The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-11
PAGE T'H1IIEB

| over The soft locks and smOOthed them.
| II seemed a long time to the Penri-
hunter before she raised her face. He
h"f ireaded 10 see her eyes; but--a
desperate glance--no reproach In
them. lie had not been misunder-
stood.
81 don't know how am to go on"
Her throat and neck and face famed
crimson at the admission. II can't
leave to 60 out to service; and all the
furniture that can be spared ! have
sold"
"Only your own" he blurted out,
rather Imprudently, as he reflected aft
erward. for how was she to know that
he had glanced into her room1
81 didn't wish Daddy to miss any
thing"
The unsehshness OF her act seemed
not to have entered her mind, but 1t
was not lost on the Pearlhunter.
"The storekeeper has been so good
to me, and trusted me for so many
things. I'm afraid to think Row nIuch
owe him. But he Is old. and his wife
has been III. 1t mortiies me to have
to ask him for more credit, but can't
let Daddy starve. Money used to come
TO us before he got-hurt. But I
found out afterward that II always
came addressed simply to Box %. Not
even the postmaster knows Daddy's
name. Neither--do--Iw
Her voice fell very low. The Pearl
hunter pitIed her. for he knew what
It was like not to know "Daddy's
nnme."
"The doctor says." she went on,
shat the bullet broke piece Of skull.
so that It presses on the brain. He
thinks a great surgeon he knows might
, be able to raise that little piece OF
skull and made Daddy well. And that's
I what hurts me worst Of all-that !
Z can't have It done"
, She stopped; turned her head away
A There came into the mans level eyes
8 q look that the hard men Of the river
i had learned to know.
"Listen!" he snid. "You INST trust
r me. You must let me help you. You
v already know the story of the Blue
D Moon. Such u find always brings the
pear, buyers. They flock to II IKE
vultures to carcass. They'll soon
/. be here-maybe tomorrow. I'll sell the
e pearl, and you shall send for that sur,
geon."
| Like one waking from dream TO
4 find the dream come true-she turned
y slowly and raised her face to his. The
full significance OF his offer, the big
generosity of II, the immense fact of
" II, escaped her In the first moments.
y Only mere detail OF II reached her. y
4 "I--we-couldn't ever pay you back"
: II was on his tongue to say he didn't
expect 10 be paid back-that he didn't
4 want TO be paid back, but a glance at
| her somehow made such an answer I'M
, possible. The book case gave him an
inspiration.
III "You could let me read these books. y
"Why, you could do that anyway"
She looked ut him In curious sur
prise. Not knowing the hope that was
\ slowly waking In her, he misinterpret
VI ed the look lie avoided her eyes.
l, His generosity had overreached his
tact. Such an offer couldn't be made
!. to a girl in the same way II could be
= made to man. His eye roved the
1 room in desperation. II lighted final
J iy on the cello still leaning against the
~ old mans chair.
I'LL "You can teach me singin' lessons !
II He said 1t good deal as mar
might consent to surgical operation
III with the chances dead against him.
v "That wouldn't be worth-money.
she said. "That would just be fun, 4
things were so l could"
' The Pearlhunter picked up his ha
from the table. stood fumbling II ant
thinking intently. Il went against tn,
grain of him to give up till the las
h. lick was struck. Something she hat
ne said few minutes befofe happene'
into his thoughts.
~. "When your father Is we'll. there'l
i, be more money coming TO Box %. III
can pay me back then himself"
nj He said II slowly-like a man layin
loo bis last card on the table, and the odd
"A. against him.
But the effect was utterly opposit
w to what he had dreaded. Her eye
sprang to his face, and there wa
something In them he had not seeI
there before. He knew In that In
~ slant that she had not misunderstood,
~ him. With a freedom from which tn
", high moment took even the TIMES
ns semblance Of boldness she stepped ia
~ ward him and laid her hand on hi
ss arm.
~" You're wonderful I don't suppos
'"s anybody else In the world would d
~ such a thing for folks like-us-fo
~ strangers. Forgive me that I didn'
~ thank you. 1t was all so marvellous
lo But do, do. over and overW
~ The puzzled misgivings on the wind
seasoned face OF the man melted u
into slow smile.
"It's nothing" he said.
u" That was the best he could do, IN
; utmost syllable he could muster.
"s "Nothingi When Daddy IL TO
q. ,all a.,