Charlevoix county herald., 1917-06-15
SIXTH EPISODE
Major Brent'S Perfidy.

he removed the belt from his waist
and fastened it on Pearl
ITS yours by r-rights, anyhow.
Promise me t-that you'll do nuthin' un-
Ill you see m-me again, if | ever show
up. And if l DIDN'T ever see you
again, wal, jest keep it. DIDO you
promise that, g-girlf"
II promise"
He gave the horses bride twist,
crying: Co..
In second she was out of sight and
he leaped into clump of bushes. A
bullet tipped close 10 his ears. He took
deliberate aim at the moving shadows
among the trees and discharged his
carbine three times. An uncertain sus-
pense ensued Then he attempted to
cross the open space 10 steal after
Pearl.
He ran a little forward, firing re-
peatedly ara successfully with each
shot at horsemen galloping up and re-
treated 10 the edge of the declivity
with Q downward glance at the appar-
emily sheer drop.
One loaded shell remained in the
carbine. He bided his moment, fred
and tossing the now useless weapon
at his pursuers leaped into the air.
He fell upon a slightly protruding
rocky shelf ard drew his body into Il
natural groove, where he was COM
pleteiy hidden from sight.
81 heard 10 fall ~ presently exclaim-
OF an
the precipice.
"You fool Who could hear? The
depth is at least one thousand feet.
Come! / have no desire to see an
other dead grlngo tonight"
1t was Bolero who spoke.
Adams waited long time in the ST.
lence after their departure. Then with
difficulty he began the ascent. He
was out of breath when he regained
the summit and began TO pick up the
threads Of Pearls trail.
Several hours later he came upon
the horse tethered In q thicket In the
secluded bottom OF the ravine and
found Pearl not far away seated under
jutting ledge of sandstone. She was
wrapped in the troopers blanket.
She gave little cry of joy, holding
out both hands impulsively. Il knew
you would come"
He returned her hand clasp and in
spected her. I'm going tito build you
a fire and het you up. You'll be get
ting pneumony, II l amt careful Of
you"
She laughed artlessly. why, I'm
alpSsk dry and" feeling his clothing,
~ Are you
"ItVt-the climate" was his simple
comment; aad he started TO build the
FIRE.
She watched every movement of
this mysterious man. He seemed to
be able 10 accomplish anything he at
tempted to do. In twinkling warm
Gre, its blaze prudently concealed, was
burning in a crevice.
"Het yourself up, g-girl, while l rig
your tent" he urged Ia his homely
way; and Pearl obediently sat down
close to the fire for which she was
truly thankful.
He set up the tent and, indicating
that she might retire at any time, as
sumed squatting position before the
hre.
"Who really are you?" she asked az
ter long silence.
I'm not m-much of nuthin', girl"
he rumiDated. I'm as ignorant as a
c-cow."
you are and you aren't" she quail
fed, shrewdly. You're a genuine puz-
zle. For example-this belt" She
stopjaSoyatching him covertly.
~
Explain what you meant by saying
that this belt properly belongs to me-
THAT b-belt, man," he replied, soft.
ly, after a long pause, "was the p-prop.
erty of the-of Captain Payne"
She was greatly impressed SO
that's the secret 7" she murmured
touching the belt reverently with her
fingers. And that explai9Swhy Ma
jor Brent wanted me to Oh
I'm % glad for this ezSl