The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-22
CHAPTER XXXII.
The White Horse Skin.


geIist closed his melodoon preparatory
to n descent upon the dance hall. Then,
thinking Of the growing dark with some
trcpidation-for the recent "strike' -
had brought its influx OF undesirable
characters TO the town-sho started
toward the mountain.
Ahead OF her a muffled puff puff
sounded, and the dark bulk of an au.
tomobile-thc sheriff s, the only one the
town of Smoky Mountain boasted-was
moving slowly in the same direction,
and she quickened her pace, glad of this
qussi-company. 1t soon forged ahead,
but she had passed the outskirts OF the
town then aud was not afraid.
little way up the ascent q cumbrous
shadow startled her. She saw in Il mo-
mert that it was the automobile, halted
at tho side Of the road. Her footsteps
made 20 sound and she was close upon
1t when she saw the three men 1T had
carried standing near by. She made TO
pass them, and had crossed half the
intervening space, when some instinct
sent her to the shade of the trees.
They had stopped opposite tho hydraul-
&c concession, where a side path
left the main road-it was the same
path by which she and Emmett Prender-
CAST had taken their unconscious bur
den on q night long ago-leading along
the hillside, overlooking the snake.like
hume, and forming sleeper shortcut
TO the cabin above. They were con
Verslng in low tones, and as they talked
they pointed, she thought, toward it,
Jessica had never in her life been
an eavesdropper, but her excited senses
made her anxious, Moreover, she was
in way committed, for she could not
now emerge without being seen. AS
she waited, man came from the path
and joined the others The sky had
been overcast and gloomy. but the moon
drew out Just then and she saw that
the newcomer, evidently a patrol, car
ried q rifle in the hollow Of his arm.
She also saw that one of the first three
was the automobile driver.
For some minutes they conversed in
undertones, whose very secrecy in
famed her imagination. II seemed to
her that they made some reference to
the Aume. Had there been another
robbery Of the sluice boxes, and could
they still suspect Hughs
Dread and indignation made her bold.
When they turned into the path she
followed treading no!selessly, I'LL she
was close behind them. They had
stopped again. and were looking in
tcntly at shadowy gray something
that moved in the bottom below.
She heard the man who carried the
rife say, with q smothered laugh.
cts only Barney McGinn IS old
white horse taking drink out of the
sluice box. He often does that
Then the sheriff S voice said: INC (
Ginn's horse is in town tonight, with /
Barney on her back. Horse or no horse, /
[ IN going to''-the rest was lost in
the swift action with which ne snatched |
The firearm from the first speaker, sight /
ed, and fired. I
a hundred echoes. 1t startled and !
shocked the listening girl, but not so
much as the sound that followed it I
a cry that had nothing animal.like, /
and that sent the men running down /
the slope toward an object that lay |
huddled by the sluice box.
In .horriied curiosity Jessica, followed.
saw the sheriff kncel down and draw .
collapsed and empty horse's skin /
from a figure whose thieving cunning it
would never cloak again.
$50 it was you, after all, Prender- !
gast!" the sheriff said contemptuously.
The white face stared up at them, /
venemous and writhine, turning about |
the circle as though searching Tor some |
one who was not there.
"How did-you guessP'
The sheriff, who had been making q
swift examination, answered the painted ]
question. "You have no time TO think
OF that now" be said.
a sinister look darted into the filming
yellow eyes. and hatred and certainty |
to sitting posture, then fell back, con
vulsed. "Hugh Stires! He was the |
only-one who knew-how it was done
He's clever, but he can't get the best /
OF Prendergast!" A spasm distorted |
his features. "Wait-wait' -
He fumbled in his breast and his
fingers brought forth crumpled piece
of paper. he thrust it into the sheriff IS
hands.
"Lookl Look" he gasped "The
man they found murdered on the claim
there ''--he pointed wildly up the hill
side Dr.. Moreau. I found him
dyingl Stires-H
Strength was fast failing him. He
tried again to speak, but only inarticu.
late sounds came from his throat.
A blind terror had clutcbed tbe heart
of the girl leaning from the shadow
cdr. Moreau 80 murdered. - WHY,
he had been one of Hugh's friendsl
Why did this man couple Hugh IS name !
with that worst of crimes7 What dread,
full thing was be trying to tcll7 She
hardly repressed desire to scream
aloud.
"Be careful what ou say, Prender-
gast,' said the sheriff sternly.
The wretched man gathered force for
last effort, His voice came in u
croaking whisper:
'Elt was Stiycs killed him. Morcau
wrote III dowu-and kept the paper
Tell Hugh-we break-even!
That was all. His head fell back with
Il shiveri and Emmett Prendergast was
gone on longer journey than ever his
revenge could warm him