Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-26
CHAPTER XlIl-Continued.
ia


do. He was still foundering about
on the inner margin of the pool be-
hind the fails when the Pearlhunter
landed lightly beside him. almost up
op him. The passage was dark-dark
as the inside of pistol barrel 1t
vus very reassnring fact. 1t meant
thaf there was no candle burning far
Their ahead in the cave. He was in
tme Making sure of that very i'm
rouant fact he thrust the revolver
inlo ihe holster pocket at his hip,
easped the sheriff by the collar and
hurried up the passage.
Ry the same subtle instinct that had
served him the night before, he knew
when he reached the point at which
The passage widened into the cave.
There he loosed the sheriff's collar and
struck a match. The sheriff caught
bis breath and stared. The horse, the
candle in the Granny, the saddle and
spurs, the feed-all just as it had
"a been described to him.
Il never knew there was anything
~ IKE this under Fallen Rock"
You're probably the third man that
ever did know it. Pick your steps
across those slivers of shale there and
get into that pocket behind the hay.
VI Hurry We mustn't show much light.
He's due any minute"
The one match served So urgently
4 did the Pearlhunter consider the need
Of haste that before it was gone they
were crowded well back in the pocket
behind the hay.
The instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask, nudge me, and I'll
give your revolver back. And
needn't tell you that when the time
comes to act, we've got to act quick"
The two men had stood in the pock-
ct for what must have been half an
hour, and the throb of the Pearlhunt-
ers wound was becoming almost I'M
bearable, when the horse grew sud
denly quiet. The Pearlhunter sank
low in the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. A match scraped:
a suffering flame hunted the candle
in the Granny; the cave, the horse,
the jaunty form of the man they await
ed sprang out of the dark.
He came straight to the horse; the
one friend absolutely true to him in
all his dangerous world; the one
friend who still regarded him as a
gentleman. 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
%*# Inc CoqL I0fd
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,
N ne grabbed up a handful or two of the
brightest straws and turned back to
y the horse.
short ratiOns tonight, Rocket; and
al make your toilet while you eat"
lie TOOK down from near wnere the
sSdue Edng a curry comb and brush
from another Of the numerous cram
u'eS ~ the cave and proceeded, with
surprising skin and quickness, to
groom the horse. The task completed.
"e iad back the brush and curry
como ard, lifting the feet of the horse,
examined them one by one. nail by
u7" erterward srunning his hands
Oo"n the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint, finally summing up
- ue inspection by listening with no
niue care to the animals breathing.
-' was The work of a master The in
.lecuoh over, he took the saddle down
l'on he wall, threw II on the horse.
o'e" the girths, hung the bride on the
.oTn' unstropped his spurs from the
'CA or the saddle and buckled them
to his cells
] wish ! knew" he muttered, half
" himself, apparently half TO his
-"' 'ompanlon, as he waited for the
"'Aa 10 finish his supper, whether
fe@rlhunter has left. 1t looks
ee We had. And yet, that's not like
'l'ea--to cut out. Still there's
afs chance." He seemed to
sN'|Sle; flung up his head with a
% siimace and a toss of his hand.
.aH'e. he growled whats life
1N'lt It's chancel Life! Huh! A
s.'r Or chance-with the cards
ee'' and the devils deal! Rocket.
. 49,. carry double tonight. Yellow
-s eyes Ike bluebells and ankles
49,. Dqt high headed-she came dev-
p '' nigh shootin' me his afternoon
n @a. NE harder to tame, the better
n Worth tamiu'."
ne Fearlhunter was writing back
~ we pocket, his face like the rock
~ -. ..o1ehed against; but the sheriff
D-1l audged him.
-. -'e Red Mask looked down at the
~. appearing provender before
so-, '.Fse walked back and forth
n p,t HE cave time or two. turned
t g- >''2d for a moment or two fun
e. '.S behind the oak root where il
-.4- sheriff" He Strengthened
N ,r.' UP lis head and laughed bolster
49, He couldn't find lost eIe-
lei alone a wonderful wee lit
a. Of distilled witchery like