The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, August 14, 1919, Page 9, Image 9
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? NOVELIZED FR
EPISODE 7.
SYNOPSIS.
John Davis and Hawk Morgan, executors
of the estate of John Carr, miner,
disagree over the disposition of the profits
of the mine. Morgan, seeking the gold
and the girl for himself, and unsuspected
by Davis, makes several attempts on the
life of the latter, assisted by an accomplice
named Spider Bellas. Suspicion is ,
diverted to a mysterious hermit. Miraculously
escaping the latest attempt on his
life, Davis, in company with the others,
accidentally discovers Carr's hoard of
, k. sold. They remove the gold to the cabin,
but in the nlgnt it is taken away Dy uie
a hermit. Morgan, feeling that suspicion is ,
I beginning to fall upon him, fakes an at*
tempt on his own life. They find Carr's !
mine.
' The Hawk and the Spider had galloped
off, leaving Davis in a fiendish
trap of their own invention. While
he was lying drugged in the shack
they had bent a sapling down and
secured it in this position by means
Of a rope. Then taking another lasso
they had fastened it to the tip of the
sapling, running the other end through
:v ;; an uaboarded piece in the roof of the
shack and fastening the noose about
his neck. Having completed this ne- j
farious work, they built a fire close to !
v flie rope which bound the sapling to!
Its bent position, knowing that as j
. soon as the flames reached the rope
they would eat it in two, whereupon
^ the tree would spring erect with terrific
force, tearing the man apart after
i the manner of one of the fiendish con- i
trivances of the Inquisition. This done j
they beat a hasty retreat, leaving their j
rictim to his fate.
Ethel Davis, awakened from her!
sleep in the home cabin at midnight!
by an evil dream, picked up a copy j
of Aesop's Fables from the table and j
read until she became convinced that
John was threatened by some great
; danger. Immediately she aroused
Bridget, and accompanied by Rainface
went dashing to the rescue.
Within the shack John, aroused by
the smoke from the stupor into which
the drugged coffee had put him, awoke
to find himself bound and with a rope
V > around his neck. Though he could
'' feel and dimly see the lariat that led
from his neck through the roof, he
could not see where it terminated and ,
beyond knowing that he was in des-1
perate danger had little idea of what
bad taken place since he drank the!
; ~ drugged cup. Vigorously he began j
?writhing and tugging at his bonds.1
\ * The smell of the smoke and the
-v crackling of the fire still further
yV alarmed him. Already the fire was
v burning into the rope which held the !
; tree which was bent like a bow, and
led on by the loose powder which the !
pair had scattered about, the flames
i\ , bad begun to attack the building it-!
k f self. Pungent wreaths were forcing;
themselves through the cracks and in- j
v" terstices of the building and the cap- j
five could feel the hot breath of the j
rising flames upon his cheeks. Plainly 1
\ be was in imminent danger of being
'bnrned alive if nothing else, and he
V ? redoubled ' .is struggles to loose himrfe
self from the thongs which fastened
|^?y>tiim to the bnnk.
Warned by the finding of Davis*
'dead horse by the side of the trail
that their assistance was sorely need
* tod, Ethel and the Indian galloped wua-;
ly along the path. Reaching the
shack she pulled her horse violently
. back upon its haunches.
One glance around told her the ;
whole damnable story. Through the j
circling smoke she saw the free bent j
tover the shack, its restraining rope j
already half eaten through by the fire, j
as well as the lariat that hung from i
the sapling through the hole in the j
roof. The door of the little building
was tightly latched, but rushing
; through the fire and smoke she struck j
It with the Impetuosity of a flying j
bomb. It- gave way before her and j
the burst into the room.
Through the smoke she saw that
the lower end of the lasso was fas- I
tened about the neck of the mar she \
loved, and knew that In a second or J
two more unless she saved him bis
head must be torn from his body.
His face was toward her, contorted
from the violence of his struggles to
escape his fetters. At sight of her j
his lips parted. j
v "Hurry," he cried. "Make haste."
But he had no need to urge the girl
to speed. Pausing but long enough
to t^Jce in the scene with a lightning
* glance, she leaped forward, knif? in
. hand. One sweep of the blade and
wnp was severed close above her
lover's neck, and the loose end springs
f* tng np twisted Itseif around a rafter
Of the shack. Nor was she a second
too soon. Scarcely had the released
lasso coiled serpent-like about the
beam than the fire-gnawed rope without
parted.
Leaping to the upright like a Gulliver
bursting the bonds of Lilliputians,
it tore the roof from the structure
as though it had been a roof of
paper, flinging it in fragments high is
the air and scatteHng the remnants
.Over the rocks fa~ and wide. The
Wild burst of flame which followed
? : l [iros? te the height of the tallest trees,
^Wbile myriads of sparks went floating
awa.v in the dim morning light
*
fe: . '
? " ? WJWL __
Ji
OM VITAGRAPH PH<
.Miles upon their way the lleeing
Hawk and Spider, turning in their
saddles, saw the upward leap of flames
and the faintly twinkling sparks,
laughing at the sight.
"That's good-by for Davis, and be
damned to him." said Morgan as they
again urged their horses on.
All hut overcome by the exertion of
her furious ride, the nervous suspense
she had endured while in the saddle
and the shock which had nearly tloored
her at sight of John's deadly peril,
Ethel collapsed weakly against the
door, jamb in the midst of the downpour
of sparks and dust. Rainface,
rushing past her, fell upon Davis, and
~ ?1 olmrvpf rOPAVPT
UJLt? gil l aAillUOl lUilU^UlUkVlJ A VW f va
in? her strength went to his assistance.
Together they dragged the still
prostrated one to the cool air without
and laid him upon the grass, finding
that save for the fact that he was
so stiffened from his bonds that he
was practically unable to move he
was uninjured.
"Where are Morgan and Bellas?"
demanded Ethel. Davis shook his
head.
"I don't know, Ethel. In fact, I
cannot explain it I suppose that dastardly
Hermit has been at work
again." The girl's head shook.
"I do not believe it," was her answer.
Taking his hand she seated
herself beside him as she told him of
the reading of the Fable by old Aesop.
Laughing lightly at her suspicions and
telling her that she was silly to believe
such things, he added that it at
least would do no harm for them to
go t# the station and make inquiries.
At once she assented.
"Yes. But I am not going to leave
you again. I shall go with you."
"Me, too," added Rainface.
With Davis mounted upon the horse
of Rainface, Ethel upon her's and the
Indian loping along in their rear, the
trio gained the station some two hours
later. Going to the agent they began
LLlUKlLlg men luquuico.
"Yes," responded the latter. "Two
men such as you describe took the
7:20 express for Frisco. The next
train to leave here is the 10:30, which
arrives there at 4 p. m."
Davis started to write a telegram,
but finally listening to the arguments
of Ethel, desisted.
"It would be much better to surprise
them," she said.
"Have your own way," was the
good-natured reply, and tearing up the
message they turned their steps
toward the little western town across
the track. Ethel pointed to a small
but well stocked general store such
as are found in towns of this character.
"I would like to make a few purchases
before we depart," she said,
and John immediately acquiescing she
started upon her errand. Ten-thirty
found them boarding the Frisco train.
Morgan and Bellas debarking from
their coach at San Francisco, crossed
the platform arm In arm. The former
was speaking.
"Til engage rooms for us at the
Mackenzie. You wait around here until
the next train arrives. If he escaped,
he will be upon it sure. And I
want to know. You might have use
for some money, so here it is. When
you report to me later, ask for Mr.
Hawk." Handing the Spider a big
roll of bills he departed, and a short
time later engaged rooms at the hotel
mentioned.
Left behind on guard and strolling
aimlessly about, the Spider was
hailed by a taxi cab driver, and approaching
him recognized a pal of old.
Drawing the latter beyond the earshot
of others the Spider spoke in a
whisper.
"You've done some good tricks forj
me in the past. Bill, and I want to I
H|HHB|il^HHHE:;:^::jni^H^^^^^MK ?
"it Would Be Much Better t
bert E, Smi
DTO PLAY
give you ;i chance to earn a little
coin. I'll be across the street. If
you get the right parties I'll give you
the high sign, and if you drop them
over the cliff there'll he a thousand
dollars in it for you. You know me."
"You're all right and a good feller.
But what chance is there that these
birds will fly along this way?" The
Spider winked knowingly.
"Ever hear of, such a thing as a
telegraph line, Bill?"
"Seems to me I onct read of one,
Spider. Why?"
"Well, there's one of them lines
running back to the town where they
- J ? -3 M
was to Doara uie tram, uuu mere ? ?u
agent there that is supposed to answer
honest questions. That ought to be
j enough for you. Now I'll beat it
across the way to that saloon and if
you land them in your cab, stop there
a moment for your slice of the coin." j
Without saying more he walked in
the direction he had indicated. j
As the 4 o'clock train drew into the
.
depot, John and Ethel stepping from
| their car, found themselves confronted
; by a respectful mannered chauffeur
who pointed to his cab and begged
their patronage.
"Might as well take you as any|
one, I suppose," said John, assisting
the girl into the conveyance. "Take
us to the Mackenzie." He seated himself
beside his companion.
Across the street in front of the
saloon in which the Spider was hidden,
the driver stopped his machine.
"Just a moment, lady and gent," he
called to them as Jie crossed the
sidewalk toward the door of the place.
"I've go? to leave a message here for
a friend, then I'll be on the way."
Not liking the actions of the other,
Davis, arising in his seat, found himself
able to see abo^e the Ibw swinging
door of the saloon. Within the
interior he could make out the form
of their driver in earnest conversation
- - * j
with a man whose bacfc was rowara
them and whom he could not recognize.
A moment later he saw the
stranger pass the chauffeur a large
wad of money, whereupon the latter
at once returned to the machine and
began driving them away at a high
rate of speed. Rendered somewhat
suspicious from what he had seen
but not wishing to alarm Ethel, Davis
! said nothing but kept his eyes closely
J glued upon the man in front. SudI
denly John burst forth, tapping on
i the window to attract the attention of
| the one who drove,
j "Here, you! This is not the way
to the Mackenzie. Stop this machine."
The only reply of the one at the wheel
was to step harder upon the accelerator.
John grasped the girl by the
arm.
"I believe the man is mad. He's
heading us straight for the bluff. Get
out of here?quick!" Opening the
door he stepped forth and stood upon
the running board, holding Ethel firmi
ly as he glanced ahead. Close beyond
was the almost sheer descent of the
bluff, and upon it the machine was
charging with the speed of a running
horse. With but a moment remaining
Davis hesitated no longer. Raising
the girl in his arms he sprang.
By good luck they landed in a
hedge, arising a moment later unnurc.
The cab, now a short distance ahead
of them, was swerving sharply Into
the fence which guarded the bluff,
and even as they looked they saw the
driver leap from his seat and alight
safely upon the ground. The next
instant the cab had crashed through
the fence and gone over the edge, to
be smashed into kindling wood below.
Davis started toward the rascal who
had attempted to murder them, his
blood boiling with rage.
Staring at the approaching one as
though confronted by a ghost, the as
' !
ith and Cy
tonished driver stood white of face
and with trembling knees. Thou as
he saw the light of rage that burned
in the eyes of the onstriding man,
with a gasping cry of. "Good God!
How did you get out?" he slid over
the edge of the cliff ami vanished in
a shower of dirt and following stones.
Davis, upon the verge of following
him, so great was his anger, was restrained
by the girl who clung desperately
to him. At last, permitting'
himself to be influenced by her entroatu
s. he took her arm and the,\j1
proceeded upon their way on foot.
Arriving at their hotel they regis- j
tered and took a suite of rooms, one
for Ethel and one for John, while
Rainface, who had accompapied them
on the train but had ridden in the i
smoker and walked to the hotel, en-;
sconsed himself in the living roomj
which the rooms of the other two ad-1
joined. Wearied from their adventures j
of the day, they retired for a short!
rest.
From a corner of the lobby Morgan ;
watched their arrival, then going into j
the bar paced impatiently up.and down j
as he awaited the arrival of the j
Spider. Not long after that gentleman 1
entered, and the Hawk drew Him into i
a private booth.
"Well!" he exclaimed angrily. "They j
turned up right side up with care,:
as usual and all our work has been in
vain. Explain yourself." Coolly Bel- j
las answered him.
"I gave Bill a thousand dollars to
dump them over the bluff in his ma- j
chine, but it seems that they got wise!
to what was coming and leaped just
as the taxi went over. However, it \
wasn't no fault of mine." Morgan
leaped to his feet with a savage curse, j
"A cool thousand gone to the dogs j
and nothing done. D'ye think Tm i
made of money?" The Spider laughed, i
"Take it easy, Hawk. I did my
best, and.what's a thousand with millions
in the mine?for the orphans!"
'Tes. And we're the orphans," muttered
the Hawk.
Having taken his rest, Davis immediately
began his Inquiries for Morgan.
From the bartender of the hotel
buffet he learned that the latter had
been there, and had been heard to remark
that he was going to Colefills !
In search of some old friends and a ;
faro game. Bemembering that this
was the place where he had located
his cousin at the time he had come to
advise him of the death of John Carr
- - ** ?n T.i?
and the terms 01 tne wiu, juim sinned
for that well but unfavorably
known resort of gamblers and their
kind. Disappointment was his portion.
Morgan was nqt to be found,
and he returned to Etnel empty handed.
Resolved to continue the search
in the morning, they parted for the
night with a farewell embrace, Rainface
stretching himself upon the rug
from which he could command both
rooms, a gun at his side. In order
that they might hear the old Indian
should he call, both John and the girl
left the door of their room ajar.
Morgan from the dark recess at j
Colefills from which he had watched
the coming and departure of Davis,
turned to the Spider.
"He'll go back to the Mackenzie.
My room is 332, right across the hall
from theirs. Go and engage 330, which
is next to mine. Keep watch on them.
I'll put old Ram Chunder on the job.
We'll come up the fire escape."
Off went the Spider as directed,
while the Hawk going down a street
paused opposite a store which bore
the sign:
"Ram Chunder. Dealer in East
India Wares. To Learn the Future,
Consult the Yogi."
The place was dark, but without
hesitation Morgan pounded upon the
portal. Bafore his summons a young
Hindu in European dress opened the
door, and after a brief scrutiny admitted
him to the interior of a room
In which Oriental goods were lavishly
displayed. On every hand cabinets,
tables, rugs, laces and ivories were
strewn, but with scarcely a glance at
them the incomer roughly demanded to
see the Yogi. Quietly but firmly the
attendant demurred, whereupon Morgan,
advancing upon him threateningly,
raised his voice in anger.
Within an adjoining room a very
old Indian fakir, hearing the noise
without, arose. The room in which
he stood was fitted after the manner
of a Hindu temple. Images of Vishnu
and Siva squatted upon their pedestals.
The room was low ceilinged,
! carved with grotesque animals entwined
with altars placed before the
figures of the gods. Incense bowls
sat upon queer tables, their thin colj
umns of smoke ascending perpendicu|
larly in the still air. The long table
which occupied the center of the room
| contained a gong, a curious casket,
a basket and a crystal ball.
I Listening for a moment to the racket
| outside, Ham Chunder stepped to a
! peephole and peered out. Seeing Mor|
gan he hastily donned a long embroidi
ered con* end placed a turban upon his
j head. Wrinkled, skinny and evil loofeI
ing in the mellow light, he seated him
| self at a table and threw an extm |
rus Touii\s<
pinch of incense upon the nearest
howl. Then striking a light tap with
a hammer upon the gong he fixed
his gaze intently upon the crystal ball.
slm Hum. rhe attendant without,
hearing the stroke, turned from Morgan
and opened the door. Solemnly
Ham Ohundrr addressed him.
"The Holy Siva has revealed a
stranger without. Admit the Sahib
Morgan."
The Hawk, entering, strode straight
before the ancient one.
"At your old tricks," he laughed.
"Cut out that Siva stuff and we'll
get down to business." Monotonously
came the reply of the fakir.
"Vishnu and Siva hunger and thirst.
You know "
With an exclamation of disgust the
Hawk thrust a roll of money into the
>3^ ? '*<, ...
By Good Luck They Landed Safely.
yellow claw which promptly extended
oe fho mil nnnpnrprl.
iiocu ac m. v**
"Here's a lac of rupees?a thousand
dollars?for them, and you."
Thrusting the money within his coat,
the old man replied:
"It is little?but the gods accept.
What does the lord of the day ask
in return?"
"The life of an enemy. Listen." In
whispers he told him what he desired
the other should know, and Ram
Chunder, with a nod waved his hand
mysteriously.
"The Holy Siva so decrees. The
casket of death will serve."
At another stroke upon the gong
Shallum again appeared. Taking a
basket he packed within the same a
small idol of Siva, incense bowls, a
gong and a small casket with two
carved metal handles fastened to the
lid at the ends. Raising it aloft, Ram
Chunder said solemnly:
"Behold the Casket of Death of
Siva." Skeptically Morgan gazed
at it.
"If it works, all right, Ram. But
if not?well, rehaember I won't stand
for any of your foolishness." Ram
Chunder turned to him with the dull
glow of a snake in his eyes.
"If you have come here to insult
the gods, begone and I will throw
your money at your heels. If you
would have their help, save your insolence
for youf own God upon whom
you call in vain when you would have
your enemies removed." Knowing
that he had gone too far, the Hawk
grew apologetic.
"All right, Ram. Til take it back
and say no more."
"Then we will depart," said the ancient
one. Beckoning Shallum, the
three left the room together.
Silently the trio crept into the courtyard
at the back of the hotel. Drawing
a flute from beneath his coat Shallum
sounded a series of low, mellow
notes, and a moment later the Spider
coming to a window parted the cun
tains, first peered and then beckoned.
Crawling into the room of Bellas
through the window which he raised
for them, they unpacked the basket
while Morgan began questioning the
Spider. Silently the latter indicated
At-- 1 ?? n-P fho
to rne incomers uae wuuw ui
party in the opposite suite. Gravely
Ram Chunder nodded.
"The Holy Siva will summon him
hither. And then "
Taking the small idol from the basket
he laid tie casket upon the table
before it; placing Incense bowls and
powder about while Shallum took the
gong. Prostrating himself Ram Chunder
began a series of Incantations and
mesmeric waving of his hand*- in the
direction of, John's room, while ever
the smoke of the incense grew thicker
and more pungent. Shallum meanwhile
striking the gong, filled the room with
Its low tolling. Losing his patience at
last:, Morgan burst forth.
""What is all this blamed foolish
ness about anyway? Cut it out nno
get flown to business." Ram Chunder
raided a threatening hand.
"Speak not, lest Siva blast you into
dus t"
With a convulsive movement the
Spider grasped Morgan by the arm
and pointed through the haze that had
arisen from the incense bowls, and
Morr- in. !ooking in the direction indicated
saw the vaguely outlined form
of Jo m's sleeping figure. Wit* eyea
, J
?i\d Brady j
i
(fapfrfk 1919, bp VHasn&
staring they *ut rigidly, while the in
imitations of It a m Chunder grew more
violent.
i
'Look!" whispered the Spider, greatly
agitated. Staring still more in-'
! tently. the bewildered Morgan saw the
! form of Ethel asleep in her bed, one
arm thrown over her head.
"Great heavens!" he said with a
shudder.
Within her room the girl, awakened
j by what she did not know, slowly
opened her eyes. For a moment she
nibbed them after the manner of one
who has slept deeply and well, then
! as she lay looking at the ceiling the
light of intelligence which had filled
her pupils gradually faded, while in
its place came the glassy, staring gaze
of one who falls beneath the spell of
a hypnotist. Over her form a con
"i ?1 in j J 2 _1
j vuisive snuuuer ran auu. twice sue essayed
to arise, each time seeming to
be pulled back upon the bed by some
invisible force. Then apparently the
mysterious power which was urging
her up triumphed, and slowly, uncertainly
as one moves when in a daze,
she threw aside the cover and stepped!
upon the floor.
Clad in her night robe, her white
arms and upper bosom gleaming in
the subdued light of her room, she
seemed a thing ethereal as she slowly
passed from her bed toward the door.
Stepping around Rainface, who lay fast
asleep upon the rug, she opened the
door which led into the corridor, and
going into it crossed the hall. Moi>
gan and Bellas stepped forward, but
the voice of the old fakir arose warningly.
"Touch her not. The Child of
Siva "
John Davis, asleep in his room,
opened his eyes In bewilderment and
sat blinking at the wall.
"Queer dream, that. Had a vision
| or dream or nightmare or something
that Ethel was prowling around in her
1 sleep and threatened by some danger,
j Guess I'd better Investigate." Swinging
his feet to the floor he passed out
; of the room.
j Avoiding the Indian as the girl had
i done he hastened to the door leading
into the corridor, opened it and glanced
down the hall. Ethel was just disanDearine
into a room upon the other
J side, and to his partially sleep befogged
senses she seemed to be floati
ing spiritlike rather than walking with
feet that touched the floor. Wondering
what on earth it meant, and visiting
only until she had disappeared behind
the opposite panel, with two
: bounds he was at the door. It was
S locked. Already Morgan had turned
| ^ key- . v
i Still beneath the occult influence of
! Ram Chunder, Ethel groped her way
i into the room across the hall. Ram,
| leaning forward, whispered fiercely in
; the Hawk's ear.
"He is coming after her," at the
' same time handing the other man a
! card upon which had been roughly
scrawled:
"To find where she whom you seek
! has gone, open the casket." With a
i brief glance at the hastily written
! words, Morgan laid the card on the ,
i casket, and all hastily withdrew themj
selves into an adjoining room,
j Davis, finding the door'which barred
i his way locked placed his shoulder
' against it and gave a mighty heave. ^
: Before the violent impact of his body
i the lock burst as does a pipestem and
he entered. The odor of incense still
| hung heavy in the air, and rushing
j to the window he opened it and thrust;
ing out his head scanned the courtj
yard for Ethel. No sign of her was
' to be seen and turning his attention
, to the room he began to search it
i frantically. Closet and portieres yield'
ed nothing, and upon the verge of
j starting for the next room where the
| conspirators crouched, his eye fell
upon the small casket. Halted by the
1 sight he stared wonderingly at it for
I a moment, then picked up the card.
! Instantly the terrific power conj
tained within the casket loosed itself
into his body. Unable to release the
| handles of death he stood swaying, his
j eyes slowly closing, his face gone the
! color of death and his breath coming
in gasps. Second by seeped the life
was being shocked from his body. , .
j Ram Chunder, opening the door of
I the other room at this moment, stood
| upon the threshold, one long, skinny
j finger pointing at the collapsing Davis. ?
j A smile of infinite evil was upon his
j drawn face.
I "See! The power of Siva!" he ex
; claimed triumphantly. Baring a skinny
I arm he took from Shallum a long, serj
petine-edged East Indian knife and be'
gan creeping forward.
Unable to endure longer the myste- j
rlous power which was shooting
through his frame as living lightning,
I with a long, indrawn gasp John collapsed
upon the floor, his hands still
.'tightly clutched about the fatal han- ;
1 dies.
! "To make sure;' breathed Ram
; Chunder, running his thumb across the
( edge of his ghastly weapon. Like a
! leopard he stole upon the helpless man.
i upon the floor.
(END OF SEVENTH EPISODE.)
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