Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-06-02

pfnfal laugn he turned anu Degan nlH
descent TO the cabin.
Arriving nt the place where he had
been tumbled unconscious III the drift
he picked up the lance from the place
where he had cast 1t and hastily en-
tered the barn. Passing into the har-
ness room be unbound the bowie-knife
from the bundle Of the rake, tossed
the handle aside and restored the
deadly blade TO its sheath upon the
Rnll
Then with sweep Of his hand he
removed the bandana handkerchief
which had concealed his face. after
which lie took on the fur coat II
the old prospector, Carr, and once
more stood revealed clad 10 his own
apparel.
Within the living room Of the cabin
Rainface. still lay sleeping upon the
floor BY the fireplace. Well advanced
ln years and wrinkled as the palm Of
ones hand. he slept profoundly. light
covering over him. Through the win.
dow Id the lean.to out of which John
Davis had leaped Id his pursuit Of
the fieeing stranger strong draft Of
the cold mountain MIR came rushing,
creeping beneath the crack between
the loosely fitting door and floor Of
the room. at once the temperature.
of the inner room became senslbiy
reduced, and as the chill fell upon
Ralnface he drew his light blanket
closer IN his sleep. grew quiet again
for moment then slowly awoke md
sat up. As his keen old eyes royed
about the room they apparently aiight-
ed upon something that aroused his
suspicion. for arising silently he passed
To tile door leading into the lenn-to.
listened. knocked gently. then as there
was no response be turned the knob
and pushed The door ajar.
Cautiously he scanned the interior.
Nobody was there and entering ne
crossed The room and peered out OF
the open window Once more moth
Ing unusual hnet his gaze
without Ii was both showing and
blowing and through the flying flakes
be saw no disturbance Or the snow
which spread the ground. Wondering
wllat had become of Davis he came
back into the living room. closing the
door OF the iean-to behind him md
approached the. door Of the room ID
which Ethel slept. For moment hs
hesitated. then raised hts hand and
knocked.
Half b mile away from the cabin
and high up tn che face Of q elf,
screened from observation above By
big oyerhang and also sheltered from
slight from the other side By i lip of
ragged rock, small cave had bur-
rowed itself into the side or the noun
tain. From tiny ledge Of rock where
II had been plnced. a lantern cast It's
yellow flood Of light over the stone
walls and door Of the place. Stand.
Ing In the center Of the room was q
man who was smooth silnyen, wrInkIed
and old; the sole occupant Df this
hidden retreat; the Recluse OF Mys-
terry Mountain.
As he stood painting from his en-
forts Of the run and after detaching
the rope By which he had gained thla
place after escaping from Davis his
eyes chnnced to glance from the en-
trance and TO the side Of the precipi.
tous descent close at hand. and an I'M
voluntary gasp escaped him. For down
the side of rock the body OF d man
was plunging In fall thar seemed
must result In certain denth.
Throwing his rope In swift turn
about d juttine piece Of rock, he
graspesi both ends firmly and began
letting himself down Reaching
Mace where ne could secure footing
he released the end of the rope TINT
he had been paying out, and drawing
il ID him threw II III loose loops over
his arm. Then running to the edge
of the ledge upon which he had found
a foothold he looked down Just In
lssne To see John bringing up Id
small. avalanche Of snow.
Swiftly the Hermit acted. Again
his rope fast he lowered him.
SELF To the pile of snow and approach
Ing the prostrate form bent over 4.
Faint signs 81 life we're visible. and
taking hitch around the silent fgure
he climbed back to the mouth Of his
cave and began hauling The limp form
IN. Ii vas difiicult task and few
mes. could have performed Il. but the
arms IL the old Hermit Of the Noun
tain we're like bars Of Iron. and foot
by foot the burden arose. Al the end
ii several minutes Of severe labor,
the limp form WAS deposited upon the
floor of the care.
Again bending over the one whom
he had elevated to this piace. the oid
Hermit carefully examined him. The
heart wns still beating and the brea n
Il life was parting the lips. No bones
,eesned ID be broken. and after brief
the Hermit Strengthened
himself un.
~He isn't going 70 die, be muf-
INJURED. "He ii young and tough A.
hickory knot. he probably hie MS
head against something IN That susla.