The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-04-14
TIIlIIIIIIIlIIIiIlIlIllIIIllIIlIIIIIIIlIIIIIII
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

z Jumped. There was nothing else 10
do. He was still floundering about
on the inner margin of the pool be-
hind the falls when the Pearlhunter
landed lightly beside him, almost up
on 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 in
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 ut which
the passage widened into the cave.
: struck 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 to him.
81 never knew there was anything
: 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.
Hurry! We mustn't show much light.
He's due any minute"
The one match served. Sc urgently
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 peck
eft for what must have been half an
hour. and the throb of the Pearlhunt-
~er's wound was becoming almost I'M
hearable, 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 dame 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
ali 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 20
the 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 he
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 the
saddle hung curry comb and brush
from another of the numerous cram
mics of the cave and proceeded, witE
surprising skill and quickness, to-
groom the horse The task completed,
he laid back the brush and curry
comb, and, lifting the feet of the horse,
Examined them one by one, nail by
mail, afterward running his hands
down the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint, finally summing up
ithe inspection by listening with no
little care to the animals breathing.
Dit was the work of master. The in
spection over, he took the saddle down
trom the wall, threw it on the horse.
drew the girths, hung the bride on the
horn. unstrapped his spurs from the
back of the saddle and buckled them
TO his heels.
81 wish 1 knew" he muttered, half
Ito himself. apparently half to his
dumb companion, as he waited for the
animal to finish his supper, whether
that Pearlhunter has left. It looks
hike he had. And yet, that's not like
his breed-to cut out. Still, there's
always a chance" He seemed to
mediate; flung up his head with a
hitter grimace and toss of his hand.
t'Chancel" he growied. whats life
without its chancel Life! Huh! A
game of chance-with the cards
stacked, and the DEVILS dealt Rocket,
you'll carry double tonight. Yellow
curls, eyes like bluebells and ankles
- But high headed-she came dew
tlish nigh shootin' me this afternoon!
But the harder to tame, the better
worth tamin'"
The Pearlhunter was writing back
in the pocket, his face like the rock
he crouched against; but the sheriff
hadn't nu6ged him.
The Red Mask looked down at the
fast disappearing provender before
the horse, walked back and forth
across the cave time or two. turned
and stood for moment or two fum-
bling behind the oak root where it
had been tied.
"That sheriff" He etraightened
threw up his head and laughed bolster
ously. 'He couldn't find lost ele-
phant, let alone a wonderful, wee lit
tile drop Of distilled witchery like
this"
From the dry clay and shale back
of the oak root he had drawn forth a
small plush box. With the word ''this"
he blew the dust off. and pushed in
the catch. The lid tipped up. On the
tiny cushion lay the Blue Moon
ltwiDkling in the candle-light, not I'M