The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-01

like this under Fallen Rock"
you're probably the third man that
ever did know it. Pick your steps
across those sIivers of shaIe there and
get into that pocket behind the hay.
And don't leave a mark behind you
Hurry! We mustn't show much light
He's due any minute"
The one match served. So urgently
did the Pearlhunter consider the need
of haste that before was gone they
were crowded well back in the pocket
behind the hay.
1.-THE instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask, nudge me, and I'll
give your revolver back. And / need
not tell you that when the time comes
to act, we've got to act quick"
The horse was very restless. Evil
IDENTIFY he had expected the steps
meant supper. When was not forth
coming he vented his disappointment
by tramping back and forth the length
of his halter, or paving an occasional
spark out of the floor of the cave with
his shoe.
The two men had stood in the pocket
and the throb of the Pearlhunter's
wound was becoming almost unbear-
able. The Pearlhunter sank lower in
the cover and pulled the sheriff down
beside him. A dull sound carried up
through the passage, followed by the
click of steps upon the shale. The
horse whinnied and began to pace and
paw again. A low word came out of
the dark and he grew quiet. A match
scraped; a sputtering flame hunted
the candle in the Granny; the cave,
the horse, the jaunty form of the man
they awaited sprang out of the dark.
He came straight to the horse; the
one friends absolutely true TO him in
all his dangerous world; the one friend
who still regarded him as a gentle
man. 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! But
he was totally unsuspecting. With
out raising his eyes as far as the
pocket, he grabbed up a handful orr
two of the brightest straws and turned
back to the horse.
Short rations 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 cram
MES of the cave and proceeded, with
surprising skill and quickness. 10
groom the horse. The task completed,
he laid the brush and curry comb back
and lifting the feet of the horse, ex-
amined them one by one. nail by nail.
afterward running his hands down the
horses limbs and lingering over each
Joint, finally summing up the irspec-
ton by listening with no little care 10
the animals breathing. II was the
work of a master. The inspection
over, he took the saddle down from the
wall, threw ii on the horse, drew the
girths hung the bride on the horn.
unstraped his spurs from the back OF
the saddle and buckled them To his
heels.
I wish I knew" he uuttered half to
himself, apparently half to his dumb
companion, as he waited for the ami |
NAL to finish his supper. whether
that Pearlhunter has left. II looks
like he had. And yet. that's not like |
his breed-to cut out. Still there's al !
ways a chance" He seemed to medi- |
tate; flung up his head with q bitter |
grimace and a toss OF his hand. |
Chance he growled. What's life |
with the cards stacked, and the devils |
deal! Rocket, you'u carry Doubt to-
night. Yellow curIs, eyes like blue |
bells, and ankles! But high headed; |
she came devilish nigh shootin' me
this afternoon But the harder TO 1
tame. the better worth tamin'"
The PearIhunter was writing back l
in the pocket, his face like the rock he
crouched against; but the sheriff had /
not nudged him.
Continued Toraorrow.)