The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-23

that surged up to his eyes and struck
out splinter Of fire. He turned to
the man on the horse.
"Sheriff, II your stick my gun back
and cut my hands loose. I'll rope you
the real Red Mask"
II was an unwise thing TO say. He
knew II the moment he'd snid It, IL
was unlike him. The man leaning In
apparent carelessness against the
hitch rack was probably quite un'
aware that he was suspected. II
might prove costly mistake to let
him know that he was. Besides, II
wns extremely unlikely that he would /
have the pearl still on him. With the
pearl gone. the proof would be gone.
The Pearlhunter's usual slow caution
should have brought good many con-
sideratlons to his mind before he said
that. But rope around mans neck
makes a prodigious difference In the
look Of things One cannot help won |
dering what would have been the out
come had the sheriff needed the re-
quest and cut loose the hands OF his
prisoner. Things would have hap
pencd--and they would have hap
pened fast.
The sheriff laughed; a hard, raspy
laugh. A good many things In that
laugh: the jangle of handouts; the
CRATE OF keys In stiff locks--but never
a mite of mirth.
"Hes ropcd now"
'Iies not" was the Pearihunter's
incautious answer. but he's handy"
He had purposely raised his voice.
Hut the man for whose ear II was In
tended never shifted his position:
never changed. even In the slightest.
his easy smile. He did slip his hand
down the front Of his frock coat and
/! loosen II against his side, but the.
was all.
The sheriff swore; turned slowly In
his saddle and glanced the crowd over.
Ladies' an gentlemen" he said, rails
ing his voice. "as ] said before. this
man is entitled to a trial, an trial
he'll git. He'll hang-but it'll be the
law that hangs i'm, an not you. ad-
wise you to break up this damn fool.
ishness an go home"
/ II could be seen with half m eye
that the sheriff was In no humor to
stand any back talk. The crowd didn't
try IT.; they obeyed-many sullenly.
some grumbling openly. A few stayed.
The man leaning against the hitch
rack went back to the Mud Hen.
The village of Buckeye struggles
for quarter OF mile along the river
road. The road is bigger institution
than the town. II formed the prlnci-
pal street. The village lookup, or
Jail. stood In plain sight short way
to the west on the north side Of the
road.
The sheriff dismounted. picked up
the slit and trampled blouse. threw II
about the shoulders of his prisoner
and united the severed rope end still
knotted about his neck. With a NUT
tered command, he made n slight mo-
ton toward the Jail with his revolver
The Penrlhunter. still with bound
hands, his shirt so tattered that II
left him half-naked from his waist up
the blood upon his face and body fast
stiffening into clots. obeyed the com
maiid.
Inside the lookup the sheriff cut hi,
hands loose, and Immediately stepped
outside and locked the door. seeming
to have no fancy to tarry after his
prisoners hands were free. Turning
back to his prisoner he pointed out
his house and told him he would bring
over some supper later on.
The Buckeye lookup was two
story. rectangular structure Of heavy
logs. There were two cells, with {
hallway between. on the first floor
and the same arrangement above. Tn,
Pearlhunter was the only prisoner. 81
he had free range Of both lower cells
The barred gate opening to the stall
leading to the upper floor was heavil!
padlocked. The door of the Jail faces
south-faced the river road. Eacl
cell Ind one window: the window o
the one looking east. the window o
the other looking west. These win
dows were both rather larger thar
might have been expected. Each con
tanned single sash. with the fou
| DuTS w VuCIi NlIiUOW. Stt III uuSt
holes In the logs at the top and bot
tom. The sash was hinged Mt the sid
! so ms to swing In.
The Pearlhunter opened the sash a
| the west window and swung II bacl
as far as II would go. Through tn
, bars he could look out under the coo
. calm trees in the jail yard. The rive
rond wound dusty and dry toward tn
, shutdown; wound TO the first curry
! and hid itself In the hills; wound o
to that sharp turn at the rim OF tn
. deep woods by the low fence. An
there the path began. the dim sli
path worn by wonderful feet the pat
I that led to a girl with eyes like tn
> placid sly at the bottom of tn
; spring eyes that trusted" him, tina
I would look for him. What would the
. he like when he didn't come; whe
q the word reached her that he was tn
q Red Mask? He thought of that bit q