The Lamar register., 1920-12-01
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER Never having known ms
father. and living with his mother on a
houseboat on the Wabash river THE
PeaTlhunter"-the only nHme he has
learns from her part of the story OF
her sad life. The recital is Interrupted by
n fearful NJ Of coughing and he hurrle-
ashore to seek Il ROOT thst affords reiie'
Returning with tie root. lie meets
young siri whom he mentally christe's
the ''wlld Rose" Sno eludes him before
ne can make her ac1uainianes.
CHAPTER Ia vacant cabin on the
shore has attracted the attention OF thC
iiling woman. and they move into II
Their nrst meal L. interrupted by a
stranger who res"nts their presence. The
youth drives the mau from their home
His presence has strangely affected TIE
mother. That night The youth nnds with
IN mussei the largest pearl that hs-
been found on the river the Blue Moon.
Returning eSuitHnt to the cabin. lie dis
covers his mother dead she having sac
eumbsd while rndea. oTins 10 leave
message revealing tn. secret Of MS par
sntage
CHAPTER III at the village cf Fallen
flock, TO which he takes the gem for safe
keepinz. the "Pearlhunter'' meets the
stranger who had disturbed his mother
in their cabin. and Insults him They
part bitter enemies
CHAPTER ". 90 In the village the
"Pearlhunter'' sees uhe girl who had at
tracted his attention IA the woods. She
Is annoyed BY the stranger. and tie
"Pssrlhunter' reseaes her from his IN
welcome sttentions H- accompau uies her
20 her horne
CHAPTER V.-At the house he meets
the sather of his "wnd Rose" known 20
the locality as the wild Man" mentally
irresponsible as the result of . wound re.
csived from a man wearing q red mask.
a notorious desperate. The youth de-
cisres his intention of devoting ths
money he 10 to get for the pearl to pay
ing for surgical operation which will
restore the old man. reason.
CHAPTER Win the cabin that night
the "Pearlhunter' 10 aroused from sleep
by the stsalthy visit OF 9 man who con-
cSals q red mask in the wall and makes
his escape The "Pesrlhuntsr." mystifed,
and suspectinE foul play. destroys IL
Next day Louie Solomon. pearl buyer
purchases the .em for q COO
CHATTER vII.-solomon accompanies
the youth TO his cabin and within a few
minutes OF their parting the pearl buyer
In stabbed and robbed OF the gem. The
''Pearlhunter' ls charged with the mur-
der and robbery and Is saved from lynch
Ing by the intervention of the sheriff.
The mob believes the "PeArlhunter" Is
the Red MASK" He 10 confined In the
village lookup.
CHAPTER vIu.-The stranger Offers TO
secure the release of the ''Pearlhunte Ter II
be will promise TO leave the vicinity. The
youth refuses Made desperate BY the
strangers threats OF hAIming the girl.
the young man prizes the bars from ths
window OF his cell and escapes
across, and using considerable care Ia
hide his trail. picked his way down
along the inside OF the brush-tanRieJ
rance row.
That path Il led out Of an old
world into n new. Peerins through the
bushes ne spared hurried glance to
ward the low place ia rhe fence where
the path crossed The stars peopted
the place with memories. A girl With
a basket; round, frank eyes; the sun
bonnet caught by an overhanging
limb; the curl that wouldn't behave
they all came to life out OF the
shadows So many things had hap
pened since lie walked that path with
her that II seemed long long ago: and
II was only yesterday.
The picture dissolved breath he
tween steps II had held him. aud he
was on on the long lanky jog. The
memory had brought half longing 10
traverse the path again. but prudence
warned him to keep away. The sharp
e>t eyes in the Flatwoods would be
On that path Al sunrise.
II the night did hold the menace he
feared-that in so many words bad
threatened-it would undoubtedly de
velop In or near the threegubied
cabin. As he drew near the place his
mastery Of woodcraft showed In his
approach. The bushes were not al
lowed to give up sound
light shone through the front win
dows OF the main room of the cabin.
He wondered at this. II made him
uneasy, for the evening was gone and
the ripe night come, Not many can
alee were alight at that hour In the
Fiatwoods. He sank back under the
bushes and crawled nearer. The mus
lin curtains were drawn, but no
shadows crossed. them. The stiffness
within vaguely disQuisted him. He
was searching for . way to crawl
little nearer, when the low tones Of
the cello broke across the silence; aho
ne knew the girl was keeping her lone
" vigil beside the stricken old man.
Then came the voice from throat
rho gods had kisssd. Each tone fouhc