The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-12-10
CHAPTER ~.
The Girl With Z Basket.

It was June outside. June-it
slipped down out OF the cool dells and
dingles of the woods and soothed the
Pearlhunter's face, red with the stife
and reek he had Just left. He filed
his lungs with it-June-he tasted II
with his lips.
With half an eye on the door Of the
Mud Hen, half an ear over his shout
der. he crossed to the bank
"What name?" inquired the old
banker making out the receipt, after
having placed the pearl away In the
vault
The color set the tan on the young
mans face afire. 1t was something
he had not foreseen-that a name
would be required; and he had none
A pearl worth thousands, but no name
he would gladly have given the one
for the other.
what name?" repeated the banker.
looking over his glasses out through
the window.
"pearl-hunter the other STAN
mered.
"Pcarlhunter-what r
Observation-Disclosures
"Pearlhunter Why, that's no
name"
'Its--it's all l have"
PearIhunter-well-i"
The banker had his mouth already
set to say something more-but he
didn't. Instead, he took better look
at the tall young fellow on the other
side of the window. Dipping his pen
into the ink we'll a second time, al
though IT was already overloaded to
the dripping point he went on filling
out the receipt.
'Just bring this with you when you
want your pearl, Mr-Pearlhunter."
~And If l lose it7"
"Then-well-just bring your face.
Yes that will do-your face. l reck-
on you won't lose it."
The old fellow chuckled as II be
had surprised himself making a joke.
1t usually puts a man In a good hui
NOR to discover that he has made
joke. The banker stood rubbing his
bony hands together while the Pearl
hunter walked out.
What next? The Pearlhunter
stood on the sidewalk outside of the
bank door and debated that very
question: question In two parts
first, whether to go back to Fallen
Rock; second, whether to make an
other try after the Boss. He finally
decided In favor Of the Boss. The
thought drew his eyes toward the
Mud Hen across the street. The Man
n-the-Fancy-yest was standing just
inside the door.
AT the moment young woman
with q basket on her arm came out of
a grocery a block up the street and
walked rapidly toward the saloon
The man just inside the door appar-
entity was watching for her. She
seemed to know that he would be
thereto dread that he would be-to
judge by the way she hurried past
The man stepped out on the sidewalk
as the girl came opposite, and tried
front of her. She turned out around
him and. with a bare word or two in
response to his efforts to engage her
In talk, hurried rapidly on.
He stood looking after her till she
was block or more down the street
road would be the better word
since the river road formed the one
street of the village-and then delib-
erately followed.
All thoughts Of the cabin at Fallen
Rock, of the Boss sprawled over 9
table at the Mud Hen, instantly flee
the mind of the Pearlhunter. His
somewhat passive face livened; into
his slow eyes came quickened inter
est. He hardly knew why he followed
He simply found himself walking at
ter them.
The river road, as 1t follows alonl
under the brow Of the cliffs below
Buckeye, makes many turns. The
girl and her poesuer were walking
fast when the Pearlhunter peeped ou
around turn aud looked after them
BY running az such times as the wind
ings Of the road hid him, he haC