The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-12-24
CHAPTER XII.
Only the Hunted Know.

OF lOHg time Jne HeaElnuQter lay
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 a long time; trying to compre-
bend it all; the wonder of itI-that
she was therel
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.
st didn't know he was the Red
Mask" she said, as if in pursuance of
his first remark, It'll those men came
this morning"
Her next words were low and thought
full. I've 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 removal shred or two of
tattered shirt; az 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 mfnute?"
For answer he lifted his head She
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 num- |
Der 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. 1t had
grazed rib. but seemingly had not
broken it, With that encouraging fact
and the sting of the
much allayed, the mind of the
man began reaching forward to the
night; the all-important night-when
a certain suave individual in a frock
coat would come TO feed a certain
horse. He said no word of this TO the
girl already binding the bandages
around the clean-washed wound. She
would have secuted the bare sugges-
I'm u TIE AAC was ~
10 the moment the dark was sufficient
y dense to hide him.
She drew what was left of his tat
cred shirt and blos1se over the ban
iage at last, laid his S,ysnded arm
lcross his breast and slung 1T thsce g.
strip of cloth passed up around his
leck, and helped him TO his feet. +;
1t silamed him that he was abso-
ntely compelled TO cling fast to her, {
0 lean heavy upon her. or go back to
he rock. His face was far too white
o show the modification he felt, but
ne saw 1t i'm his eyes. Lifting his !
yell arm and laying 1t across her {
houIders. she caught her left arm {
bout his blouse waist and steadied /
I'm liz
The Wild Rose seemed to have TAX d
a toll OF every bit Of sunshine that o
yer struck the Flatwoods. That was o
ne distinguishing feature of her per h
onality That and her good. sound i
anse- Her face was beaming full Of 3
9th right now-the sunshine and the q
ense She was smiling up at him. he :
new He was staring away above her 4
ead-but he knew. The smile grad q
ally drew his eyes down out OF the b
ees He could no more help Il than
3 could help leaning upon her. She
heartening little laugh e