The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-16
Taunted.

another sound caught his ear: steps
coming down the River Road. He
listened The steps turned in at the
J2h yard; came around to the west
WINDOW. A face appeared between
the bars Enough light fell from the
stare to reveal his identity-the suave.
handsome face of the man he least ex
pected to see there
The same easy smile rested an bis
features that had rested there when
ne watched his victim from the hitch
rack. The men of the dens and dives
where he harbored between his rob-
berries knew that he was most dam
gerous when he smiled.
The Pearhunter came close tn 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. He
threw back his open coat so far that
the butt of his pistol came into sight:
hung his thumbs in the pockets of his
very much be-f1owered vest.
Just thought I'd call around at
Notwithstanding place this evening
and talk over little matter of bust
Mesa 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. Caution
and a close mouth-they were two of
the Pearlhunters prime virtues, for
all that incautious little flare, back
under the limb of the oak
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 wild
cat, fanged and clawed.
"I'll uncork this rotten old Jug" he
growled, ''if you'll bolt the Flatwoods,
and stop queering my game"
His lips snapped tight. His cards
were on the table. The Pearlhunter
pondered them in his deliberate way,
ana cast up the sum total of their exact
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 go
ing into court.
Third. "Queerin'" his game What |
did he mean by his game? He could |
MT have meant the Blue Moon. for he /!
didn't know the Pearlhunter knew he /
had il. His game That tense scene !
as the river bed under the jack light: /
a girl with a basket; frightened eyes; |
q. yellow curl that rose and fell upon |
a startled bosom
'I'll stay where I am" he answered, |
crisp and cold. "The law put me in; !
the law can get me out"
1t was the one answer most calculat- /
id to disconcert the other-law being !
the one thing he could most conven- |
Iently get along without.
Law" he muttered. 'Flatwoods I
avn Twelve clodhoppers. They'll
hang y'u, that's what they'll do"
That's my business
The other shrugged his shoulders, !
furious at the battling GOODNESS he en-
,ountered. And yet he couldn't af-
ord to give up his plans. or spoil them
w any untimely show of his real feel
ngs. He had many reasons for wish
ng to keep the case out of court. The
Easy smile came back.
Those questions you were expect
NO to ask-I might answer them to
root"
The Pearhunters fingers frightened
m the bar He breathed deep. Those
questions! His life through, they had
him. And the man before
i'm knew the answer. The answer
worth more than the offered liberty;
Worth more than woods and open sky
But not worth-that scene at the fence
vas still before him; in the deep heart
# him His face set hard.
Answer or not, as you please" he
aid; "but I'll not bolt the Flatwoods.
was expectin' to ask about my
ather."
The other whipped curious look at
i'm.
your father" he snarfed. The
cowl on his face became it better than
he smile. AS like you as two peas;
With the same lot of foil. Sir Galahad
otions about the women-angeIs and .
Thite lilies, and all that rot He |