The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-10-09

friend VINO SIN regarded him as
gentleman. The horse reached out his
nose to meet him; rubbed his shoulder
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. Without
raising his eyes as far as the pocket.
he grabbed up handful or 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 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 back the brush and curry
comb, and. lifting the feet Of the horse.
examined them one by one. nail by
nail, afterward running his hands
over each Joint, finally summing up
the inspection by listening with no
little care to the animals breathing
1t was the work of master. The in
! spection over, he took the saddle down
| from the wall threw 1t on the horse,
1 drew the girths, hung the bride on the
horn, unstrapped his spurs from the
II, 90 hn hnn IaA
to his heels.
II wish | knew" he muttered, half
to himself. apparently half to his
/ dumb companion, as he waited for the
animal to finish his supper, whether
that Pearlhunter has left. II looks
ike he had. And yet, that's not like
his breed-to cut out. Still, there's
! always chance" He seemed TO
mediate; flung up his head with a
bitter grimace and toss of his hand.
"Chance! he growled. whats life
without its chancel Life! Hull A
game of chnnce-with the cards
stacked, and the devils dealt Rocket.
you'll carry double tonight. Yellow
curls, eyes like bluebells and ankles
-! But high headed-she came dew
ilish nigh shootin' me this afternoon
But the harder to tame, the better
worth tamin."
The Penrihunter was writing back
In the pocket, his face like the rock
Ne crouched against but the sheriff
Hdn't nudged him.
| - Me- Mash iooked down at thu
fast disappearing provender before
the horse, walked back and forth
across the cave time or two, turned
and stood for moment or two FUN
bling behind the oak root where It
had been tied.
THAT sheriff." He Strengthened,
threw up his head and laughed bolster
ously. ale couldn't find lost ele-
plant, let alone wonderful, wee lit
tie drop Of distilled witchery like
this"
From the dry clay and shale back
Of the oak root he had drawn forth a
small plush box. With the word "this''
he blew the dust of. and pushed in
the catch. The lid Tipped up. On the
tiny cushion lay the Blue Moon
twinkllng In the candle-light, not IN
like the princess that walked up In the
cave Of the dragon.
At last came the sherifrs nudge,
The Pearlhunter quietly passed his re-
volver over. There couldn't have been
4 sound In the act louder than the
drawing Of a breath, but somehow II
must have reached the man by the
horse. There came a change over his
face-a change so slight as to be as
good as imperceptlble; to be felt
rather than seen. Had he so much as
glanced toward the pocket back of the
hay, the Pearlhunter would have acted
on the instant. But he didn't glance
that way. Very leisurely he closed the
box, put II In his vest pocket and
looked down to see IL the horse had
finished his supper.
| The Pearlhunter was In the act OF
pressing against the knee of the sheriff
In sign that the time had come, when
totally without warning sound. with
out the slightest preliminary motion
there came a shot from behind the
horse that dashed the candle out. The
shot was followed by scufiie Of feet
The Pearlhunter ieaped the hay and
charged through the dense DARK
straight at the horse. II wasn't there
From the passage came the CHATTER Of
hoofs.
Il Followed by the stumbling sheriff
he CROPPED his way to the mouth Of the
passage. He was barely In time tc
hear a splash, and the click Of steel
upon the rocks Of the pool.