The Lamar register., 1920-11-24

dishes and a tin cup of black coffee out
of the fiat basket and held them close
TO the bars. He stood well back, TAX
ing quite evident pains to keep his re.
4 volver butt out OF reach. He did not
know there was very dependable
weapon already on the other side OF
the bars. He made no move to unlock
the door or to enter the cell.
None of this escaped the Pearlhunt.
or. The chance to use his stove leg
was as good as gone. or rather, II was
not going to come Once he considered
the desperate move OF drawing his re-
volver and forcing the sheriff to open
the door. But the sheriff was known
to be q brave man. He might fight,
and II he did. one or the other Of them
would be killed. The Pearlhunter dis
missed the plan.
'Th' woman didn't know there'd be
company tonight" the sheriff muttered
a. he held the dishes within reach of
the arm thrust through the bars. I'm
afeared youll be skimped little. But
wen try an cook up a-plenty In the
morning"
He closed the door and turned the
key In the lock. The Pearlhunter
watched him until he had crossed the
square of light shining out from the
kitchen and re-entered the house. until
the door closed and the muslin cur
tains fell back into place at the side
window. Then he laid the stove leg
by. His chance was gone.
Th. r.~atyae ,,ndar
waistband at the flank OF his back
and hidden by his blouse seemed to
have a personality. Its friendly pres.
ence helped his appetite, though. for
that matter II was already keen
enough, as he had eaten nothing since
morning. He could have eaten three
such suppers as the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver: the thought
Of a grizzled old river man. doubtless
at that moment rowing hard up the
river. took some of the smart out of his
swelling shut He winked II timber
and stood wondering whether to blow
out the candle or leave 1t burn a while
finally blew II out, and went back TO
the west window.
A sound caught his ear; steps com.
Ing down the river road. He listened.
The steps turned In at the jail yard ;
came around to the west window.
face appeared between the bars.
Enough light fell from the stars TO re-
veal its identity-the suave, handsome
face of the man he least expected 20
see there.
ha aarthNnfar ruf rlnsa. IN the
window. The other backed step
away.
PLEASED to fnd you in he sneered.
The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt
In silence. II seemed to irrItate the
other that his shot had missed.
"Just thought I'd call around at your
-ah-your boarding place this evening
and talk over little matter Of busi-
ness-a sort Of -ah-
bargain" he drawled.
The man on the inside of the bars
made no answer. His face was as
stolid as II he hadn't heard. Neither
was the other much on talk. He shot
straight and talked the same way.
Half petulantiy he shifted to his other
foot; took his thumbs out of his vest
pockets. The easy smile left his face !;
the real man came out--a wildcat
| fanged and clawed.
I'll uncork this rotten old Jug" he
growled. IF you'll bolt the Flatwoods
and stop queerin' my game"
His lips snapped tight His cards
were on the table. The Pearlhunter
| pondered them In his deliberate way
and cast up the sum total Of their e1-
act value.
First. There would be no mob.
Otherwise he would have trusted to
that. The meeting behind the Mud
Hen had hzzled.
Second. He had no stomach for
going Into court.
Third. "Queerin' his game" What
did he mean by his gamer He couldn't
have meant the Blue Moon, for be
didn't know the Pearlhunter knew he
had It. His game. That tense scene
at the fence the evening before flashed
up clear as the river bed under the
Jack light: girl with a basket Z;
frightened eyes; yellow curl that rose
and fell upon a startled bosom.
It'll stay where ] am" he answered.
crisp and cold. "The law put me in {:
| -. r~- <ras ma o,,f