Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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, .PERI \ ^)AlbG \ 1 o* NOVELIZED P SYNOPSIS. Jolva Davis and Hawk Morgan, executors of the estate of John Carr, miner, disagree over the disposition, of the profits of the mine. Morgan seeks the gold and 'the girl, Ethel, Carr's adopted daughter, for himself, and unsuspected by Davis, Whom Ethel really loves, makes numerous sensational attempts upon the life of Davis. Suspicion is diverted to a mysterious hermit. Finally unmasked Morgan ;and his gang make a last desperate effort to get rid of Davis. EPISODE 15 FATE'S VERDICT Imprisoned in the sliding house which they knew must In a moment more topple from the verge of the cliff i?sd be smashed into matchwood on the rocks at the bottom of the canyon, ,John and Rainface clung to whatever object was handiest. When the shack was momentarily checked at the brink by the stump anc'l while the Spider was creeping forward to xasten the rope around ;he obstruction that it might be jerked away and the building permitted to fall, the pair within seized the brief moment of respite to tear one of the loosely fastened planks from the floor. As they made the opening they heard their names called from below and glanced down. But a short distance below they sa?v the upturned face of the old hermit who was standing upon ,a narrow led.je just beneath the overhang of the <:;iff. "Come down. Hurry!" he called softly, and t tie pair lost no time in ^ obeying. Lowering themselves through the opening made by the removed board they dropped to the ledge, being caught as they fell by the one who stood below. Safe once more, they crowded themselves against the face of the cliff to escape, if possible, being dashed into the depths by the structure just above their heads when It should come roaring down. A moment later it swept by them, brushing , their bodies In its descent. From the lip of the cliff the Spider pointed dowr into the depths at the splintered remnants of what once had been the sh*ck. Then he turned to Morgan. "How about the gold?" he demahded. The Hawk laughed. "The gold is safe enough. We'll get it later. We might as well be getting / away from here." As they got into their saddles preparatory to riding away, Morgan, glancing over his men, noticed the absence of the assayer. Not wishing the Inmates of The home house alarmed as yet, he decided that they should go back and look for him. At once they wheeled their horses and started off on a lope. Their pursuit was fruitless. The man of whom they were in search, having become suspicious of the gang through the inadvertent remark of Morgan, had taken advantage of their excitement in the battle about the house and mounting his horse scurrled back in the direction of the main cabin. Ethel, hearing him come galloping up, ran to the door just as the : approaching man leaped from the saddle. Greatly agitated he called to her. "They've got Mr. Davis trapped in a K*^BBBf5gff "v.?.^BiBBaht?ibb<iW*S- ''^^WKnSv 8wSmffi S ffi I ^ Boxes of Explosives Were Piled % rfLSmifiv! ROM V1TAGRAPH P | nouse and are trying to shove it over the cliff." | With a cry of alarm the girl whirl- j ed and went running into the house. A moment later she appeared with Bridget, the girl bearing a rifle and j pistol; the cook a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun. Calling to the man that they could make better time over the ridge on foot, he turned his horse proach of the Spider's gang, ran from the trail and climbed to a little ledge 1 over which a brow of the cliff drooped, j As the approaching party opened fire upon them, they threw themselves flat upon the rock and returned it, and the assailants, seeing the impossibility of rushing the place, scattered and took to shelter. A careful scanning of the situation convincing the Spider that an attack from above the ledge might be successful, he dispatched two men to make a detour and get above it, while he and the rest kept up their fire. One of their bullets, glancing from a rock, pierced the assayer's arm and his weapon dropped. In an I instant the Irish woman had dropped her formidable gun, seized the wound ?!yj[n WiH Ui.ui uo vuuv.?* w escape, threw open the door and ad- th:*ee lines of fuse to the pile, one n.itted him into their midst. Breath- along the ground, another along the Iessly the new arrival sank upon a about waist high, and the third | chair. as high as they could reach. Either "They are going into the mine with of the three fuses would ignite and j the woman. I won't stand for that explode the mass of death which they j rough stuff. If you will have me had piled about. Morgan addressed after what I have done, I'll help you th3in. clean out that gang. I'm a sinner, all "Boys^ chat entrance is blocked. The i right, but no murder in mine." dynamite will keep him away from I Scarcely had they assured him that! that one. Light the fuses and we'll * k Cyrus FoWnsend Brc ?/. HOTO PLAY CMA/btt tWO, bo Vtajjrapb "~***~ Antonio Moreno, Who Plays the Part of John Davis. ed man and dragged him into a recess his help would be accepted, than the where she began bandaging it. two engineers joined them, and'a counThe girl, her'ammunition exhausted, cil of war was at once called. John turned into the nicfce where her com- spoke. panions were in order to secure an- "Of course the first thing to do is other weapon. As she did so, one of to get Ethel and Bridget out of their i the men whom the Spider had com- clutches. I have barricaded the mine missioned for the attack from above, entrance through the tunnel yonder, [ dropped upon the shelf before them, and as they have left the assayer beBefore he could regain his poise, hind and he seems to be able to use Bridget, with a wild Celtic war cry, one hand, he can watch it. You t\fo I was upon him. Locking her mighty engineers can cover the vine-screened arms about his waist she hurled him entrance, and Blackie and I will enter bodily over the edge, watching him as by the hole in the cliff. Rainface he went crashing down. When he was and?" The hermit interposed, no longer to be seen, she faced about "Do not assign any part to the Inand saw her sawed-off gun where she djan and me. Go ahead with your ! had dropped it when the assayer had plan, for ijt is a good one. I think 1 j bfeen hit. Slowly she picked it up. can help in my own way." As all "Bedad! I clane forgot it," she agreed they started off, leaving the I muttered. hermit, "Rainface and the assayer, who But her moment of triumph was was now slowly approaching, behind. | short lived. Even as she spoke a sec- j0hn and Blackie reached the top | ond form dropped heavily upon her 0f _the rock overlooking the ledge | .head and she fell stunned upon the which gave entrance to the mine. | ledge, and before the girl could reload Making a rope fast they began the dei her weapon the outlaw had disarmed scent, Davis first, the other man fob j her. Covering the wounded man, their lowing him. As the latter landed the ; captor uttered a .triumphant yell, and Spider's face, unseen by John, apI at that signal the Spider and his fol- peared at the entrance, but dlsaplowers came swarming over the ledge, peared as suddenly as it had come at i Quickly the three prisoners were a gesture from his confederate. Ar| bound, after which they were marched ^ved upon the ledge they pursued 1 1 -1"?? ^ ^ 4-V* /n n rrrrl AO a t _ ^ i , A -ni ^ f _ 9 ^ ^ i DacK aiuug Liie nuge at me men- way aiong it, jDiucKie uuw xu au] of their captors' weapons. vance. Brought before Morgan, the cap- They peered around a projecting tives were ordered to halt. The Hawk rock and caught sight of the villains ; turned to the girl. busily at work at the far end of the I "It's open war from now on. If cave. Sneaking inside very quietly ; you will join my side I'll marry you they arrived at the spot where Ethel ; after I get rid of that cursed Davis. lay bound, and cutting her fetters ; If not?" His further remarks were John lifted her in his arms and bore cut short by a volley from above, her into the tunnel. There, embracing | From the sawmill where they had her, he spoke softly: I been inspecting the machinery, the "Wait for me. I /am going back ! two engineers had heard the shots and after Bridget." A moment later and J rushed out. A glance at the group reached the Irish woman. She j below enlightened them as to the real whispered to him . situation and without hesitation they ^ some opened fire upon the out aw gang. wurruck, Misther John_.. Back out of range darted the Hawk, dragging Ethel after him. His voice *bat *nstant tt*e gun butt the ! arose in a sharp command. treacherous Blackie falling upon the ! "To the mine, everybody. We have Jeadefthe bending man, he dropped ! ?Tni heavfJy to the floor. In an instant he got the woman, and they will have to * _ , . ., ~ . Ac. was upon his feet, his revolver in his come to our terms. As they started . A , , . 1L . ? ? , . , . , hand. The traitor was already in the away Blackie approached him and , . , . , ., , i .. . . .. flc^ 0f delivering a seeond blow when whispered in his ear, and with a ges- ~v , V, v 1 I , , , ,, , ?, the weapon of Davis flashed. ! ture of assent Morgan summoned the A I Spider be/ore them. 'Til get you anyway, you traitor," i "Ail i>!nrht" ha i?ohirnofi "'Rnf I bo cried, as he sent a bullet through ' involve the woman. I can ugg her." would-be assassin's body. But beI As the party started toward the ^ore cou^ repeat the shot the gang | mine, Blackie, who had lagged behind, was uP?n hira- The desperate battle turned his back upon them and broke wkich followed raged from wall to ! into a wild run toward the cabin, wav- wal1 cave? but eventually the ! ing his handkerchief on high as he *one man was Pu^ed down, bound and I leaped from rock to rock and with *aI(1 next t0 Bridget, i Morgan and the Spider sending their By Morgan's direction the men bebullets about him as closely as they ?an bringing boxes of explosives, dydared without danger of doing him namite cartridges and TXT with barm. The party within the cabin long fuses, which they piled up beseeing this play and believing that the tween John and the tunnel through +n wt ioh he had come. Next, they ran btK.t it this way which lends to the cabin and safety. After it is all over, j we'll come back for the treasure." ! One by one the three death fuses were fired. The Hawk and others, 1 pausing for a moment at the tunnel | mouth to watch the sparks creep on, | jeered the two bound victims whom ! they were leaving behind to be blown to atoms. With a final curse upon them, Morgan led his companions through the tunnel toward the house. as they started, John rolling over and over, held his wrists to the streak of fire that was creeping along the floor | on its way to the dynamite, and reI gardless of burnt flesh pressed his ; bonds upon it. I As the retreating gang was about to ! pass around a bend in the tunnel i which would afford them safety from the forthcoming blast, a door in the roof flew open, and throwing their eyes upward they saw themselves covered by four heavy revolvers, two j in the hands each of the hermit and i Rainface. With death from the black ' muzzles staring them In the face and the rapidly burning fuses at their backs, they threw up their hands with wild cries for mercy. Grimly the hermit called to John, who 'with his bonds burned through now sprang to his feet "Pass up that woman?quick." Raising Bridget in his arms Davis shoved her through the trap, an instant later following her and slamming the door shut. With their only hope lying in extinguishing the racing fuses, the out laws rushed madly back; stamping, I tearing at the walls, impeding each other's efforts, fighting savagely among themselves. Ethel, having regained the ledge, heard the wild yells of the imprisoned outlaws and paused in wonderment. As she did so there was a roar that shook the mountain to its foundation, a blinding flash and a stream of fire and smoke that shot from the opening and far out across the valley. In its midst she saw the body of the Spider spinning in the air and with a shudder watched it as it made its flight to the jagged rocks far below. The next instant some object fell at her feet, and with a little cry of fright she sprang back. It was a rope blown there by the blast, and with a quick glance about which took in her surroundings, she picked it up. Out of the mine shaft John, the hermit, Bridget and Rainface emerged to be greeted by the assayer and the engineers. Davis rushed eagerly forward. "Where is Ethel?" he demanded. As none answered, he pushed them aside and went hurrying away. "Then she must be where I left her on the ledge." Running to the spot, he found the rope which he and Blackie had used still hanging there, i and descended, followed by Rainface, who had closely pursued him. There they tried the entrance, but it was blocked forever by the huge masses of rock loosened by the explosion, and they turned their eyes down into the itoUzitt For holnw nnnn thp rocks thev UliVJ A. Mi WV*V?. ~ - ? v made out the broken remains of what once had been the Spider. Plunged into the depths of despair, the pair slowly pursued their home-j ward way. ' ^ ^ ^ I p There Was a Roar Th They entered the cabin to be greet' ed by the others, who pressing around them eagerly inquired for news of the missing girl. Too heartbroken to speak, Davis indicated by a gesture of hopelessness that she was lost; then seating himself in a chair he closed his eyes as his chin fell heavily upon his breast. Horrified and also deeply sympathetic, the others drew silently away from the suffering one. The door of Ethel's room opened and she came silently forth, a grave smile upon her face. Touching her lips with a finger to command the silence of the astonished party, she I crept noiselessly up behind the silent! ly suffering one and' covered his eyes | with her hands. And beneath that well-known touch John's heart first stopped, then leaped like a bounded rubber ball. "Ethel!" he cried. Springing up he folded her in his arms. The girl, presently lifting her head from his shoulder, saw the hermit, stared at him, then uttered a glad cry. "Daddy! It's Daddy Carr!" Breaking away from her lover she threw herself into the old man's arms. "And all this while we thought you dead." The ex-hermit beamed down upon her. "While as a matter of fact I have been very much alive through all these things that have happened. I put John and Hawk to the test, and the right one is here alive and safe. The other, with his crimes, is buried for ever beneath the monntain." John wrung Carr's hand until tears of pain streamed down the old miner's cheeks. "So it was yon who was helping us all the time!" Managing to release his half-crushed fingers, the prospector laid them fondly upon the young man's shoulder. "Yes, my boy, and now well work the mine as planned. The poor shall benefit. There is treasure enough foi all, and as for you, John?" Turning quickly from him, Davis slipped his arm around the waist ol the girl. "Here is my treasure," he said smilingly. (THE END) The Persistent Echo. "Good morning." "Good morning." "You remember that house you sold me last week?" "Certainly." . "Well, I had my wife up to see it yesterday, and now I want to sell it back to you again." "But you said you admired the house." "I did." "What fault do you find with it now?" "It has an echo in it." "That doesn't hurt it." "Yes it does." "In what way?" "When my wife scolds me for staying out late the blamed old house will repeat it six or seven times, and gosh, how I do hate nagging."?Rehoboth Sunday Herald. Favorite Dish. The bulls and the bears usually take their lamb with mint sauce.?Boston Transcript. "'?$ v.?X'?.'?.-a 'it^ ''^ >)/ |p ^ ' r "x;) at Shook the Mountain. loose and fell in at their sides. Running as fast as they could they mount- 1 ed the trail. As the house went thundering down Into space, John turned to the hermit and thrust out his hand. "We have to thank you for our lives, sir. I had thought that you were the j author of all this deviltry, but it seems I was grievously mistaken." Grimly the Indian smiled. "No. Him good man. Morgan and Spider?they all devil." Keenly Davis surveyed their rescuer up and down, running his hand! across his brow as he strove to freshen his memory. "I seem to know you," he said slowly, "and yet your name?" A j smile crossed the face of their savior.; "I think we had best go back to the j cabin and look after the woman folks," he interrupted. "As for my name, there is time enough for that." Thought of possible danger to Ethel spurred Davis into instant acquiescence. As they emerged from the valley near the cabin, a low exclamation from the hermit caused them to look back. Morgan and his gang were already in sight and headed for them, and at once they broke into a run. Dashing into the cabin, John called loudly for Ethel but no reply came, and a quick search revealed the*emptiness of the house. Hastily barring the doors they made ready for the attack which they knew would soon follow. Morgan at sight of the assayer's horse and the running three, turned to the Spider with a wicked oath. "Curse them, they have gotten away again. It surely beats me. And that fool assayer has joined them, j Take half the men and ride back. We may bag something." The Spider j with a command to a number of the | miners, went riding away at their i head, while the Hawk and his party I dismounted. Taking advantage of! whatever shelter they could find they | opened fire upon the house. Ethel and her party hearing the ap-j Up Between John and the Tunnel.