The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-29
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER xiiI-Continued. .

jumped. There was noInlnS else 10
do. He was still fioundering about
on the inner margin of the pool be-
hind the falls when the Pearlhunter
landed lightly beside him, almost up
OH him. The passage was dark-dark
as the inside of pistol barrel. 1t
was very reaSSuring fact. 1t meant
that there was no candle burning far
Their ahead in the cave. He was in
time. Making sure of that very inn
portant fact, he thrust the revolver
into the holster pocket at his hip.
grasped the sheriff by the collar and
hurried up the passage.
By 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 loose,4 the sheritf's collar and
struck a match. The sheriff caught
his breath and stared. The horse. the
candle in the Granny, the saddle and
spurs. the feed-all just as it had
been described 70 him.
~ never knew there was anything
like 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
ret into that pocket behind the hay.
Hurry! We mustn't show much light.
He's due any minute"
The one match served. So urgently
lid the PearIhunter consider the need
Of haste that before il was gone they
we're crowded well back in the pocket
behind the hay.
1.-The instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask, nudge me. and I'll
rive your revolver back. And I
Needn't tell you that when the time
comes to act. we've got to act quick"
The two men had stood in the peck
az for what must have been half an
hour. and the fhrob of the Pearlhunt
er's wound was becoming almost un-
hearable. when the horse grew sud
denly quiet. The Pearhunter sank
low in the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. A match scraped:
a sputtering flame hunted the candle
in the Granny; the cave. the horse.
the iaunty 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 az
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
rhe 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 ne
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 me
saddle hung a 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 hack the brush and curry
e.nmb. and. lifting the feet of the horse
examined them one by one. nail ny
nail. afterwarsi running his hands
down the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint. finally summing up
the inspection by listening with no
little care to the animals breathing.
II was The work of a master The IN
spection over. he took the saddle down
from the wall. threw il OH the horse
drew the girths. hung the bride on the
horn. u.,sfrnpped his spurs from the
hack Of she saddle and buckled them
TO his heels.
II wiSn | knew" he mnffered. hair
to himself. apparently half 70 MS
dumb companion. as he waited for the
animal 20 finish his supper. whether
that PearIhunter has LETT. II looks
like he had. And yet. that's not IKE
his breet:-tO cut out. Still. there
ALWAYS change. He seemed 10
mediate: flung up his head with a
bitter gr.mace and a toss OF his hand-
..Chance,'' he growled. 'What's life
without lis chance. Life. Huh A
game OF chance-wifh the cards
stacked. and the devils deal. Rocket
you'll carry double tonight. Yellow
! curls. eyes like bluebells and ankles
-, But high headed-she came dev'
ilish nigh shootin' me this afternoon
But the harder TO tame. the better
worth tamin.
The Pearlhunfer was writing back
in the pocket. his face like the rocs
| he crouched against; but the sheriff
| hadn't nudgad hin.
Tie Red Mask looked down at the
| fast disappearing proyender before
| the horse. walked back and forth
across the ave time or fwo. turned
md stood FOR moment or two rum
bling behind the oak root where II
| had been tied.
"Thaf Sheriff. He straightened
brew Up his head and laughed bolster
,usly. .He couldn't find = lost ele-
liant. LEI alone a wonderful. wee lit
lie drop of distilled witchery like
his"
From the dry CLAW and shaie back
L ~. had forth q