The Lamar register., 1920-12-15

mile and more north of the wa
terfall. Wolf Run bends west TO dou-
Bile and twist and loop through a tan
gle Of hills and guiches known as Fox
Den, the widest und most inncccssi
Bile district of the t'latwoods. The
Pearlhunter had heard of the place
He resolved to fake his chances There.
The spot was no great distance above
the three-gahlsd cabin.
Away up the bare front Of cliff his
eye lighted on the mouth OF what ap-
peared 10 be Il cleft Ia the rock. Wolf
Run washed against Il narrow ledge at
the very foot of this cliff. He spread
himself hut against the face OF the
rock and strained from crevIce to crew
Ice. II was a prOdig,Ous task, but all
tasks have an end rd-eltber ut the bot.
,om'or at the top. Tile Pearlhunter's
task finally ended al the top. II
had TO.
The strata goped apart half the
height OF man leaving wide-opeD
scar in the lace of The clifr 1t was per-
haps ten reet deep. and seemed TO be
closed at the back by the dipping 10
gether OF tie two strata.
Rolling back as far within the open.
Ing as The converging strata would
comfortably allow. he dropped his bat
tered head upon his arm to sleep the
rest of the night away
The Penrlhnnter walked with the
woods. His limbs and breast and
shoulders were so sore that he was
half glad for The snug place 10 lie in
like foy in his burrow. while the
hounds beat up the woods AT fault.
Lack OF water was the greatest
drawback. Thirst was already begin.
ming TO annoy him. He took out his
sandwiches and ate TWO more of them.
saving the other two until later In the
day. Tie salty bacon made the wa.
Ter more tempting still He drew back
little space from the brink Of the
ledge out of sight OF IT, The sound Of
II still tempted him.
Voices reached him suddenly, break
Ing upon the silence from around
sharp turn of the -orge down stream.
He drew his face back from the ,sink
Of the ledge and lay listening 1t was
far too risky to looE. His ears made
out three OF tbem-Ihree tongues, all
going at top speed. sure sign tha,
eyes and ears were not as busy as
they might have been. Opposite the
clin where the fugitive lay, the steps
stopped.
whats that hole up thereg"
II was a gruff and heavy voice that
asked, thick stili with the fisrs OF TEN.
per that had not vet cooled.
Wolf den. more'n likely" answered
one Of the others.
IF We wus up tn biufr cross there
furninst the hole. we could see in."
suggested voice
Pearlhunter heard them hopping back
across the stream. heard them clawing
their way through the tangled under.
brush up the opposite blun. The scar
In which he lay dipped slightly to-
ward the rear. He rolled back as far
as possible. SO as to have the protec-
ton afforded by the slightly higher
edge; stretched himself on his right
side: and waited for them to come
into view.
Fortunately the sun hit their side
could see them well. while. being on
the shady side. and back In the dark.
ness OF the scar. they could not SEE
him at all. The three Of them drew
together IN consultation. The Pearl.
hunter could not make out their words.
but the manner in which they handled
their rifles. which they had managed
TO drag up with them. indicated only
too plainly the general drift Of what
was being said.
With a final nod all around. they
faced the pocket, and one Of them
raised his rife The bullet STRUCK the
roof of the scar just In front Of him.
showering him with dust and bits OF
shale. The second fred. The bulle,
passed close to his feet and lost H.
self far back In the crevice where the
two strata Of shaie converged.
1t was now the third ones turn
There came the hot spit of smoke;
the vicious slap of the report. But
even before he saw the one, or heard
the other. he felt something like a
rad raaI a,i,,e. III. syHa traf rrnaar ~.