The state herald., 1921-04-15
CHAPTER xi.
Only the Hunted Know.


other strange thing happened-the
very strangest of all.
The top of the gorge began TO open
opened and let in two little patches
Of sky. He kept his eyes on them
two little spots of blue set between
clouds of pink and gold The gorge
top opened wider He came back. 10
the two patches of sky: smiled oddly
they had transiigured; had become
the eyes of the Wild Rose.
The shooting had brought her. Her
arm was under his head. and she was
snying something. a tinge of crimson
deepcned the pink in her cheeks when
his eyes came open. What II he had
heard But she met his eyes with
frenk directness. He lay looking up
n her long time; trying TO compre-
herd 1t all; the wonder of It that
she was there.
She helped him edge a little nearer
the brink of the ledge. raised him. and
he drank out of her cupped palm.
Whether 1t was the cup he drank
from, or the thirst that parched him,
H. took no thought. but il was the
sweetest drink that ever passed his
lis. She eascd him back upon the
}, ge, her arm still under his head a
strand of her hair fell upon his face.
Sic tried to shake IT on. He put up
hS hand and covered 1t.
Her eyes dropped to his wounded
slle.
Il didn't know he was the Red
N'sk." she said MS II in pursuance of
hs first remark, It'll those men came
This morning.
Her neNt words were low and thought
r. I've wondered If 1t could have
hrn he that hurt Daddy?"
1T was him"
The girls breath quickened. He saw
her fingers clench.
l'ut there was much TO do. Her eyes
trrned again TO his blood. stained gar
mpnts, and she set about uncovcrln.
he wounded side. There was little
81 ugh TO remove-a shred or two of
IL 'cred shirt; laying back OF the
i,n blouse. After the first start NJ
SIGHT cf the wound she became curl.
orely thoughtful. The color mounted
io her fnce; be tried TO meet her eyes,
bur they turned away.
Can you spare me- for a mlnute;"
For answer he lifted his head. She
ionk awny her arm, eascd him hncl;
uron The rock. and be heard her light
step as she sprane uround mn anglo
of he elm.
She was gone barely more ihnn the
minute asked for. When She returned
she N9s carrying IN hcr hands a mum,
her of strips-handuges-of white
cloth. Where she got thcm-weli.
that's her secret.
The bullet had cut deep, ragged
gnsh Just below the armp.t. II had
srazed a rib, hut seemingly had rot
broken H. With that encouraging rac;
established. and the sting Of the
wound much allaycd, the mind OF the
man began reaching forward to the
nlsht; the nll-lmportnnt night when
a certaln suavc Individual IN frorl.
coat would come to feed n certain
horse. He said no word Of this Ia the
elrl already binding the hnndnges
around the clenn.washed wound. Shr
would have secuted the bare sur,a.
lion Of the thing, he was planning tn
do the moment the dark was sufficient
~ dense to hide him.
She drew what was left OF his TAI,
tered shirt and blouse over the ban.
dngc nj last. laid his wounded arm
across his breast and slung II there hy
strip Of cloth passed up around hii
neck and helped him to his feet.
II shnmcd him that he was nliso.
lu'cly compelled to cling fast to her
10 lean heavy upon hcr or go back 10
the rock. His fncc was fnr too white
to show the modification he felt. hu,
she saw II In his eyes Lifting HI.
wcli arm and laying II ncross her
shoulders she caught her left arm
about his blouse waist nnd sicadlrd
him.
The Wild Rose seemed to hnyr taxi
~ ihll W 'NfIN Ntl Ni hNlNliiht tNnl
wcr struck the tlntwoods That wus
fhe distinguishing feature Of her per
sonallty That and her good. sound
sense. Her face Nns henmlnF fun az
both right now-thc sunshine mud ilr
sense. She was smiling M at him. b.
knew. lie was stirring away above her
head but he know The smile grad
unily drew his eyes down out of TIM
trees, lie could no more help Il ihnH
hc could help leaning upon her. Sll
lnushci-n heatoning little lnugll
NO the happy water curling agniur
m ledge lie laughed hnct ~
cci'dn'i help H. The restraint w
hf ten: the smart gone.
i'e glnnroi down nj the ledge hcfnr
lr',lng tn see lhut no icll.tale bluu \
Tns or bits Of cloth were lcft. A
h, 'liess prcenniion wooicrnf
~ ~ fine ne his nwn.
ace shr mnnnged TO lend him hnl'
81 i'' oct ~ li," rock, and hrei