The daily Alaskan., 1920-11-27

ct for what must have been half an hour and the thrOb of the Pearlhunt- CTS wound was becoming almost un- bcarable, when the horse grew sud denly quiet The Pearlhunter sank low in the cover and pulled the sheriff down beside him. A match sCraped; sputtcring flame hunted the candle in the Cranny; the cave, the horse, the jaunty form of the man they await ed Sprang out of the dark.
 He came straight to the horse; the one friend absolutely true to him in all his dangerous world; the one friend who stln regarded him as gentleman. The horse reached out his nose to meet him; rubbed his shoulder with his head. A moment the man gave to the caress, then hurried to the corn sack, laid three ears upon the rock, and turned to the hay.
 Now was the critical Instant, If they escaped his glance nOw--l But he was totally unsuspectiEg. Without raising his eyes as far as the pocket, he grabbed up a handful or two of the brightest Straws aud turned back to the horse.
 "ShOrt rntionS tonight, Rocket; and I'll make your toilet while you eat"
 He took down from near where the saddle hung a curry comb and brush from another. of the numerous Cran- nicS of the cave and proceeded, with surprising skill and qu'clmess, to groom the horse. The task completed, he laid back the brush and curry comb, and, lifting the feet of the horse, examined them one by one, nall by nail, afterward running his hands down the horses limbs and lingering over each joint, finally summing up the inspection by listening with no little care 10 the animals breathing. It was the work of master. The in- Spcction over, he took the saddle down from the wal, threw 1t on the horse, drew the girthS hung the bridle on the horn. uuStrapped his spurs from the hacl; of the saddle and buckled them to his heels.
 "I wish l knew" he muttered, half to himself, apparently half to his dumb companion, as he waited for the animal to finish his supper, 'whetier that Pearlhunter has left It looks like he had. And yet, that's not like his brpcd-tO cut out. Still, there's always q chance" He seemed to mediate: flung up his head with bitter Crimuce and a toss of his hand. Chance" he growled. "What's life without its chancel Life! Huh! A game Of chance-with the cards stacked, and the devils deal! Rocket, you'll carry double tonight. Yellow curls. eyes like hlnebels and ankles - But high headed-She came dev- iIIsh nigh shOotIn' me this afternoon But the harder to tame, the better worth tamin'."
 The PcarlhuRter was writhing back in the pocket. his face like the rock ne crouched against; but the sheriff hadn't nudGed him.
 The Red Mask looked down at the inst disappearing provender before the horse, walked back and forth across tEr cave a time or two, turned and stood for moment or two fu'u- bling behiud the oak root where 1t had been tied.
 That sheriff" He straightened, threw up his head and laughed bolster ousIy. He couldn't find lost ele- phart. let alone a wonderful, wee lit lie drop of distilled witchery like this"
 From the dry clay and shale back of rhp Ouk root he had drawn forth a small plush box. With the word this" he blew the dust off, and pushed in the catch. The lid dipped up. On the tiny cushion lay the Blue Moon twinklng in the candle-lIght, not un- like the princess that walked up in the cave of the dragon.
 Al last came the shcrit7S nudge. The PcarIhunter quietly passed his TO volvpr over. There couldn't have been a sound in the act louder than the drawing of n breath. but somehow 1t must huvc reached the man by the horse. There raIHe q change over his rar"--a change SD sight as to be as good as imrrrccptihle: to be fell; ratLcr than seen. Had he so much as glanced toward tl.c pocket hNck of the hay. the rparlhumtcr would have acted on the instant. But he didn't glance lhat way. Very leIsurely he closed the hoX. put it in his vest pocket and looked down to soc if the horse had finished hs supper.
 The Pearlhuuter was in the net of pressing against the knee of the sher'T in sign that the time had come, when, totally without warning sound. with ont the slightest preliminary motion. there came q shot from behind the horse that dashed the candle cut. The shot was followed by SCuf!le of feet. The Pcarlhnntcr leaped the hay and charged through the dense dark straight at the horse. It wasn't there. From the passage came the chatter of hOOfS.