River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-09-13

knows but he can't tell. We've got to
cast about" He picked up the dog
again, puzzled, and looked about him
in the gulch, suffused with moonlight.
"There sh'ud be soft dirt under those
asps, let's give look-see there"
They had not gone five feet into the
trees before man and dog made sim
Infamous discovery. For Sandy II
was a heel-mark left by Plimsoli,
treading heavily under his burden, a
slight depression enough, but plain to
Sandy Grit began to struggle in his
arms. Molly's hair or body must have
brushed against lower boughs al the
same height that Sandy carried the
wounded Grit and the scent still
chung.
"They c'udn't go fur in this direc-
ton by the looks of the place, Grit"
said Sandy. "See what you can make
of it." He put him down by the heel
print. Grit uttered low growl deep
back in his throat his ruff lifted He
started off, hobbling along, leading
truly over rock or sand, into the cove
where the split rock lay, its crevice
black, the vine curving down into 1t
like a serpent. Where Plimsoll had
laid her down Grit halted and raised
his head, his tongue playing in and
out of his jaws in his triumphant ex-
element, his eyes luminous, his tail
waving like the plume of a knight.
Sandy gently patted him, pressed him
down to crouch.
"Down charge, Grit," he whispered
in his ear. you've got it. You stay
here" Sandy had left his rifle at the
cabin when he carried Grit out, now
he spun the two cylinders of his
Colts, lowered himself into the split,
holding on to the vine, looking
straight into Grits lambent eyes.
"Stay here, son." he said softly,
and Grit licked the face now on
level with his own. "I'll be back"
Sandy had adventured more dam
gerous chances than this. He felt his
legs dangle into space and his hands
found curving loop in the vine trunk
that sagged slightly under his weight.
Extended at full length, his toes
touched bottom. Letting go, he
dropped lightly and stood in black
ness the crevice above him showing
a strip of azure light.
There was only the sound of drip
ping water. He ventured match,
holding it at arms length in his left
hand, fiicking friction with his nail,
an old trick. The match caught and
began to blaze instantly in the still
air. Low down, and to the right.
there showed stab of flame, the roar
Of an exploding cartridge, the reek Of
high-powered gas seemed to fill the
cavern. The bullet passed through
Sandys coat sleeve. If he had held
the match in front of him he would
have been shot through heart or
lungs. His right-hand gun barked
from his hip, straight for where the
flame had showed, then to right of it.
to left, above, his left-hand gun join
ing in the merciless probe. No Sec
ond shot came In answer.
Sandy lit another match. It's flare
showed him sandy floor, slightly
sloping, moist in one place, a charred
stick almost at his feet. 1t was a
pine knot. half burned, and he light
ed 1t easily, advancing toward the
spot where he had flung the shots he
knew had silenced whoever had fired
at the first match. He found Hahn,
crumpled up, shot through the right
arm and thigh, besides the other
wound in his shoulder.
Sandy turned him over. brought
Keith's flask into play. Hahn looked
up at him and essayed grin.
"Yo're game all right, Ham," said
Sandy. you amt the man I was
lookin' fo', but you fired first. I see
l wasn't the first to plug you. Meb-
be can fix you up bitY
Hahn shook his head.
'Twouldn't be a mite of USE" he
said huskily. mo grudge against
you, Sandy. l thought you one of
Brandon's gang. They got Butch and
me an they're chasin' Jim Plimsoll
to hell and gone-over Nipple peaks
If he beats 'em to Spur rock he'll
fool 'em on the black couldn't ride
he left me herewith the girl-but
the case Is empty and the banks
bu'sted-cashing- - time and no
chips"
He was wandering In his mind,
speaking without control. but Sandy's
mouth frightened at the mention OF
Nipple Peaks, relaxed again on the
word "girl." He gave Hahn the
last few drops of whisky. The dealer
coughed violently, collapsed. shud-
dered, writhed a little and was still
before he could answer Sandy's eager
question about Molly.
He found her without much seaSch-
ing, rolled down little slope beyond
the crevice. Under the light Of the
torch her eyes looked up at him. Her
hair was In disorder, her raiment
torn, her slender body wound about
by the lariat rope. her mouth and