The daily Alaskan., 1920-11-04

concluded that the outer heel-cap of the right boot had come of, allowing the nails to protrude.
 It would be hard to say what train of thought the finding of the heel print plunged the man back into as he straightened and stood Crumpling the two patches of stlGf cloth in his hand. His gray eyes and passive face were hard to read. An old broken crock lay against the cabin near the step. He picked it up. turned 1t upside down over the heel print and went back into the cabin.
 He kinded a fire in the cook stove, and when he had 1t going good, dropped both masks In and watched them burn to cinderS-and afterward raked the ashes.
 The Pearlhuntcr, with the horse sense 20 years of hard knocks had beaten into him. knew that this was his day-his one first day-his to seize; to have; to hold.
 Five thousand dollars; a gray ghost in the easy chair in the cabin of the three gables; a girl that trusted" him and the big day going! It was enough to make a nun restless.
 The forenoon was nearly gone when, through the trees up the river, he caught the bright glint Of the sun upon oar blades. Even at that distance he knew the crart-LOuIe SoIOmOn'S long. white siN-oarcd skin.
 Broom In hand the PearIhunter was making a prodiyious dust and chatter among the chairs and boxes when the pearl buyer. short and pudgy-Iew from his ShrrwG eyes to his 'at feet stepped before the door.
 House cleaning, huin'dt it?"
 "Oh, just digging myself put"
 Standing his broom against the wall, he stepped outside. He knew. Louie Solomon wrll-whut pearl fisher dld not?-and Louie Solomon knew him. Like two wrestlcrS on the mat the two stood looking each other Over-a man that wanted Co sell something; man that wanted to buy ir-with the odds on the one that could put up the big gest bluff. The world could he halved just there.
 Cup by d'e shpring?'
 "A gourI."
 The two went around the west end of the cabin and back to where the spring boiled out from beneath the foot Of the cliffs. The Jew dipped up a courdful and drank so deep that the Pearlhunter knew it was no honest thirst he Quruched. The bar of the Mud Hen was famous along the Wa bash.
 "Iimmel, lot Shprtng! Not once pass Fallen Rock l don't shtop mdt drink I'm. Tm campiu' here tonight I'm last night cunpin' here, but We shtruck town late. uudt gor in mid d'r Boss undt lot of pearl fishers. l'udt dis morning" He threw up hiS pudgy hands. the J~w'S exclamation point when words tan "Ach Himmel, dr hcadt. Uudt poker, All poker play CTS vot I sa-. Ay'S d'e "chI!ck one"
 "Trc Bos,:"
 . "Tus<' Y. don't can see last night de caullr. Dot ttrhnr buyer I don't met Ufr heforc. Poker! From $23 he trim me"
 The eyes of the EearIhunter drew together,
 "TimIcr, What was he likr:"
 "Oh. so high like your shoulder" he said. Light hair, blue eycs-undt hell on CuS>iu.'
 "D!d he wear rancy vcst?"
 "You know himf"
 "Tvp seen him."
 The pearl buyer took of his hat and wiped his sleeve across his brow.
 q tell him I'm tonight campin' here. He sny mcbbe he cone down undt giff me chance to get 1t back. my $23."
 The PcRrihunters eyes were still drawn and thoughtful though he made no comment, but led the way back to the front of the cabin. as though he believed his companion had merely come up the hill for a drink at the spring and would now go back to his skin. It completely deceived Louie Sol omon, for all his crattincSs. But, of course, he had no means of knowing the message the Boss had shouted up from the boat the night before
 The Pearlhunter stepped inside the door and picked up his broom. Out of the little end of his eye he saw the Jew watching him. He made a swipe with the broom as if to go on with his sweeping. II was a close grapple of wits. But tEe lure of the pearl was too much for Louie Solomon. He had to come to 1t at last; and he had to come square Taking of his hat, he looked back over his shoulder and again drew his sleeve across his brow.
 I'm hearin' you picked up a blue one"
 The Pearlhunter leaned his broom against the table and came out upon the door step.
 "Who was telling yOu?"
 "Oh. dey talk. You sell him2'