The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, October 02, 1919, Page 9, Image 9
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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
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. 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
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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 <hus
made sure that the intended victimscould
not make their escape in this
direction, they crept as soft-footedly*as
foxes to the Side of the shack which
contained the window. Producing a ^
ipiece of wire from his pocket, Morgan
JS J. 3 AUA ~ ^ rt
Iusieueu lue xmmt; uuwu ucjuuu a
possibility of it being raised, then,
closing the shutters, fastened them in
the same way. With their prey now
cooped up in a tight box from which
it would take .considerable time to escape,
even under the most favorably
auspices, the two blacklegs once more
returned to their impatiently waiting
companions beneath the trees.
"Everything is all ready, boys, so
now let's get busy," he said. Silently
they repaired to a small clump of trees
nearby, where the Spider had previously
cut two stout and long poles.
Bearing these upon their shoulders,
i they sneaked upon the hut, running a
pole under each end of it beneath the
floor and the ground. The poles were
of such length that they protruded for
several feet beyond the sides of the
building. _
Everything being in readiness, at a
signal from the Spider the eight men
bent their backs and slowly but surely
raised the light edifice from its foundations.
Bearing it a good deal aa
East Indian coolies carry a palanquin,
they slowly worked their way toward
the rushing river close at hand.
Despite the slowness and infinite
care with which the bearers of the
shack stepped, the tipping and swaying
of the affair quickly awakened
those within. Ethel, finding herself
rolling across the floor, and greatly
alarmed by the slant of the building,
cried out In affright, while John, at the
same instant landing with a bump
against the wall, opened his eyes.
Warned by the cry of the girl that
their victims were aroused and that
further caution was unnecessary, the
eight bearers quickened their pace.
Tmmo/Untoiv thp swavinc of the hut
became more violent.
Scrambling to her feet, with much
difficulty Ethel found John and clung
to him.
"Oh, what is it?" she cried. "It cannot
be an earthquake, and yet?" As
puzzled as she, the man worked his
way to the door and tried the latch.
"Locked! Trapped!" he exclaimed,
as the horror of the situation gradually
stole over his brain. Releasing him- ,
.self from the clutch of the girl, he
found his way to the window and began
tearing at it with his fingers. But
the work of the would-be murderers
had been done all too well and, despite
his strength, he found himself unable
to make an impression upon it Suddenly
another cry arose from the
frightened girl.
"The water! It is coming in through
the floor." Bending, John placed his
hand upon the boards upon which they
stood. Through every crack the river
was spouting thin volumes into the
closed room.
Rendered desperate by the thought
that they were to be drowned like
caged rats, the man again sought the
window. Kicking, striking and shoving
with his shoulder, he at last '
wrenched a board from place and, *
" J~s t-. x ~ J tKa
rnrusung Ilia neau uui, SUI ?rt?cu
scene. They were swinging wildly
down the maddened stream, swirling
in its eddies, tilting with the increased
influx of water; sinking at a rate
which must soon flood the low room in
which they stood. Already death was
grinning at them through the night.
"We are in the river, Ethel!" he
cried.
Back on the bank, Morgan waved
his hand fit the rapidly disappearing
shack,
"Bon voyage, friends!" he shouted.
(END OF THIRTEENTH EPISODF),
t
/ v