The state herald., 1921-04-01

| II wpuln probably he quite impnssi.
hie for the clty.hrcd % appreciate fully
the feelings of the pcarlhunier NJ fri.
| Ing the breath of the omen woods onre
,ore upon his face. The trees were
| Hike comrades In arms. The rough bark
that covered their stout hearts acinally
| felt friendly and good to HIS hands as
he daried Ike n shadow from one To
the other on his way OUT Of the iai'
yard and IN the side Of the hluG
Well knowing there would he eyes
on his trail In the morning he dared
not 70 directly to where his mIsgivincs
urged him. The sheriff he did not fear
To the sheriff he was stIl the noori'
Gus Red Mask. To the mob that was
sure to gather he would he the Red
Mask. His escape, with lock and boil
untouched. would nrystify both moh
nnd sheriff. They would ascrlbe II TO
the dread powers with which popular
fancy had invested his name.
But In the rabble that would curse
and clnmor about the old JAIL there
WOULD he one pair Of eyes that the
loosened bar would not escape: pair
OF eyes That would lind 1t lis sure as
he morning came, md rend the riddle
nt u glance. And they would he eyes
capable Of finding n truii--and follow
Ing It. Much as II went against him,
therefore, he turned his steps cas-; in
stead OF west and plunged In among
the clumped underbrush that grew
along the top OF the cliff.
Crossing the river road was the
problem. Choosing a place where the
grass came close to the track on each
side. short distance above where the
path leaves 1t at the turn. he lenped
across, and using considerable care to
hide his trail. picked his wny down
along the inside Of the brush-tangled
fence row.
Tint path! II led out of an old
world into new. Peering through the
bushes he spared hurried glance to-
ward the low place In the fence where
the path crossed. The stars peopled
the place with memories. A girl with
a basket; round. frank eyes: the SUM-
bonnet caught by an overhanging
limb; the curl that wouldn't behave
they NIL came to life out Of the
shadows. So many things had hap
pened since he walked that path with
her that II seemed long. long ago; and
1t was only yesterday.
The picture dissolved. A breath he
tween steps II had held him. and he
was or on the long. lanky jog. The
memory had brought n half longing to
traverse the path again. but prudence
warned him TO keep away. The sharp
est eyes In the Flatwoods would be
on that path at sunrise.
If the night did hold the menace he
fearcd-that In so many words had
threatened-lt would undoubtedly de-
velop In or near the thrce-gabled
cabin. As he drew near the place his
mastery of woodcraft showed In his
approach. The bushes were not al
lowed to give up sound.
A light shone through the front win.
dows of the main room OF the cabin.
He wondered nt this. II made him
uneasy, for the evening was gone and
the ripe night come. Not many can.
dies We're ,alight at that hour In the,
Flatwoods. He sank back under the
bushes and crawled nearer. The mus.
lin curtains were drawn. but no
shadows crossed them. The stiffness
within vaguely disJNteIed inm.' ye
was searching for way TO crawl n
little nearer. when the low tones of
the cello broke across the silence; and
he knew the girl was keeping her lone
ly vigil beside the stricken old man.
Then came the voice from n throat
the gods had kissed. Each tone found
u kindred sound In the cello and
coaxed II forth TO autter out upon the
listening night In lustrous witchcry
that somehow brough, TO the fancy Of
the listener under the bushes pie
ture OF soft-wlnged swallows skim
ming over s,in.klssed waters.
The figure of n man slid into the
candle glow that beat the night back
for space outside the window
trim; compact; jarnty-the man he