Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-12-21
CHAPTER xi.
Only The Hunted Know.

wondering why the gorge didn't fall
in. While he lay and wondered an
other strange thing happened-the
very strangest of all.
The top of the gorge began to open
opened and let in two little patches
of sky. He kept his eyes on them
two little spots of blue set between
clouds of pink and gold. The gorge
top opened wider He came back to
the two patches of sky; smiled oddly
they had TRANSPORTED; had become
the eyes of the Wild Rose.
The shooting had brought her. Her
arm was under his head, and she was
saying something. A tinge of crimson
deepened the pink in her cheeks when
his eyes came open. What if he had
heard! But she met his eyes with
frank directness. He lay looking up
at her long time; trying to compre-
bend it all; the wonder of it .--that
she was there!
She helped him edge a little nearer
the brink of the ledge, raised him, and
he drank out of her cupped palm.
Whether it was the cup he drank
from, or the thirst that parched him,
he took no thought, but it was the
sweetest drink that ever passed his
lips She eased him back upon the
ledge, her arm still under his head. A
strand of her hair fell upon his face.
She tried to shake it off. He put up
his hand and covered it.
Her eyes dropped TO his wounded
side.
Il didn't know he was the Red
Mask" she said, as if in pursuance of
his first remark. ''till those men came
this morning
Her next words were low and thought
full. 1--WE wondered if it could have
been he that hurt Daddy"
1T was him."
The girls breath quickened. He saw
her fingers clench.
But there was much to do. Her eyes
turned again to his blood-stained gar
ments, and she set about uncovering
the wounded side. There was little
enough to remover shred or two of
tattered shirt; laying back of the
torn blouse. After the first start at
sight of the wound she became Curl
ously thoughtful. The color mounted
TO her face he tried TO meet her eyes,
but they turned away.
"Can you spare me for a minute"
4, Che
took away her arm, eased him back
upon the rock, and he heard her light
step as she sprang around an angle
of the cliff.
She was gone barely more than the
minute asked for. When she returned
she was carrying in her hands a num-
her of strips-bandages- white
cloth. Where she got them-well.
that's her secret.
The bullet had cut deep ragged
cash Just below the armpit. II hau
erazed rib, but seemingly had not
broken it. With that encouraging fact
established. and the sting of the
wound much allayed. the mind of the
man began reaching forward to the
night; the all-important nlght-when
certain suave individual in frocK
coat would come 10 feed certain
horse. He said no word of this TO inc
girl already binding the bandages
around the clean-washed wound. she
would have secuted the bare sugses-
ton of the things he was planning 10
do the moment the dark was sulilcleht-
" dense to hide him.
She drew what was left Of his tat
tered shirt and blouse over the pan
dage at last, laid his wounded arm
across his breast and slung it there by
a strip of cloth passed up around his
neck. and helped him TO his feet.
1t shamed him that he was abso-
lufelv compelled to cling fast 70 her'
to lean heavy upon her, or go back 20
tbe rock. His face was far TOO White
"a show the modification he felt, but
sba saw it in his eyes. Lifting his
Won arm and laying it across her
shoulders. she caught her left arm
about his blouse waist and steamed
him.
The Wild Rose seemed to have tax
on FOIL of every bit of sunshine that
orar struck the Flatwoods. That was
the distinguishing feature Of her per
sonality. That and her good, SOUND
sonse Her face was beaming full OF
10Th right now-thc sunshine and me
sense. She was smiling up at him, ne
lnew He was staring away above her
haad--hut he knew. The smile grad
ually drew his eyes down out OF the
trees. He could no more help It than
no could help leaning upon her. she
Ioughed-a heartening little laugh
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