The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-05-14
CHAPTER xIiI-continued.


jumped. There was nothing else to
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 pistol barrel. 1t
was a very reassuring fact. 1t meant
that there was no candle burning far
ther ahead In the cave. He was In
time Making sure of that very i'm
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-all just as 1t had
been described to him.
II never knew there was anything
like this under Fallen Rock"
You're probably the third man that
ever did know 1t. Pick your steps
across those slivers 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 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 I
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 been half an
hour, and the throb Of the Pearlhunt-
er's wound was becoming almost un-
bearable. 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
Gu BVLhhk Out VI tlAC QdEks
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 to the caress, 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
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 tt
the horse.
"Short rations tonight. Rocket; ant
TIL make your toilet while you eat.
He took down from near where thu
saddle hung curry comb and brusl
from another Of the numerous Gran
MES of the cave and proceeded. witt
surprising skill and quickness, t.
groom the horse. The task completed
he laid back the brush and curr,
comb, and, lifting the feet Of the horse
examined them one by one. nail b,
nall. afterward running his hand
down the horses limbs and lingering
over each joint. finally summing Vi
the inspection by listening with n
little care to the animals breathing
1t was the work Of a master. The in
spection over, he took the saddle dow
from the wall, threw it on the horse
drew the girths. hung the bride on tn
horn unstrapped his spurs from tn
back of the saddle and buckled ther
to his heels.
81 wish I knew" he muttered. hal
to himself, apparently half to hi
dumb companion. as he waited for tn
animal to finish his supper. "whethe
that Pearlhunter has left. 1t look
like he had. And yet. that's not Iik
his breed--to cut out. Still. there
always a chance" He seemed t
mediate: flung up his head with
bitter grimace and toss of his hand
"Chance he growled. whats lif
without its chancei Life! Huh!
game OF chance-with the card
stacked, and the DEVILS deal! Rocket
you'll carry double tonight. yellow
curls, eyes like bluebells and ankle
II But high headed-she came dev
ilish nigh shootin' me this afternoon
But the harder to tame. the bette
worth. tamin'."
The Pearlhunter was writhIng bacl
In the pocket. his face like the rocl
he crouched against; but the sherif
hadn't nudged him.
The Red Mask looked down at tn
fast disappearing provender befor
the horse. walked back and tort
across the cave time or two turDe'
and stood for a moment or two fun
bling behind the oak root where
had been tied.
.srhat sheriff" He Strengthened
threw up his head and laughed bolster
ously. "He couldn't find lost ele
phant. let alone a wonderful, wee LII