The Washington times., 1929-12-24


they were titanic canvases flung
from earth to clouds and
painted in gorgeous exaggerated
red, lavender, blue. But every
where wall lowered above wall.
cliff clirabed on cliff.
Suddenly the child said:
Look! Can they see us?"
Half way between earth and
sky right there as though
poised on mere black dot. two
figures struck out in sharp re-
hef-the figures Of two men.
They looked Small-like pig
mics. But they made Pats
hand now clutch violently at
Billy's. They made a scarlet
heat in her face. ~
pat look. They see us!
They won't come down. will
they? Have they parasols to
float down WITH"
tits Shadowy here" Pat muir
INJURED more to herself than to
her small, uneasy companion.
They can't pick us out. In
another hour the light win be
completely gone"
But there leaped up in her
heart the terror of that mo
ment as she heSitated, as she
leaned against the sandstone
shaft, and turning saw the two
furious men running aroSS the
plateau-dr driving with burning,
raging speed upon her. All
they had almost touched her
elbow almost pulled her back.
They were pointing. They
had watched her land. Could
they mark the spot?
Now they separated. They
were running along the rim.
They were starting down.
They dare not! They can
not!" Pat closed her eyes. she
knelt on the ground and drew
the child to her. Speaking to
quiet her own dizzy fear:
They'll go crashing to death
II they try it now with the sur
gone with all these black shad-
oWs God they cannot
find lis noWl"
One man plunged on, He ran
Ike q maniac. The other
caught up with him. He held
to him. For a moment they
appeared to be battling. Up
there, etched against the sunset
sky, they seemed about to turn.
ble headlOng. If they would!
Now they receded their fig
ureS drew back against the red
wall Of rock. Swiftly, visibly
the shadows trooping across the
canyon walls folded them in.
Now the ledge on which they
stood was merged nov It was
swallowed UP in a purple dusk.
Never in all her life had pat
peen so trembling thankful as
she was now to see the dark
Closing down on the bit where
she knelt with the little fright
ened boy In her arms.
They won't find us, Pat2p
NO! They can't get down
mere tonight. And before morn.
ing before the sun comes Id
you and / will be gone.
Pat"
She felt in her pockets, for
the first time making sure that
her provisions were safe. Every.
thing even the fIashlight-eyen
the box Of matches.
The girl and the little bov
found g miniature cave with 4
roof Of sandstone. They saf
here telling each other stories
fish. - = s'AA1a
and are we like Robinson
Crllsoe? Tell me about hinn All
over. I'll be the man FRIDAY
Is this q desert iSland?',
Pat prayed that night. she
sat with the child in her arms
he slept and she prayed. With
all her frightened heart ,,he
asked for a light to find the
way out-the way home again
The darkness that had terri-
fled her before now seemed 4
gift, q heaven-sent gift. Long
before sunrise long before these
men could track her, she would
be on that lighted way.
Cold-the little boys hands
lay on Pats throat. He shivered.
, Then Pat undid the parachute
and wrapped him and herself in
It's folds. She, too. slept now.
Morningl with q start
with newborn panic, Pat awak.
ened. She got up quietly
reused the child. She went
searching this way-that way.
She passed In circles.
But there was q way out
surely a way out.
Now the Stin came up.
Not expectal1t merely eau
tious, Pat scanned the cliffs
she found the ledge.
She took the child's hand and
began running running for
I Wa.a any way.