Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-12-14
CHAPTER TX.
Once TO Every Man,

laii ne Followed him, and then turned
pack toward the cabin of the three
gables. He had come into the path
and was passing the pool when the
light went ont In the windows. He
was sorry for that. He had hoped to
nave speech with the girl. Tomorrow
would be too late. Tomorrow the law
would be on his trail-and a pair of
eyes more terrible than the law.
Leaving the path, he stepped out
upon the fiat rock that jutted from
the bank into the pool. Once he
glanced at the cabin; then sprang to
the bank and went on up the path.
1t was far the hardest thing he had
ever tried to do in his life to go round
to that east window. 1t was partly
open. His breast was pounding; his
ears humming. He forced himself up
to the window and brought his lips
close to the sash.
wild Rose."
| He heard her start. and spring up
in bed. Then all was breathIess still.
| "Wild Rose!"
| The bed creaked. He heard her
soft feet moving about over the floor.
A muffied shadow came toward the
window-a shadow and a whisper:
"Pearlhunter
He reached his hand inside. A white
arm and slender fingers came out of
the gloom and found his palm. The
| shadow on the outside and the shadow
on the inside drew closer, the one
searching what that word would be.
| The man swallowed hard. Il sold
| the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to-
| day-five thousand dollars"
He felt thrill In the girls fingers
| This afternoon Louie Solomon was
murdered. and the pearl stolen"
She shuddered. took her hand out of
his and fumbled the loose garment
about her shoulders, but made no an
swer. Her mind was unconsciously
prepared for terrible things.
They accused me of the crime."
| The girl gasped. Her hands flut-
tered toward her throat
| "Youi"
"Me," he answered strained and
slow. 1--WE come to tell you. myself.
| because-because-y trusted me.
The mob had the rope around my
throat. But the sheriff got me away,
and put me in JAIL broke out, and
came to tell you. l couldn't bear for
you to think"
She stood perfectly still inside the
window. He mistook her silence. He
laid his hand on the window ledge and
tried to drive his eyes through the
| gloom to her face.
"please believe mel" he pleaded. He
| couldn't have pleaded harder had he
faced judge and jury. instead of mere
! ~ a ragged girl of the Flatwoods. Il
didn't kill Louie Solomon. | didn't
| take the Blue Moon
The white arms reached out toward
| him.
| No, No, ] do believe you."
Her face had come close to the win
| dow. He could see her eyes-like star
spots in the dark-bS with startle
ment, for they had caught sight of his
| tattered blouse; the dried blood on
him. and clotted in his hair. With a
| cry, her hands went to his face.
| "Why. your head is bleeding! And
your face
Scratches Nothing but scratches !"
he hastily treasured in tones that eau
ton held low; panied at her distress;
| pleased, too; his eyes alight.
"But this one on your headl It's a
cut-deep--a still bleeding" Her
voice was steadier. you must let me
bind up this one"
He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
| "We da'sn't risk light" he said.
"For your sake we da'sn't. The night
has eyes. And they'll comb these
| woods tomorrow
She shrank back into the room. He
drew half step nearer, laid his arm
on the ledge and stood fumbling the
| easement, lost in thought
"And vet I've that to do that must
| have light he unused, more to him
| self than to her, raising his head after
| a time and glancing toward the dim
| outline inside the window. rs there
| a blind on your window that would
| hide candle?"
"Why-yes-" she answered. puz-
zled and slow.
1t was long time before Ne spoke
again. Had the light served, she might
have seen in his eyes the struggle he
was going through. He rubbed his
| drawn lips together TO loosen them.
"Wnl you trust me in your room?''
The girl started. Her hands clutched
each other. She knew it was not to
| have his wounds dressed that he
asked. Short as her acquaintance
with him had been. she knew it was
| not that. 1t was no light reason that
| had driven him TO ask such privi-
| lece. 1t gripped her, shook her. but
strangely enough did not brighten her
'I'll trust you"
Not often in mans life does he
hear such gracious words. Nature is
not lavish of such gifts. The Shout
| ders of the Pearlhunter lifted. The
droop left his head.
MAY l come now? The night is 20
ing. The moon win be up in another
two hours"
''Yesr'
She stood farther back In the gloom.
He slipped lightly in over the sill.
please draw the blind before you
light the candle" he directed.
He saw her arm reach up along tie
easement. The blind came down.
within touching distance of each other
they stood in pitch darkness: man
and n woman alone-wrapped in the
silent secrecy of the deep woods He