Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-10-28

eAAS
afeared you'll be skimped a little. But
We'll 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.
The revolver tucked under his
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, it 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 ofthiS
cuts and bruises. His left eye was
swelling shut. He winked it timber
and stood wondering whether to blow
out the candle or leave it burn a while;
finally blew it 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. A
face appeared between the bars.
Enough light fell from the stars to re-
veal it's identity-the suave, handsome
face of the man he least expected to
see there.
The Pearlhunter came close to the
window. The other backed a step
away.
PLEASED to find you in" he sneered.
The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt
in silence. 1t 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 we a little matter of bust
ness-a sort of proposition-a-ah-
bargain" he drawled.
The man on the inside of the bars
made no answer. His face was as
stolid as if he hadn't heard. Neither
was the other much on talk. He shot
straight and talked the same way.
Half petulantly 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.
"Il uncork this rotten old Jug" he
growled, eff you'll bolt the Flatwoods
and stop queerin' my game"
His lips snapped tight. His cards
were on the table. The P%earlhunter
pondered them in his deliberate way
and cast up the sum total of their ex-
act value.
First. There would be no mob,
Otherwise he would have trusted to
that. The meeting behind the Mud
Hen had fizzled.
Second. He had no stomach for
going into court.
Third. "Queerin'" his game" What
did he mean by his game? He couldn't
have meant the Blue Moon, for he
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: a girl with a basket
frightened eyes; a yellow curl that rose
and fell upon a startled bosom.
"Ill stay where I am" he answered.
crisp and cold. 1.-The law put me in
the law can get me out
The other shrugged his shoulders
furious tsthe battling GOODNESS he en-
countered. And yet he couldn't afford
to give up his plans, or spoil them by
any untimely show of his real feel.
ings. The easy smile came back.
"Those questions you were expect
ing to ask-I might answer them to
boot"
The Pearlhunter's fingers frightened
on the bar. He breathed deep. Those
questions! His life through, they had
haunted him. And the man before him
knew the answer. His face set hard,
Answer or not, as you please" he
said; "but I'll not bolt the Flatwoods.
I was expectin' to ask about my-fa-
Their"
The other whipped a curious look at
him.
"Your father!" he snarled. The
scowl on his face became it better than
the smile. "As like you as two peas
with the same lot of fool, Sir Galahad
notions about the women-angels and
white lilies, and all that rot. He
crossed my path once too often, and
for the last time, seven years ago. He's
in hell now. And your mother"
The fist that stabbed out of the win
dow fell almost short, landing with a
snap instead Of a crash, like a lash that
can reach only so far. 1t stung the
man on the point of the cheek and shot
his head back.
He staggered and threw up his hand
to his face. His other hand involun-
tarily dropped toward his hip. Well
for him that it stopped before it got
there. The Pearlhunter had snatched
the revolver from under his blouse and