,~PEH j ^?AlbG: I ^# NOVELIZED F SYNOPSIS. John Davis and Hawk Morgan, execu tors of the estate of John Carr, miner disagree over the disposition of the proiit: of the mine. Morgan seeks the gold anc the girl, Ethel, Carr's adopted daughter for himself, and unsuspected by Davis whom Ethel really loves, makes severa sensational attempts upon the life o: Davis. Suspicion is diverted to a mysterious hermit. Ethel is lured to a fakt hospital where she is about to be marriec' r to Morgan, thinking he is Davis. Davis and Rainface appear in the nick of time but Morgan escapes without being recog- . nized. Ethel and Davis are then druggec and cast adrift in a boat with inferna' machines aboard. They escape. EPISODE 13. THE RIVER OF DREAD. Morgan and the Spider having suspended the box of TNT from a limt above the ear tracks of the electric road, so arranged the small rope sustaining it that when the car bearing John and Ethel passed the spot the wheels wourd sever the line, thus letting the explosive fall upon the car. This done, they drove to the top of a near-by hill, from whose crest they could gloat over the destruction oi ] those who stood between them and; their evil designs. J^ Being behind time the car approach-1 ed the trap at a terrific pace. John and Ethel, who were standing upon the front platform, saw the rope lyihg across the way and suspecting that1 , some danger was connected with it, called upon the motorman to stop. It j s was too late to do this, however, and seeing that the car must cross the | / rope John did not hesitate. Seizing j the girl in his arms he leaped from | the platform, by great good luck land' ing upon a pile of fresh dirt which 1 had/been thrown up by some workmen j who were making an excavation near | hv. Krarrelv had fhpv strmnpd rolline : over and,over when the explosion occurred just In the rear of the speeding car, throwing it on end and crushing it like an eggshell. Arising from where they had been f rolled by their impetus, the man and woman approached the ruined car. - 'John, getting on his hands and knees, [peered beneath the ruin, then arose with a grave face. ' "The motorman is dead?crushed to! a Jelly," he announced. The girl shud* dered. "It is horrible 1 We escaped by a miracle." "It certainly was a close call for us. However, we can do nothing here. I will notify the company as soon as we ' reach the inn. Come." Being overtaken by a wagon a short distance on they requested to be taken aboard, and a moment later found themselves occupying a seat beside the driver, who obligingly took them to the inn. ' Morgan and the Spider from their coign of vantage upon the crest of the hill watched the blowing up of the car with absorbed interest As the entire framework arose in the air and then fell with a resounding crash, the Hawk clapped his companion upon the back jubilantly. "They're done for this time, bad ?uck to them," he cried. But the Spider had become pessimistic through many failures. ? ; "I'm from Missouri," he returned. "Just wait until the smoke has blown | away before you begin to crow." A i moment later through the clearing air j fchey saw John and Ethel hurrying to- j ward the wreck. , "Told you so," laughed the Spider (sarcastically. Morgan swore loud and [long. v "All we can do is go back to the [hotel and wait for them," he an- i Inounced as his first rage began to cool.1 ?He gave the wheel a twist and once ; jmore they were dpon their way. ? Rainface, left in the closet bound knd gagged, stayed neither long. First finding1 a nail that protimded from the ? [wall, he sawed the bonds which held his wrists against it until the thin .rope parted, then quickly unfastened his ankles. The fact that the closet - door was locked gave him small con- ! cern. Placing his back against it and j his feet against the opposite wall, he gave it a shove which popped it open 'as though it had been . a cigar box. brossing the outer room he took his revolver from its place on the table, where It had been*left by the ones Who had made him prisoner, and buckled it on. Feeling sure, as he did, 'that Morgan and Bellas were the ones who were causing the series of accidents, and discouraged at his inability to convince Davis of the fact he de x ' dded to say no more, but rather. to constitute himself a silent and ever watchful guard over the pair. As he left the inn he caught a glimpse of Morgan and the Spider coming up thp road in a small car, whereupon he hid [himself in the wayside brush and j |watched them pass. Shortly later j ! while he was still lying in his retreat |and waiting for something to happen John and Ethel rode up to the inn in jthe wagon, dismounted and also enjtered. Expecting new deviltry to j j break forth any moment now that the ** ifour were again under the same roof,) t the Indian arose and sneaking back to j 15/ r?E.5nvrfK ROM V1TAGRAFH f the iuriel raised a side window an& crept up the stairs, at the top of which he took a position at the keyhole of the room within which the four were talking. The first thing that Morgan and the Spider did as they entered the inn upon their return was to go to the roorm in the closet of which they had left Rainface. The splintered door told them the whole story. Morgan uttered a curse. "If he meets Davis he'll tell him all he knows, and then it will be an open fight. However, I guess we're a match for a man and a girl." Once more Bellas laughed sardonically. "We ain't been yet, and we've had plenty of outside help to boot." Ignoring him the other went on: "If we see Davis first we'll block the Indian's game." He drew forth a big roll of bills. "Well, I've been robbed of this; sawy?" The Spider grinned. "I get you. You missed it last night after Rainface left us. If he turns up, one of us will try and get him before he can open his mcr.th. That's the best we can do. After we get into the mountains with the gang we won't care what he tells. Hush! Here they come now." The door opened and into the room stepped Ethel and John, wet, muddy and forlorn looking, halting in surprise as they found themselves looking into the muzzles of Morgan's and the Spider's drawn weapons. With expressions of relief the pair lowered their guns. "So you're back again!" beamed the Hawk, as he advanced with Jiand outstretched. "You sure gave us a fright. Since they tried to chloroform us and we finally w^ke up to find you gone we've been half beside ourselves with anxiety. You look as though you had been through wind, fire and high water." Davis laughed. "And then some." Briefly he told his story, then asked what had meanwhile happened to them. Morgan answered him. "It beats me. When the Spider and I woke up we were tied hard and fast, but I got a knife and?well look at these." He held* up the lashings which Rainface had cut from himself. "These are what they had us trussed up with. I wonder if it is that Indian that is* making all this trouble? I've been robbed of a thousand dollars since he left us last night." The face of Davis flushed. "Cut that talk out Morgan," he warned sternly. "I'd trust Rainface as I would Ethel?or you." "And I would trust him as I would John," chimed in the girl. Morgan assumed a defiant tone. "Where did he go then?" "Yes and why isn't he here?" chimed in Bellas. John waved them aside. "He'll show up when the time comes. However there is no use in arguing over it Let's get some breakfast and then go back to the clean hills. I've had enough of this town." Morgan quickly assented. fThe same here. Spider, get the things ready for us." With peace restored they started for the breakfast room, the Spider and Morgan wholly 'unaware that from the retreat into which he had slipped at the first sign of their outcoming the malevolent glare of the Indian bore upon their backs as he fingered his long knife. For Rainface had heard all, and his hatred for the villainous pair had become as deadly as the spew of a rattlesnake. At the railway station the returning travelers were met by the gang of miners, together with two engineers, an assayer and a gang boss. Morgan introduced John and Ethel to the crowd, with the explanation that the Spider had summoned the men from the city by telephone and that the. latter had gone ahead on the express to make arrangements to receive them. As this was being done the Indian arrived and unnoticed by anyone boarded the train from the opposite side and secreted himself. Morgan and the mine boss, ^vho was none other than our old friend "Doctor" Fream, now shaved and otherwise disguised, took their seats in the smoker apart from the rest. The boss* addressed his companion. "Spider swore he'd have everything ready at the camp. Fll answer for the gang; as for the rest, I can't tell yet" "flnnri " rotnmoH "FTawk. We'll fix them when we get them where there is nobody to butt in and spoil the game." Reaching their station they were met by the Spider. "Knowing that we could not make the mine tonight, I have p^pared an abandoned camp near here for our use until tomorrow," was his announcement. Thankful that there was a place of rest near at hand, the party followed him until the selected place was before them. It consisted of one fairly good house consisting of three rooms, with other shacks adjoining it Sup 1 111 N k Cyrus To\ 'hoto play per llnished, they began their prepara tion for the night's sieep. It was decided that the girl shoulc take the inner room of the house John the second and Morgan the out side room. The Spider was to sleer with the men in the auxiliary shacks Tills arranged and all being tired froir the strenuous day just passed, they bade each other good night and retired. There being no bed or bunk ir John's room, he spread a blanket upor the floor, and bringing a saddle for s pillow, stretched himself for the night Twenty mfinutes later he was sleeping peacefully. The hour of midnight came and silence brooded close over the camp The door of Morgan's room quietly opened and the plotter crept out. to be joined a moment later by Spider and the mine boss, otherwise the fake "Doctor" Fream. Passing to the back of the house they disclosed the entrance to a deep cellar which ran immediately under the middle Compartment of the house wherein John was deep in slumber, and into this hole they disappeared. "J arranged it this afternoon before yoii came," whispered Bellas as they ; were safely underground. "She works ! as slick as grease and without a 1 sound." Lighting a lantern he led the I way to the cellar, on the sides of which I were revealed two wheels with ropes wound about them and wliich led to a simple lowering and hoisting arrangement connected with the ceiling above, which also composed the floor of the sleeping man's room. The Spider taking hold of one of these wheels and Morgan the other, they began letting them slowly unwind. As they did sc the floor upon which John lay sank .foot by foot into the cellar until it came to a rest on the earthen floor. Sc slow and silent had been the process that the weary slumberer had not awakened. With a spring the three were upon him. Caught asleep and covered by InIM V? /v iHft W A/1 H ^ | uis uiaimei lit: was iian oimcvx auu I bound before he was fairly awake, and before he could gain his breath a gag was placed in his mouth and a sack ''drawn over his head. Then laying him aside, the floor was hoisted back intc place and securely propped from below, leaving no sign that it had evei been tampered with which could be observed by anyone who should now enter the room above. By the first morning light Ethel awoke. Hastily dressing herself fpi the day, she went to the door of Davis room and knocked. There was no re sponse and she repeated her tapping, louder this time. There still being nc answer, and feeling assured that he already had arisen and gone out, she opened the door a little way and peeped in. The room was empty. As she turned away she encountered Morgan, just arisen, yawning sleepily and in the act of going to the basin outside for his morning wash. She accosted him. "Where is John?" "Haven't seen him yet, Miss Ethel In fact I just this minute rolled out If he isn't in his room you'll find him somewhere around camp." But when breakfast had been eaten and still nc Davis, all admitted that it had beguc to look queer. An examination of his room revealing nothing, Morgan sug gested that he probably had seen a deer and was stalki3& it in the hills. "Anyway, we have got to get these men on their way and start them al work, so we will go along, leaving the boss and one of his men to wdtt foi him. That is all we?can do just now.' Ethel, secretly protesting, was compelled to admit that it would be foils for the whole party to remain behind and await the return of one man Leaving the pair named by Morgan tc linger about the place until the vanished one came back from his hunt the remainder of the party continued its way into the mountains and toward the mine. That Rainface had disap peared worried Ethel but little. She knew the Indian and his strange, silenl ways, and felt sure*that he would return unerringly home whenever the mood came upon him. As the departing party wended Its way out of sight around a bend li>th( trail the boss and his helper got npor their feet. "We'll wander around for a while then slowly follow the bunch anc catch up with them tonight at the mine. We can tell them that we waited all day and no signs of him, and lei I them do what they like," announced Fream. Mounting their horses thej went riding leisurely away. In the cellar, John had once more managed to free himself by means oi the secret knife which he carried concealed in his waistband. This done he emerged from the pit, and a moment's inspection showing him thai the party had left, he took a foot trail that lea in tne airecnon 01 uie miuc A mile further on he cam'e to a house where he rapped atlthe door. A woraar opened it. Briefly he told her who h* was, adding that an accident had sepa rated him from his party and asked foi the loan of a horse and some weapons "My man has gone to town, but yot kVnscnd DiBdVx^b^ CblfertflU 1919. bo Vltaorapb '::v.v:xV"::'v':' ' 'Vv^&iSjv' '. ::' !: xv 3-Xx:v?:':v. v.*.v.'.w.'.y.vAv.v. v. /. *. v.,w.v. * *. *. ^'v ^\v.v.v.*' ' 'Ow'/w vffR ; l . They Were Swinging Wildly Down the Maddened Stream. ! are welcome to help yourself to a stampede by the waving blankets, yells : horse out of the corral. I'll get you a and shots which were all about them. gun while you are roping him," was Aroused by the racket, the members i her response. As he returned from the of the party who were eating their ' corral with his moufit the woman met lunch came running to the spot just 1 him at the door, rifle In hand, and as Morgan came up, panting. I thanking her and promising a quick "Our horses have been stampeded : return of the borrowed articles*, he set by a band of Indian horse thieves. : out upon his way. Spider, myself and these two fellows i From the winding trail which arose caught them at it, but they were going ? | in successive uprisings from the val- out of sight around that spur just as ; ; ley into the foothills, the boss and his we arrived." Hastily the entire party ' follower looked down to catch sight of secured their weapons and started in I > a galloping horse and rider far t .low, pursuit ' yet not beyond rifle shot. An oath A. mile down the trail they came burst from the lips of Fream. upon John, still pursuing his upward i "He's got loose, but we can pot him way, covered with dust, but unhurt from here." Raising his rifle, he fired, "Just had ? close call," he laughed but as the smoke cleared the horseman as they crowded about him. "I was ' was seen still pursuing his way and coming along a narrow ridge with a apparently unhurt. The other scoun- steep drop on both sides when I saw a TTTAnnnn ol rvVitoH mto. KimnVi r\-f otamTiaHncr T?RPR pnmlne ' UIC1 UIOCU Aiio VT CiipUU) OA^UbVU VM* v ii^im.ii \JAm " 5-^-' * *X" **"*p vs -..--u , ^ i fully and pulled the trigger. As the down upon me. As I could not jump i gun roared the man below toppled off on either side, for a moment I [ from his saddle and fell headlong to thought I was a goner. Fortunately, J the ground. / however, I found a place where I could "But I got him," he laughed. For a get a finger hold on the side of the I moment the pair watched the motion- way and, swinging myself over, I hung > less form below, then, spurring their there until they passed. Then I pulled L horses, went galloping away. 'myself up." That Davis was not dead in fact, "Thank God!" breathed Ethel, as with a bullet through his head, was ghe slipped her arm under his own. due to his quick thinking. When the Morgan, ordering three of the men bullet fired by Fream whizzed close by to g$ after the brutes and round them i his head and spattered upon the wall Up, ied the party back to camp. John i of rock he cast a lightning glance in ana Ethel walked side by side, the girl > the direction from whence the report clinging to the returned one as i came. The second man was in the act though afraid that by some magic he i of raising his rifle and, watching him should again be whisked from her! intently, John rode along in apparent sight. The Hawk shook his fist in the | l unconcern as he awaited the pulling distance as John finished the recital! of the trigger. As the smoke leaped of ^ adventures. ) from the muzzle of the distant rifle, ,Ws more of that infernal hermit's 1 . with a lightning move he threw him- ^0rk. We've got to hunt him and his: > self sideways from his horse, escaping gaQg down and fill them full of lead the whining bullet by the fraction of u we%want any peace." ' an inch. Knowing that to make a ?Yes> It ig war t0 me knife? ^ move would be to have his body turned Davis thoughtfully. Awaiting pumped full of lead, he lay in the oniy the return of the frightened I sprawled attitude in which he had korseS) the expedition continued its . fallen until he saw the villainous pair way( camping for the night at the edge > ride away. No sooner were they gone 0f a swonen mountain torrent that dethan he leaped to his feet. scended from the snow mountains far. The horse, frightened by the shots beyond. I and its riders fall, ran into the hills. ^ small shack of light logs resting I Once more the man pursued bis way Up0n a jow foundation stood at the 0D foot- edge of the turgid stream. As it was From the camp where the party had the only place of shelter near, ^ while t halted for lunch Morgan and the supper was being prepared Morgan, ~ - - - - ?- _ - .. . . . , . ; spiaer, wno naa reureu a tsuun. uio- Davis ana tne girl inspecrea it. it >vaa * tance down the trail to talk things a yny affair of about ten feet by eight, over, saw John approaching them on consisting of but one room and withj i foot far below. The Hawk uttered a ridge pole no higher than a man! i smoking oath. could reach. Beyond a window, a door1 i "If he hasn't gotten away again I and a small platform outside, it pos-j Can you beat it?" The crafty eyes of sessed nothing but walls, floor and I , the Spider were already scanning the roof. Mean as it was, there was noth-! I conditions which surrotmded the ap- ing better near, therefore John began ) proaching one. . insisting that Ethel occupy it during j "See that ridge he Is traveling?" he the night. Quickly she protested, t said as his fingers clutched the other's "I won't stay in there alone. You I arm. "If we could only stampede our must not leave me. We must watcli! 7 horses down it he couldn't get out of over each other, and I will not be left i their way. There's a precipice on each alone." ? ciHo r>f v?m nnri ha -avrnlri aither have i "Bnt it would nat do for me to stay : ' to jump to death or be run over, inside, also," he responded. The Hawk Either would be good enough for us." came forward with a solution of the; , Morgan started off on a run. problem. "We'll try it, but we've got to hustle ; "We can drop a blanket across the t or he'll get off that place. Round up middle of it, Davis, and you can bunk i I the gang on the outskirts of the camp on the other side of the screen to hu-1 . and get them busy." Starting off the mor her. And that nobody may say, , other way, the Spider secured a couple anything I'll sleep on this porch just | ! of his most trusted rascals and quickly outside of the window and but an | > explained the plan. Silently the horses arm's length away. And both of you j of the cavalcade were driven around had better keep out of sight during the j the spur of the hill out of sight of the night, for that hermit is certainly mak, camp, then started on a wild plunge ing a dead set for you." As there i down the Incline, frightened into a seemed to be no better way out of it * [ John finally assented. The blanket having been hung, Ethel retired to her ; compartment and John stretched himj ielf upon the floor at the other side of the screen. True to his word, Morgan i*hre\v himself at length on the plat: form just outside the window. Awaiting only until fie was assured by the deep breathing from within i that the pair were asleep, the Hawk silently arose- The Spider was await, ing him beneath a tree, with the eight scounureis wnorn ne nau eugageu as miners grouped around him. As the arch-conspirator came up, Bellas greeted him. "How is everything inside?" he asked. Morgan chuckled. "The lovers are sound asleep, one on one side of the.blanket and the other : on the other, dreaming of each other, doubtless." The Spider laughed brutally. | "Well, we'll give them their chance ! to cling to each other. Being tender- , hearted, we will not part them on earth, but will send them to Paradise locked in each other's arms." I "Come on then," whispered his com! panion. Treading with the utmost | care, and keeping in the deepest shadows, the pair soon reached the tiny aff|pr within which the unconscious ones were peacefully sleeping. | - First approaching the door; they inj serted a peg above the latch in such manner that the latter could not be ! lifted from the inside. Having