Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-08-30

head to foot as she looked up at the
two men alone there, on the edge OF
eternity. The climax had come;
they we're face to face to fight it
out, no one could reach them in
time!
Stenhart, moving cautiously, foot
by foot, peering, listening, looking
back for help-help that would nev-
er reach him! Sherwin waiting.
Jim caught his breath. A cloud
had obscured the sun, and as it
sailed away he saw Sherwin's face
as he crouched, leaning forward,
ready! One thrust and Stenhart-
coming on, unaware Of hin-would
60 downtown.
Jane covered her face with. her
hands, but it was Jim who cried
out hoarsely, tried to shout warn
ing; then, realizing its futility, he
groaned aloud.
Good God, he's going to kill
him!" he cried.
Sherwin had stepped out from his
hiding-place; he seemed to tower,
vengeance incarnate. Stenhart stood
still an instant, frozen in his tracks.
His drawn pistol fell from his hand;
he seemed to shrink together in NOR
tai terror. Then, as the man he
had hunted neither moved nor
spoke, he tottered back, stumbled
and fell headlong over the narrow
ledge.
1t had happened in an instant,
in the twinkling of an eye. Sher-
win, waiting for his betrayer, saw
him-untouched, unscathed-crum-
pie up, reel backward and plunge
over the edge of the precipice. So
swift was it, that he neither moved
nor spoke; for full minute he
stared blankly at the spot where
Stenhart had disappeared. A strange
sensation swept him, he grew dizzy
himself; his head swan, and the
hills seemed to rise up about him in
awful majesty. He knew nothing
of the men who were creeping to-
ward him through the woods; he
believed himself alone, alone with
that awful power which had seized
his enemy and brushed him like
fly from the ledge Slowly he took
step forward and. steadying him
self, looked over the brink. Thirty
feet below him that solitary stunted
tree thrust out it's dwarfed trunk
from the sheer side of the precipice.
Sprawled across it, limp, motion
less, lifeless, hung Stenhart. The
white froth of the boiling torrent be-
low him outlined his sprawling
limbs, his hanging head, his CHASTITY
upturned face.
He was not dead! Even as Sher-
win looked, he saw him move his
head in the torture of pain and fear;
it was more terrible than a swift
Wiping out of life, for death was play
ing game of hide and seek with
him. A movement, almost breath,
and he would 60 down into eternity,
and if he hung herewith no NOR
tai help at hand-he must perish
thus! 1t could not be for long, but
Sherwin, looking down at him, knew
that he was conscious and saw no
help, only the face of the man who
had sworn to kill him! Revenge ex-
quisite in his torments, was accom-
plished. Sherwin need but stand
there and see him die! Even as he
looked, he saw the old tree begin to
waver under the dead weight of the
fallen body; its roots we're loosening
in their age-old crevice of rock. In
little while, long before help could
reach Stenhart, it would bend down.
ward. Annihilation waited there,
eternity yawned for him, and he
knew it!
Sherwin, grasping ledge of rock
to steady himself, looked down at
the helpless man who had betrayed
him. Stenhart, looking up dizzily,
saw him and tried to lift a feeble
hand in entreaty. 1t was beyond his
strength. He hung there, feeling the
tree sway beneath him, helpless,
at the end of hope.
Sherwin Strengthened himself sud-
denly; he had heard distant sound,
voices in the woods! Instantly, he
OWNED the truth; Stenhart had again
betrayed him, they were after him.
But he had ample time to reach his
cave, and once there they would
not get him, for he knew the other
opening and it was safe. Nor could
they save Stenhart: the tree was
giving! Five minutes more-and he
would be avenged! He need not stir
finger, and Jane, who had besough,
him not to Stay, would know that
there was no blood upon his hands
He drew deep breath; almost al
his feet lay the coil of rope that he
had dropped when he met Jane. He
saw it and remembered the purpose
he had had in mind. The minutes
seemed to beat themselves into his
brain, his pulses throbbed, his lips
were parched. He stopped, reached
for the rope and, uncoiling it, wound
it about the great trunk of a syca.
more, then, tossing the long end over
the side of the abyss, he graspeo
it and began to descend, hand over
hand.
The rope swung out and then wen,