The Lamar register., 1920-09-22


the very finest material and of fin
ished workmanship. Under II lay
other articles of wonan's wear. al
equally rich. though now yellow with
the stain of time. Down beneath
everything else lev small box which
the Boss. from nm experience which
befeli him ns soldier in the far
South, knew 10 be satinwood.
The young man stood with II in his
hand, afraid to raise the lid afraid
TO put Il II the test. So far, the trunk
had given up nothing. lie was still
namcless. Whnt If this, too. should
prove n blank?
AT last The Pearlhunter raised the
lId-some baby clothes. clean md
neatly folded; u plain gold ring
wrapped In handkerchief of the
finest cambrlc: AMI, under all, pie
ture-what the Iron Gray-NVOman
must have been In her girlhOod. He
snatched II up, carried it to the light
of the door and looked long upon it.
After time he came back to the
trunk. The satinwood box was the
last article in It. and II had told him
nothing. He laid rhr picture in II. re
placed the baby clothes and ring.
closed the box and put 1t hack He
even took sort OF melancholy salts
faction In replacing with studied
ncalness. the glove. The dress and
other articles, after which he closed
the lid, locked IT, pocketed the key.
and turning 10 the window stood star
ing out over the river.
He was stiil II man without ii name
The Boss stepped back from the
door.
'rhe Blue Moon" he said. "Hlt
orta he putt away safe"
As II the statement recalled
thoughts that had strayed far. the
young man reached In his pocket and
drew forth the pearl. still rolled IN the
bit Of cloth.
The two days of ripening and the
chafe OF the cloth had greatly en-
hanced Its brilllance. Quietly rolling
the pearl up In the cloth again, he left
the cabin and, followed by the Boss.
strobe down the slope through the
trees TO the boat and together they
rowed away toward the village.
The fame OF the Penrlhnnter had
preceded him. As he came up from
the wharf into the town. the Mud
, Hen. the one saloon of the place dis.
gorged staggering, swearing popu-
lation that gathered round him. The
Boss crew. camped half mile below
Fallen Rock. and the crew OF Bull
Masterson. camped three miles above,
were both there. Besides these, the
/ Obenchain. small steamer plying be
tween the ports OF the Wabash. had
come in that morning, bringing other
river men.
Caught in the swirl OF the crowd.
the Pearlhunter and his companion
were swept into the Mud Hen. A hun.
dred voices clamored to have the pearl
laid upon the bar where all could file
by and see H. There fell few min
utes OF comparative quiet while the
hungry eyes OF the river men were de-
vouring II. Then followed drinks all
round-at the expense OF the finder;
and-what followed Is not Il pleasant
! task TO describe.
! ne feuflhunter, remembering that
mound OF fresh earth at Fallen Rock,
| kept his head and drank but little.
! The Boss, on the other hand, "cut tn
| dog loose" as the river men say. BY
noon he was singing snatches of half.
forgotten songs and fighting the In
| dian wars all over again. Coming up
| to where his young friend leaned
| against the bar. In easy reach OF the
| pearl, still lying upon Its bit OF cloth.
he threw an arm about his neck and
leant hard upon him, something he
couldn't have been hired 10 do when
sober
Come ere. you fellers. Thls'n's on
me. an it's to tn Pearlhunter. tn
| whitest man along tn wabash-an
be ID L tn man what says e
ANTI"
The rabble swarmed about the bar
all that were able. Bottle necks
gurgled; glasses clinked; red whisky
slzzled down hot throats; few
shouted; some swore; others merely
laughed foolishly.
That last drink was the Boss fin
ish. He wilted down into the nearest
chair; Iurched heavily over upon ta-
Bile and lay there mumbling, or laugh
ing in high, shrill key; occasionally
shouting out a note or two of a boat
I In oana tbat haA haan old nm th.a