The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-02-25
oxIIl-continued.

on the inner margin OF the pool be
hind the falls when the pearlhuntel
landed lightly beside him, almost up
on him. The passage was dark-dprh
as the inside Of a pistol barrel. u
was a very reassuring fact. II meant
that there was no candle burning far
Their ahead in the cave. lie 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 a
There he loosed the sherif's collar and
struck a match. The sheriff caught
his breath and stared. The horse. the
candle in the Granny. the saddle ard
spurs, the feed-all just as it had
been described TO him.
Il never knew there was anything
like this under Fallen Rock"
You're probably the third mar that
ever did know 1t. Pick your steps
across those slivers of shaIe 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.
'The instant you're convinced I'm
not the Red Mask. nudge me, and I'll
give your revolver back. And l
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 nave been half an
hour. and the throb Of the Pearlhunt-
er's wosnd was becoming almost un-
bearable, when the horse grew sud-
denly quiet. The P~earlhunter sank
low in the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. A match scraped;
a sputtering flame hunted the candle
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 hixl In
all his dangerous world; the n
friend who still regarded him as a
gentleman. The horse reacheds5u his
nose to meet him rubbed his shoulder
gave to the caress, then hurried to
the corn sack. aid three ears upon
the rock, and turned to the hay.
Now was the critical instant. If they
escaped his glance now But he
wds totally unsuspecting. Without
his eyes as far as the pocket.
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 neal where the
hung a curry comb and brush
rom another Of the numerous cram
surprising skill and quickness, to
room the horse. The task completed.
ne laid back the brush and curry
.omb. and. lifting the feet of the horse.
examined them IN by one. nail by
nail. afterward running his hands
Town the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint. finally summing up
inspection by listening with no
little care to the animals breathing.
Il was the work of a master. The in
;pectlon over, he took the saddle down
rom the wall. threw II on the horse.
rev the girths. hung the bride OF the
lorn. %unstrapped his spurs from the
Jack of the saddle and buckled them
o his heels.
II wish | knew" he muftered. half
0 himself. apparently half TO his
umb companion. as he waited for the
nimsl TO finish his supper. whether
nat Pe~arlhunter has left. 1t looks
Ike ne had. And yet. that's not like
Is breed-to cut out. Still. there's {
ways a chance" He seemed 10 {
editate: flung up his head with a
tier grimace aud a toss of his hand. {
chance!" he growled. "What's life S
its chancel Lifel HUH A r
of chance-with the cards v
acked, and the devils deall Rocket. 4
)u'll carry double tonight. Yellow a
urls. eyes like bluebells and ankles +
! But high headed-she came dew &
Ssh nigh shootln' me this afternoon! g
ut the harder TO tame. the better Il
tamin'." "
The P~earlhunter was writhing back &
the pocket. his face like the rock s.
!, crouched agalntt; but the sheriff k
ldn't nudged him.
The Red Mask looked down at the o.
st disappearing %provender before N
e horse. walked back and forth IL
the cave a time or two. turned q
I'd stood for a ome or two FUN ST
ing behind the oak root where IL hi
ID been tied. u
THAT sheriff." He Strengthened. "
rev up his head and laughed bolster IL
sly. HE couldn't find a lost ele- q
amt. let alone a wonderful. wee lit W
!, drop of distilled witchery like re
~
From the dry clay and shale back d
the oak root he had drawn forth q Il
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