The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-02-17
CHAPTER xIii-continued.

sized the command. Inc SnerlU
Jumped. There was nothing else to
do. He was still laundering 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 a pistol barrel. 1t
was a very reassuring fact. 1t meant
that there was no candle burning far
sher 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 loosed the sheriff's collar and
struck q match. The sheriff caught
his breath and stared. The horse, the
candle in the Granny, the saddle and
spurs. the fced-all just as 1t had
been described to him.
81 never knew there was anything
like this under Fallen Rock"
you're probably the third man that
ever did know II. Pick your steps
ncross those sllvers 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. SO urgently
did the P%earlhunter consider the need
of haste that before II was gone they
were crowded well back In the pocket
behind the hay.
'rhe instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask, nudge me, and I'll
give your revolver back. And 1
needn't tell you that when the time
comes to act, we've got to act quick"
The two men had stood in the pock-
ct for what must have beer half an
hour, and the throb Of the PearIhunt-
er's wound was becoming almost un-
b~earable, 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 sputtering flame 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
all 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
xxr&fh HE haaA aar,anf tho n
gave 10 the caress, then hurried TO
the corn sack, laid three ears upon
the rock, and turned to the hay.
Now was the critical instant. IL they
escaped his glance now But he
was totally unsuspecting. Without
raising his eyes as far as the pocket.
he grabbed up a 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 a curry comb and brush
from another of the numerous cram
tnies OF the cave and proceeded. with
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 me-, nail by
nail. afterward 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.
1t was the work OF a master. The In
Espection over. he took the saddle down
from the wall. threw 1t on the horse.
drew the girths. hung the bride on the
horn. u%nstrapped his spurs from the
back OF the saddle and buckled them
TO his heels.
81 wish | knew" he muttered, half
ito himself. apparently. half to his
idumb companion. as he waited for the
|lanimal to finish his supper, whether
that Pearlhunter has left. IL looks
Hike hs had. And yet. that's not like
|shis breed--to cut out. Still, there's
Railways a chance" He seemed TO
fmeditate. flung up his head with a
Hbiffer grimace and q toss Of his hand.
@Chancel'' he growled. whats life
4 without its chance! Lifel Huh! A
game OF chance-with the cards
\ stacked. and the devils deal! Rocket.
you'll carry double tonight. Yellow
curls, eyes like blnebeIls and ankles
- But high headed-she came dew
ilish nigh shoorin' ne this afternoon !
4 Hut the harder 10 tame, the better
worth tamin'."
The P~earlhunfer vas writhing back
A me pocket. his face like the rock
|he crouched against; but the sheriff
hadn't nudged him.
The Red Mask looked down at the
fasf disappearing ~provendsr before
the horse. walked back and forth
across the cave q time or two. turned
mi stood FOR 4 moment or two FUN
blfnx behind the oak root where II
had heen TIED.
~rhat sheriff" He Strengthened
kbrew 10 hls head and laughed bolster
ousIy, me couldn't 1nd Z lost ele-
shanf Ief alone , wonderful. wee az
rs drop Or dIstlIIed Wifcls,ry 'ske
49, - hNt 4H