The state herald., 1921-04-22

behind the hay,
"1'he instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask, nudge me, and I'll
give your revolver bnck. 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 pocls-
ct for what must have been hnlf an
hour, and the throb of the Pearlhunt-
cr's wound was becoming almost un-
bcurablc, when the horse grew sud
denly quiet The pearlhuntcr sank
low In the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. a match scraped:
n sputtering flame hunted the candle
in the granny; the cave, the horse,
the jaunty form OF the man they await
ed sprnng 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 stlll regarded him as
gentleman. The horse reached out his
nose to meet him rubbed his shoulder
with his head. A moment the man
gave 10 the carcss, then hurried to
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,
wns totally unsnspecting. Without
raising his eyes us 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
nies 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 one. nail by
nail, aftcrward 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 master. The In
from the wall, threw II on the horse.
drew the clrths. hung the bride on the
horn. unsirappe1 his spurs from the
back of the saddle and buckled them
10 his heels.
81 wish knew" he muttered. hnlf
to himself. apparently half to his
dumb companion. as he waited for the
animal TO finish his supper, whether
that Pearihunter has left. II looks
like he had And yet. that's not like
his brced--to cut out. still. there's
always chance" He seemed to
mediate: flung up his head with
bitter grimace and n toss OF his hand.
"Clunccv' he growled. whats life
without It's chnnccl Lifel 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
II But high headed-shc came dew
llish nigh shootin me this afternoon!
But the harder 10 tame, the better
worth iamin'."
The Pcarhunter was wrlthlng back
In the pocket. his face like the rock
he croucbed against: but the sheriff
'indn't nudged him.
The Red Mask looked down nj the
fast disappearing prnvender before
the horse. walked buck and forth
across the cave time or two. turned
and stood for moment or two fun
bling behind the oak root where II
had been tied.
''Thnt sheriff" He Strengthened.
threw up his head and laughed bolster
ously. "He couldn't find lost ele-
phani. let alone wonderful. wee lit
tie drop OF distilled witchcry like
this"
From the dry clay and shale back
Of the oak root Ne had drawn forth a
small plush box. With the word "ihls"
he blew the dust OF, and pushed In
the catch. The lid nlpped up. on the
tiny cushion lny the Blue Moon
twlnklIng In the cnndlc.light. not un-
like the princess that walked up In the
cave of the dragon.
A. les, came tho sh.rin-s nudge
The Penrlhuntcr quietly passed his re-
volver over. There c, lldn't have been
sound In the net louder fhnn tho
drawing Of breath but somehow II
must have reached the man by the
horse. There cam" chnnge over his
fnce-n change 50 slight M "a be as
good Ms lmpercepilble: 10 he felt
rnther than seen. Had he so much ns
glanced townrd the pocket back OF the
hay the penrlhunlcr would hnvc acted
ON the Instant But he didn't glance
TINT way. Very leisurely he closed the
box. put Y In HIS vest pocket aud
locked doy 70 500 n the horse had
finished hi, supper.
The Penrlhunter was IN the net NJ
pressing against iho knee of the sheriff
In sign that the time Ind come, when,
totally without wnrning sound, with.
out the slightest preliminary motion,
thorn fntna n shot from hpllul il1r