Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-26
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHAPTER xIIl-Continued.

# Jumped. mere WIS HOlnlnS else 10
IA. 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
ou him. Tie passage was dark-dark
IS the inside of a pistol barrel. It
Was q very reassuring fact 1t meant
ffat 5aere was no candle burning far
tier ahead in the cave. He was in
tue Making sure Of that very inn
81 r8gan; fact he thrust the revolver
into The holster pocket at his hip,
sasped 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
bis breath and stared. The horse, the
candle in the Granny, the saddle and
spurs the feed-all just as it had
been described to him.
q never knew there was anything
like this under Fallen Rock"
you're probably the third man that
ever did know it. 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.
THE instant you're convinced Tn
not the Red Mask, nudge me, and III
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 pock-
ct for what must have been half an
hour, and the throb of the Pearlhunt-
er's wound was becoming almost I'M
bearable, when the horse grew sud
denly quiet. The Pearlhunter sank
low in the cover and pulled the sheriff
down beside him. match scraped;
a suffering flame hunted the candle
In the Granny; the cave, the horse,
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 him in
I'd all his dangerous world; the one
friend who still regarded him as a
S. 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
81 escaped his glance now! But he
was totally unsuspecting. Without
raising his eyes as far as the pocket,
@ ne grabbed up a handful or two of the
81 brightest straws and turned back to
@ the horse
Snort rations tonight. Rocket; and
III Il make your toilet while you eat"
He took down from near wnere the
saddle Edng curry comb and brush
sd IRON another Of the numerous cram
uies Of The cave and proceeded. with
surprising skill and quickness, to
stooh the horse. The task completed.
re laid back the brush and curry
comb ard, lifting the feet of the horse,
examined them one by one, nail by
usA efterward srunning his hands
ugWn the horses limbs and lingering
o'e' each joint, finally summing up
.he IL nection by listening with nc
,llde care to the animals breathing.
i vas the work of master. The in
fectl9h over he took the saddle down
rom the wall, threw it on the horse,
ele" the girths hung the bride on the
I'm aHstrapped his spurs from the
uaca of the saddle and buckled them
to his heels.
WISH | knew" he muttered. half
y himself, apparently half to his
al.-9 companion, as he waited for the
li'a. to finish his supper, whether
H. fe2rlhunter has left. 1t looks
'as ne had. And yet that's not like
,s o5sed-to cut out StIl, there's
@Na3s chance." He seemed to
ssEa.e; flung up his head with a
almace and toss of his hand.
.aPae he growled. "Whars life
.eaaaT its chance Life! HUH A
$40 Of ch9nce-with the cards
@ $50 and the devils deal! Rocket.
~ !. carry double tonight. Yellow
yes lie bluebells and ankles
49, aat high headed-she came dew
p sa a.s Oh shootin me his afternoon
-. .Ae harder to tame, the better
worth tamiu'."
- fearihunter was writing back
as pocket, his face like the rock
& '-eaed against; but the sheriff
l. judged him.
ne Red Mask looked down at the
ppearing provender before
walked back and forth
~ cave time or two. turned
~ 41 for a moment or two fum-
sa.na the oak root where it
seen Ted
sheriff" He Strengthened
Is head and laughed bolster
He couldn't find a lost ele-
alone a wonderful. wee lit
y distilled witcberv ike