American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-02-19
CHAPTER xi.
Only the Hunted Know.

OU'y tHe FNunteo KNOW.
For a long time the Pearlhunter Inv
wondering why the gorge didn't fall
In. While he lay and wondered. an.
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. lie came back to
the two patches OF sky; smiled oddly
they had TRANSPORTED; had become
the eyes Of the Wild Rose.
The shooting had brought her. Her
arm was under his head, and she was
saying something. A tinge of crimson
deepened the pink In her cheeks when
his eyes came open. What IL he had
heard But she met his eyes with
frank directness. lie lay looking up
at her long time; trying to compre.
bend II all; the wonder of itl-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 II was the cup he drank
from, or the thirst that parched him.
he took no thought, but 1t was the
sweetest drink that ever passed his
lips. She eased him back upon the
ledge. her arm still under his head. A
strand Of her hair fell upon his face.
She tried to shake II OF. He put up
his hand and covered II.
Her eyes dropped 10 his wounded
side.
II didn't know he was the Red
Mask" she said. as II In pursuance Of
his 6rst remark, "tlll those men came
this morning."
Her next words were low and thought
full. "T've wondered II II could hav,
been he that hurt Daddyi"
1T was him."
The girls breath Quickened. He saw
her fingers clencn.
But there WIS much to do. Her eyes
turned again to his blood-stained gar
ments, and she set about uncoverIng
the wounded side. There was little
enough 10 remove-a shred or two OF
tattered shirt; n laying back Of the
torn blouse. After the first start at
sight OF the wound she became curl.
ously thoughtful. The color mounted
to her face; he tried to meet her eyes,
but they turned AWAY.
"Can you spare me for minute"
For answer he lifted his head. She
took away her arm, eased him back
upon the rock, and he heard her light
step as she sprang around an angle
Of the cllff.
She was gone barely more than the
minute asked for. When she returned
she was carrying In her hands num-
Der Of strips-bandages-of white
cloth. Where she got them-weli.
That's her secret.
The bullet had cut a deep. ragged
gash Just below the armpit. II had
grazed rib. hut seemingly had not
broken It. With that encouraging fact
established. and the sting Of the
wound much ailayed. the mind Of the
man began reaching forward to the
night; the all.important night--when
a certain suave individual In a frock
coat would come TO feed certain
horse. He said no word of this to the
girl already binding the bandages
around the clean.washed wound. She
would have secuted the bare sugges-
ton ~ the things he was planning to
do the moment the dark was sufficient
ly dense to hide him.
She drew what was left OF his tat
tered shirt and blouse over the ban
dage at last, laid his wounded arm
across his breast and slung II there by
a strip OF cloth passed up around MS
neck. and helped him to his feet
II shamed him that he was abso'
lutely compelled to cling fast to her
10 lean heavy upon her, or go back to
| the rock. His face was far too whlte
to show the modification he felt, hui
| she saw II IN his eyes. Lifting his
well arm and laying II across hef
shoulders, she caught her left arm
! about his blouse waist ard stendied
! him.
The Wild Rose seemed "a have tax
on toll OF every bit OF sunshine thai
ever struck the Flatwoods. That was
the distinguishing feature OF her per
sonaIity. That and her good souho
sense. Her face wns beamlng fuli OF
both right now-the sunshine and th'
sense. She was smiling up at him. M
knew. lie was staring cway above hel
head-but he knew. The smile grad
ually drew his eyes down out OF TN
trees. lie could no more help II thar
he could help leaning upon her sh'
,aughed-a heartening little laugh
| like the happy water curling agains
the ledge. lie laughed back III
couldn't help II. The restrain wa
broken; the smart gone.
He glanced down at the ledge oetor'
leaving TO see that no tell-tnle D'oo'
spots or bits of cloth were le't =
needless precautlon-her wooderai
was as fine as his own. d,
How she managed to lead him. nal