The Lamar register., 1920-12-22

heard yOu sing. You undoubtedly have
great voice Now, I am rich. with
no one TO spend my money on. What
better could l do with II than give to
the world a great singerT II you will
go with me. you shall have the best
training the world affords"
He put one foot up on the doorstep.
his face beamlng-If such face can
beam. The Pearlhunter stinfened In
his place behind the curtain. The girl
never changed hairs breadth I'm the
narrow opening between the cheek Of
the door and the iamb. Her cold ST.
lence was apparently too much even
for the bold man that faced her
Aren't you going to invite me inr
'My father is away this afternoon.
! can not invite you In
II was the first word she had spok.
en--a word cold and hard enough;
but the brazen Intruder seemed TO take
encouragement from IT.
Then permit me TO invite myself"
He advanced n step. laid his hand to
the door, pushed lightly. The narrow
slit between cheek and jamb widened
not a hair
The passions of Prusslan noble
were behind that face outside They
began TO break through its thin ve-
neer of pollteness. He put his hat back
on, but still kept his hand on the
door.
81 might choose to come In"
The girl made no answer: neither
did she suffer the door TO yield. The
los r,fF 81. La 81,
face.
Il might demand TO come in"-some-
thing close kin 10 snarl slipped into
his voice-"to search this cabin for
Iat notorious desperndo. the Red
Mask. the murderer of Louie Solo
mon"
THE Red Mask is not in this cab
in"
The answer came slowly, and there
was peculiar emphasis upon the
word ''in." doubtle5s unconscious To
the listener behind the curtains. 1t was
as II she had said mot in the cabin.
lust IN front Of H."
The pressure on the door increased
The Pearlhunter saw the girl brace
her body against 1t. The door began
70 give a tiny mite at first-an inch
two inches
He could stand It no longer. He
was in the very act of sweeping the
curtains aside when the girls right
arm, the one hid behind the door,
dropped to her side. Her hand went
into the folds Of her dress. When it
came out It held the revolver he had
cleaned and put in order the night he
fore. She cooked the weapon and
leaped back. The door flew open. The
man on the step barely saved himself
from sprawling in upon the floor by
clutching the door iamb. When he re
gained his balance, he was gazing into
the muzzle of a very steady and de
pendable looking six-gun. At first
dush he actually thought it WAS Joke
You wouldn't shoot a MANI"
His voice had lost its jaunty assur-
ance.
NO" came the cold, crisp answer
down the steady barrel. ''hut I'd shoot
snake"
There was no chance Of misunder-
standing her.
''Damn'd If don't believe you
wouldi"
You know how to find out"
He knew. He slowly raised his
hands. The expression In his eyes
might have meant any number OF
things; first of all, that he bowed to
necessity; second, that he would come
again. Astonished. mortified, baffled-
that. most Of all baffled-he doubtless
salved his pride with that second
| thought: He would come again. The
girl sensed something of what smol-
/ dered deep in the bold eyes-eyes that
good woman could hardly meet with
out dishonor. But there were plans
| afoot-and she trusted them.
"Llstenl I'll give you time TO get
out of sight, If you walk fast If you
look back. or If you are in sight when
l think the time is up, I'll shoot; and
I I'll hit what shoot att
He studied the eyes back of the re
volver What he saw whirled hin
/ around, his hands still up, and started
/ him back down the path. The farther
/ he went the faster he went. In less
time than she had thought, he had
passed the turn and disappeared.
Lot H.