The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-25

his hend back.
He staggered and threw up his hand
to his face. His other hand involun-
tarily dropped toward his hip. Well
for him that Il stopped before II got
there. The Pearlhunter had snatched
the revolver from under his blouse and |
held II just below the window ledge.
The man on the outside backed
away, his face stung to flame by the
blow. He felt for his knife; seemed /
TO remember where he had left it--be-
tween the ribs of man. Anyhow, 1t
would have been as useless as the re-
volyer. Noise precluded the use OF
the one; walls and bars the other
I'D kill you" ne retorted finally, his
tones steady, though strained, Ike the
current that plays across the top OF a
whirlpool, "oniy haven't time. There's
flock OF yellow curls and devilish
trim pair OF ankles waitin' for me
down the road"
He had so framed the taunt as TO re-
fleet on the girl his very thought dis
honored. without another word he
turned and walked away.
The Pearlhuntcr seriously debated
whether to shoot him dead and trust
to fate for the rest. The revolver
crawled up over the window sill. He
grasped one OF the bars to steady his
hand. A start OF surprise came to his
face. The revolver went back below
the window sill. The bar was loose.
II was almost unbelievable, but II
wns so. For some reason or other II
had not been fixed very firmly In Its
auger hole sockets. There was play.
q heartening amount Of it--betwtsn
the upper and lower auGer holes. His
blood missed beat; then leavJd the
higher.
He jammed the bar into the lower
socket. The bottom Of the hole was
soft. The rain hai probably rotted II.
lie jammed the bar again and the wood
gave. He put all hlo strength TO II
Each effort drove the bar little deep
err; gave Il little more play Mt the
top. II he could only drive 1t far
enough so that the top would clear! He
was working like wild man.
Bearing Down with all his strength,
he rotated the bar. The tremendous
excrtion opened the cuts and scratches
on his neck and breast until they bled
' nfresh. He jammed the bar down
again; bore upon 1t with all his
strength; rotated II again and again
Less than half an inch still held Mt the
top.
His exertions brought the sweat out
upon his face. Another effort: tire
mendous; TO the last ounce OF his
power.
His hands were like nre--but III,
bar cleared. He could move II tiny
mite to the side of the upper augel
hole. The clearance was ever so little
but It cleared. Bracing his knee
against the wall and grasplng the case
ment with his left hand for anchorage
he bent and worked and twisted thu
bar outward. At last, by final SUI
preme heave, II cleared the upper log
There remained only to lift It out o
the lower auger hole.
The Pearlhunter dropped back pant
ing and mopped the sweat from his fac
with his sleeve. The effort had beef
tremendous.
A minute to get his breath anothe
spent In listening; and he worked tn
loosened end little freer; lifted on
the bar; crawled outside; put II bac
Into place again, feeling about wit
his fingers to make sure there were n
1. | H., nr NJ oh In
scraped loose, and stole away unde
the trees.
II would probably be quite imposs
: BILE for the city-bred to appreciate full
the feelings Of the Pearhunter at fint
ing the breath OF the open woods ono
more upon his face. The trees wer
like comrades In arms. The rough bar
that covered their stout hearts actual
felt friendly and good to his hands Q
he darted like q shadow from one
the other on his way out Of the ja
yard and up the side Of the blum.
Well knowing there would be eye
!. on his trail In the morning, he dare
net 70 directly to where his mlsgivinl
urged him. The sheriff he did not fen
To the sheriff he was still the motor
GUS Red Mask. To the mob that WI
f. sure to gather he would be the Re
Mask. His escape, with lock and DO
e untouched, would niystlfy both me
and sheriff. They would ascribe It
the dread powers with which populi
fancy had invested his name.
But In the rabble that would ours
and clamor about the old jail thel
would be one pair OF eyes that Il
loosened bar would not escape; pa
. OF eyes that would find II as sure
the morning came, and read the rIdd
ct a glance. And they would be ey
. capable Of finding q traIl--and follO'
!. ing II. Much rs II went against hill
y therefore, he turned his steps east
stead of west and plunged In amor
the dumped underbrush that gre
along the top Of the cliff.
!. Crossing the river road was q