The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-01-14
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

4 SiLtu the COIuindnQ. Inc SHoTlD
jumped. There was nothing else tC
do. He was still foundering 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 II
was very reassuring fact. 1t meant
/ that there was no candle burning far
-ther ahead I'm 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 a match. The sheriff caught
his breath and stared. The horse. the
candle in the Granny. the saddle and
spurs. the feed-9ll just as it had
been described TO him.
II never knew there was anything
like this under Fallen Rock"
You're probably the third man that
.Ter did know it. Pick your steps
across those slivers of shale there and
get into thar pocket behind the hay
Hurry! We mustn't show much light.
He's due any minute"
The one match served. So 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.
1.-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
ct for what must have been half an
hour and the thrOb of the PearIhunt-
ers wound was becoming almost I'M
beara bic. when the horse grew sud
denly quiet. The Pearlhunter sank
low In the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. match scraped
a, spu ttering flame hunted the candle
in thu Granny; the cave. the horse.
the ja unity form of the man they await
ed sptang 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
with his head A moment the man
gave 10 the caress. then hurried TO
the corn sack, laid three ears upon
the ro ok. 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
che no sc.
Short rations tonight Rocket; and
I'll make your toilet while you eat"
He took down from near where the
s.tddle hung a curry comb and brush
from another of the numerous cram
MES of the cave and proceeded. with /
skill and quickness. TO I
groom the horse. The task completed. I
he laid back the brush and curry 4
comb, and. lifting the feet of the horse. +
exaI iinsd them one by one, nail by I
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.
It was the work of master. The in
spectiOn over he took the saddle down
from the wall. threw it on the horse
drew the glrths, hung the bride on the
horn. unstrapped his spurs from the
back of the saddle and buckled them
TO his heels.
II wish knew" he muttered. half
10 himself. apparently half TO his
iumb companion. as he waited for the
animal TO finish his supper. whether
hat Pearlhunter has left 1t looks
ike he had. And yet. that's not like
his breed-to cut out Still. there's
llways chance" He seemed TO
flung up his head with a
utter grlmace and toss of his hand.
Chance" ne growled "What's life !
without its chance! Life! Huh.
ame of chance-with the cards
tackled. and the DEVILS dealt Rocket. |
oull carry double tonight. Yellow
urls eyes like bluebeIs and ankles
= But high headed-She came dew ,
iSh nigh Shootin me this afternoon
tut the harder 10 tame. the better :
-orth tamin"
The Pearihunter was writhing back I
! the pocket. his face like the rock :
e crouched against; but the sheriff {
admit nudged him. I
The Red Mask looked down at the 9
list disappearing provender before $
lie horse. walked back AID forth f
cross the cave time or two. turned |
nd stood for Il moment or two fun <
ing behind the oak root where il I
adj been tied. s
THAT sheriff. He enlightened.
rev up his head and laughed bolster a
lsly He couldn't find lost eie- il
lant. let alone Il wonderful. wee lit o
e drop Of distilled witchery like il
lis"
From the dry clay and shaIe back a
the oak root he had drawn forth b
nall plush box. With the word this Il
. blew the dust off. and pushed in Il
e catch. The lid Tipped up. On the fl
nv cushion lay the Blue Moon b
rfnkling In the candle-lfchf rot nm ! II