American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-03-05

"Short rations tonight. Rocket; an,
I'll make your toilet while you eat
lie took down from near where tn,
saddle hung curry comb and brush
from another of the numerous Gran
mics Of the cave and proceeded. with
surprising skill and Quickness, 70
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, nall by
nail, afterward running his hands
down the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint. finally summing M
the inspection by listening with no
little care TO the animals breathing.
It was the work Of q master. The in
spection over, he took the saddle down
from the wal, threw II on the horse,
drew the girths. hung the bride on the
horn. unstrapped his spurs from the
back Of the saddle aud buckled them
/ to his heels.
~ wish ! know" he muttered. half
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 breed--to cut out. Stili. there's
always q chance" He seemed to
mediate: flung up his head with a
bitter grimace and toss Of his hand.
"Chance |" he growled. "what's life
without It's chancel Lifel Huh! A
game Of chance--with the cards
stacked. and the devils dealt Rocket,
youTi carry double tonight. Yellow
curIs, eyes like bluebells aud ankles
II hut high headed--shc came dew
uish nikh shootin' me this afternoon
But the harder 10 tame, the better
worth tamin'."
The Pearlhunter was writing bacl
In the pocket, his face like the rocl
he crouched against; but the sheriff
hadn't nudgcd him.
The Red Mask looked down AT thu
fast disappearing provender before
the horse, walked back and forth
across the cave time or two. turned
and stood for a moment or two rum
bling behind the oak root where i
had been tied.
THAT sheriff" lie Strengthened
threw up his head and laughed bolster
ousiy. "He couldn't ind a lost ele
plant, let alone a wonderful, wee III
tie drop OF distilled witchery 'lk'
this"
From the dry clay and shaie bacl
Of the oak root Ne had drawn forth
small plush box. With the word this
he blew the dust of. and pushed Il
the catch. The lid tipped up. On til
tiny cushion lay the Blue Moo
twinkilng In the candle light, not IN
like the princess that walked up In III
cave Of the dragon.
At last came the sheriTs nudg'
The Pearlhunter quietly passed his r.
volver over. There couldn't have bee
sound I'm the act louder than IN
drawing Of breath. but somehow
must have reached the man by IN
I horse There came n change over n
. face--n change so slight as TO be
!. good Rs impercep,lble: To be IL
4 rather than seen. Had he 50 much
G glanced toward the pocket back or u
hay, the Pearlhunter would have act'
on the instant. But he didn't gian'
/ that way. Very ielsrrely he closed u
II box, put II In his vest pocket M
o looked down TO see II the horse ha
II finished his supper.
, The Pearihunter was In the act
u pressing against the knee Of the sherl
, In sign that the time had come, whe
x totally without warning sound. wit
II out the slightest preliminary motto
II there came shot from behind u
r horse that dashed the candle out III
n shot was followed by scufiie OF fe'
a. The Pearlhunter .leaped the hay al
r. charged through the dense da
p. straight at the horse. II wasn't thei
ID From the passage came the clstter
hOOfs.
ID Followed by the stumbling sheri
" he CROPPED his way TO the mouth OF
n passage. He was barely In time
e. hear a splash. md the click Of ste
I'd upon the rocks OF the pool.
~ Ma Wnnkl