The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-21

he wished to fix the crime upon would
be the first I'd And the body. --'''0
II was not lost on the Pearlhunter 70
that he had undoubtedly, crowded the a,
murderer close, else why had he left
the knifef But why all these elaborate. no =,
plans against him2 Was It some an
Client grudge he bore his bloodf Did
he wish somebody to die In his place
| to deceive an outraged world Into
thinking the Red Mask was settled for
| good and all. and SO give him chance
| to start over again? Was II because
, he was not yet ready to leave the Fiat
woodsf 1t was probably for all these
| reasons. But with the last, there
flashed across the young mans mind
that scene at the fence. II stung him
like lash.
Even though the evidence secreted In
the cabin was now In ashes, by that
dead body was the most dangerous
place In the world for him just. then.
Hardly five seconds had passed since
the last gasp OF Louie Solomon, so fast
does a man think under such stress.
when the Pearlhunter threw the mask
down by the body and turned to steal
back up the hill.
up with 'eml" ~ 2
He whirlcd; stared; slowly raised -.
his hands. It's one thing to face odds;
quite another to face certain death.
! Behind the three black muzzles poking
out through the bushes covered tho
truculent bearded faces of Louie Solo
mons three rowers.
Grim as the three Fates, they stalked
toward him. Two OF them kept him
covered, while the third pluckcd the
revolver from his pocket and dropped
II into his own. After that he bent
over the body of his master; touched
his face; lifted hand; laid 1t across
his breast He picked UP the red mask
and snarled around at the others Tho
J others growled swore; and the Pearl
hunter fancied the reeorvers pointed
at him a little straigbter. little more
vlndictively. II was not the first time
these three had faced the Red Mask.
lie had long been their particular
nightmare. 1t was the first time they
had seen him with his mask Off, and
with empty hands.
The one kneeling by the body
seemed to be the leader. He felt care
fully inside the pocket where the pearl
1
pockets; felt carefully over the cloth
Ing. He rose after the fruitless search
and fnced the Pearhunter.
"Where iss it2' -tu
The pearlhunter shook his head.
witt snarled word of Yiddish.
doubtless a curse, and n flourish OF
his clenched hand that came uncom-
fortably close to the young mans
/ 10
pockets; hens; waist-band; socks;
even his hatband, ears and hair. Qf
course the search again proved fruit
less. The Jew drew his revolver.
cooked It, and thrust It into the Pearl
hunters face.
"Where iss itr'
The bearded lips were drawn 40
tense that the yellow teeth were bare.
The Pearlhunter knew the yellow
" teeth meant exactly what they seemed
to mean. Louie SoiOmon's three
le guardsmen had reputation along the
~ Wabash. The reward for the Red
Mask was the same whether dead or
% alive. Still, his death would not bring
10 them any nearer finding the pearl. He
pinned his hope there, and shook his
ie head.
w. "Tm not the Red Mask. ] didnt XIII
n. Louie Solomon. And don't know
rs where the Blue Moon is."
90 The answer was not convincing.
Nothing he could have said just then
VI would have been. Whether the Jew
IN believed It. or any part Of 1t, his face
NJ gave no sign. He backed away two
as steps and leveled his revolver full at
I'D the Pearlhunter's breast. like man
mt about to pistol another and deliberate
'e- ~ planning to make a clean Job Of 1t.
IT. The instant came when the Pearl
IN hunter believed the grimy finger was
u about to press the trigger and he was
co almost In the act Of diving beneath
ne the muzzle when the Jew motioned to
one Of the others and said something
10 In Yiddish. a
1t The man spoken to darted away
ut through the bushes toward the boat
n.y. landing. The Pearlhunter breathed
WI again.
gb The man soon reappeared, carrying
ex- piece of rope. One at time he
ION took the Pearlhunter's hands, drew
by them behind his back, and bound
his them securely together. Even then,
The SO great was their dread of the man
tn he was supposed to be. that one Of
'ed them constantly held gun on him.
the
Il "