Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-07-03

more stood revealed clad in his own
apparel.
Within the living room of the cabin
Rainface, still lay sleeping upon the
floor by the fireplace. Well advanced
In years and wrinkled as the palm of
ones hand, he slept profoundly, a light
covering over him. Through the win.
dow in the lean-to out of which John
Davis had leaped in his pursuit of
the fleeing stranger a strong draft of
the cold mountain air came rushing,
creeping beneath the crack between
the loosely fitting door and floor %
the room. At once the temperature
of the inner room became senSibly
reduced, and as the chill fell upon
Rainface he drew his light blanket
closer in his sleep, grew quiet again
for u moment, then slowly awoke and
sat up. AS his keen old eyes rOved
about the Don they apparently alight-
ed upon something that aroused his
suspicion, for arising silently he passed
to the door leading into the lean-to,
listened, knocked gently, then as there
was no response he turned the knob
and pushed the door ajar.
Cautiously he scanned the interior.
Nobody was there and entering he
crossed the room and peered out OF
the open window. Once more moth,
ing unusual met his gaze.
Without it was both showing and
blowing and through the flying flakes
he saw no disturbance of the snow
which spread the ground. Wondering
back into the living room, closing the
door of the lean-to behind him and
approached the door of the room ia
which Ethel slept. For a moment he
hesitated, then raised his hand and
knocked.
Half q mile away from the cabin
and high up in the face of a cliff,
screened from observation above by Il
big o%verhang and also sheltered from
sight from the other side by a lip OF
ragged rock. a small cave had bur
rowed itself into the side of the noun
tain. From a tiny ledge Of rock where
1t had been placed, a lantern cast its
yellow flood of light over the stone
walls and floor of the place. Stand
ing in the center of the room was a
man who was smooth Slaven. Wrinklrd
and old; the sole occupant of this
hidden retreat; the Recluse of Mys'
terry Mountain.
As he stood painting from his eff
forts of the run and after %detaching
the rope by which he had gained this
place after escaping from Davis his
eyes Glanced to glance from the en-
franc and to the side of the precipi'
tOus descent close at hand, and an in
voluntary gasp escaped him. For down
the side of rock the body of a man
was plunging in a fall that seemed
must result in certain death.
Throwing his rope in a swift turn
about. a jutting piece of rock, he
grasped both ends firmly and began
letting himself down. Reaching q
place where he could secure footing
he released the end of the rope tina,
he had been paying out, and drawing
it to him threw it in loose loops oven
his arm. Then running to the edge
Of the ledge upon which he had found
a footh0ld he looked down just IN
time to see John bringing up in Il
small avalanche of snow.
Swiftly the, Hermit acted. Again
making his rope fast he lowered him
self to the pile of snow and approach
ing the PROSTATE form bent over it
Faint signs of life were visible, and
taking a hitch around the silent figure
he climbed back to the mouth of his
cave and began hauling the limp form
up. It was a difficult task and few
men could have performed it, but the
arms of the old Hermit Of the Noun
tain we're like bars of iron, and foot
by foot the burden arose. At the end
of several minutes Of evere labor,
the limp form was deposited upon the
floor of the cav
Again bending over the n whom
he had elevated to this place, the old
Hermit carefully examined him. The
heart was still beating and the breath
of life was parting the lips. No bones
seemed to be broken, and after Il brief
examination the Hermit Strengthened
himself up.
"He isn't going to die" he muir
INJURED. "He is young and tough as
q hickory knot. He probably hit his
head against something in that tum.
BILE and for the time being is knocked
out, But he will come out of it all
right"
For q moment he stood looking
down at the other silently, then spoke
aloud again in the low tones of one
who has long lived in great sOlitudes
Il amt certain just how he is go
ing to take this when he come to
so I guess I'd better be on the safe
side. He is liable to start in being
rough If he has a chance, therefore I'll
truss him up for the time being until
l can find out how he wants to act
Might as well tie a handkerchief over
his face, too, in case he should be a
mite curious or want to start trou'
ble."
Hosting the still motlonless one
upon his back, he started down a small
tunnel which evidently had been blast
ed from the ear Of the cave.
Back In the living room Of the cabin
Rainface, knocking at the door OF
Ethel's room, listened a moment for
q response from within. None came
and for a second time his knuckle>
fell upon the panel. Hearing hin