The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08


He turned to the lef5 and walked along
the face of the cliff for so PAGES. Il was
solid rock. A chill like moving piece Of
ice went up Pete's back.
He returned to the shrub and passed
around it to the right.
At first he thought it merely the black
shadow of the shrub. He stepped closer and
then crouched with his revolver raised, for
before him opened a crevice directly behind
the shrub. 1t was trifle over six feet
high and less than half that in width a
man could walk through that aperture ard
lead horse. Pete entered the passage with
cautious steps.
Between each step he caused and listened.
He put forth foot and felt the ground
carefully with it. for fear of pebble which
might roll beneath his weight, or a twig
which might snap. His progress was so pain
fully slow that he could not even estimate
distance in the pitch dark. The passage
grew higher and wder-it turned sharply to
the right-a faint light shone.
Pete crouched lower and the grin OF ex-
pectancy twisted at his lips. At every step,
until this moment, he had scarcely dared to
DFSdCne, LOT lear O1 lie DulleC WHICH might
find him out Now all the advantage was on
his side. Behind him was the dark. Be-
fore him was the light which must outline,
however family the figure of any one who
lurked in wait. With these things in mind
he went on more rapidly. The passage wild
ened again and turned to the left. He
peered cautiously around the edge of rock
and looked into as comfortable a living
room as he had ever seen.
The rock hung raggedly from the top of
the cave, but the sides were smooth from
the action of running water through long,
dead ages. The floor was of levelpacked
gravel. Silver Pete remained crouched at
the sharp angle of the passage until he
gave him heart and courage to continue the
stealthy progress, inch by inch, foot by
foot, pace by pace, toward the light. and as
he stole forward more and more of TIE cave
developed before him.
A tall and sinewy horse was tethered at
one end, and at the opposite side sat a man
with his back to Pete, who leveled his re-
volver and drew a bead on a spot between
the shoulder blades Yet he did not fire,
for the thought came to him that if it
were an honor to track the Ghost to his
abode and kill him, it would be immortal
glory to bring back the bandit alive, a con-
crete testimony to his prowess.
Once more the cat-like progress began
until he could see the Ghost sat on his sad
die in front of level-topped boulder in
lieu of table. The air was filled with
the sweet SAVIOR of fried bacon and coffee.
Pete had crawled to the very edge Of the
cave when the horse threw up its head and
snorted loudly. The Ghost Strengthened and
tilted back his head to listen.
Cup with yer hands!" snarled Silver Pete.
He had his bead drawn and his forefinger
frightened around the trigger. but the Ghost
did not even turn. His hands raised slowly
above his shoulders to the level Of his head
and remained there.
"Standupw Pete said, and rose himself
from the ground, against which he had flat
tened himself. For if the Ghost had de-
cided to try quick play with his gun the
shot in nine cases out of ten would travel
breast high.
s'Turn around" ordered Pete, feeling
more and more sure of himself as he studied
the slight proportions of the outlaw.
The Ghost turned and showed face with
sad mouth and humorous eyes.
"By God" cried Silver Pete, and took
pace back which brought his shoulders
against the wall of rock, "Geraldine"
If the Ghost had had his gun on his hip
he could have shot Pete ten times during
that moment of establishment, but his belt
and revolver hung ON a jutting rock five