She screamed.
She struggled. She remembered.
She fought like mad woman, and
Railway was forced to call for q
rome. He tied her ankles together and
IN stoned her arms to her sides. He |
osssed the rope around one Of the |
rleats. In spite Of her bonds she
struggled so that 1t was all Railway |
could do to keep her from fitting the
,oat over. She screamed continually
md tried to throw herself over the
side.
At last she stopped, however, and
nv still from exhaustion. She never
.enewed her struggles She lay in
he bottom of the boat with her eyes
.losed. drawing in convulsive breaths.
)espite his triumph and his anticipa-
ions. Railway was afraid Of her. He
wondered what was going on inside
Ter mind.
II was about noon when they
cached the promontory.
PATHWAY, preceded by Pierre and
;horty with the gold-he would not
cave 1t in the motor boat-carried the
+ho pacly of lapJ RI an iSO- |