The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-27
CHAPTER XIV.
GUARDING the Plan.

Handsome, juanty, debonair, smooth
faced, except for the aggressive mus
tache slightly shot with gray, the
notorious bandit swung along up the
walk. A stranger might have taken
him for a KEEN. alert, well-groomed
business man on his way home after
profitable day.
The Pearlhunter stood crouched
forward. His hand dropped to his
hip, closed over the butt of the re-
volver, then slowly Enclosed. He
was taking his arm out of the sling
when the girl caught him, shook him.
He hardly seemed to know that she
was there; his eyes were fixed on
the window. She dragged him back.
Quick" she cried, pushing him
across the floor, MY room! Behind
the curtains"
Il reckon 1 must hide!" he NUT
tered, still glaring. back toward the
window. But not there The
kitchen?"
mo, my room. It's safest
She pushed him behind the cur
tains.
But if he comes in?"
He won't!"
He caught a glimpse of her.
white, hard as the face of the hills.
and the blue in her eyes like bright
steel touched with flame.
She fluffed up the pillow on the
couch, smoothed the cover, darted
across the room and was seated at
the little table with her sewing when
the knock came at the door.
A quick glance at the tiny slit be-
tween the curtains behind which she
knew the Pearlhunter was standing,
a very positive and vigorous shake
of her finger that said palmer than
words to stay there; and she rose
and walked with a firm step to the
door. A narrow inch she opened it
and with her left hand held ii so.
with her right shoulder propped
against It in such a way that her
right side and arm We're concealed.
The man on the outside of the door
drew back a step, and, with a sweep
ing bow-too sweeping, even for the
Flatwoods--his hat came off and his
handsome face put on its most affa-
BILE smile. That's exactly the word
put on-for it didn't come there nat
urally. He had lost the power to
smile-really smile. Nothing is easier
to exaggerate than politeness; moth
ing in the world so easy to overdo as
a smile. 1t is but a tiny step from
affability to insolence.
And how is my wood-fairy this
afternoon?"
The girl made no reply. Her face.
framed in the narrow opening,
changed not shade From his place
behind the curtain the Pearlhunter
wondered If it still wore the express
sion it had worn moment before.
Nothing so disconcerts a man as to
have his advances met with silence
Some of the lines and wrinkles that
did duty for the smile left the bold
face of the renegade.
1T was so verge lonesome in the
village, with the men all hunting that
desperate. that I thought I'd walk out
and spend the afternoon with you, and
talk over with you some very charm
ing plans I have formed. You have
what believe to be a wonderful voice.
While, to my great regret, you have
never sung for me. yet. as have
past back and forth through the
woods in my business OF locking UP
timber options. 1 have sometimes
heard you sing. You undoubtedly
have a great voice Now 1 am rich,
with no one to Spend my money on.
What better could / do with it than
give to the world a great singer? If
you viii go with me, you shall have
the best training the world affords
He put one foot on the doorstep,