The Mena weekly star., 1921-11-17
M cd eI Grocery
 PHONE 57.
 NEIL RIDLING. Owner.
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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- CTS 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 cTanny; 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 all his dangerous world; the one friend who still regarded him as 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-i 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 the horse.
 "Short rations tonight, Rocket; and I'll make your toilet while you eat"
 He took down from near where the saddle hung a curry comb and brush from another of the numerous cran- nies of the cave and proceeded. with surprising skill and quickness, to 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, nail by 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 1t on the horse, drew the girths. hung the bride on the horn, unstrapped his spurs from the back of the saddle and buckled them to his heels.
 q wish l knew" he muttered, half to himself. apparently half to his dumb companion, as he waited for the animal to finish his supper. whether that Pearlhunter has left. It looks like he had. And yet, that's not like his breed-to cut out. Still, there's always a chance" He seemed to mediate; flung up his head with a bitter grimace and a toss of his hand. "Chancei" he growled. Whats life without its chancei Lifei Huhi A game of chance-with the cards stacked. and the devils deal Rocket, you'll carry double tonight. Yellow curls, eyes like bluebells and ankles --i But high headed-she came dew ilish nigh shootin' me this afternooni But the harder to tame, the better worth tamin'"
 The Pearlhunter was wrfthing back in the pocket, his face like the rock he crouched against; but the sheriff hadn't nudged him.
 The Red Mask looked down at the fast disappearing provender before the horse, walked back and forth across the cave time or two, turned and stood for moment or two fum- bling behind the oak root where it had been tied.
 That sheriff." He straightened, threw up his head and laughed bolster ously. "He couldn't find a lost ele- phant, let alone wonderful, wee lit- tie drop of distilled witchery like this.s
 (To Be Continued)