The daily Alaskan., 1920-10-30

"I know what | am saying when I say that. You could sing. Your voice Is soft and low and strOng-iike Dad dy's. I didn't notice 1t till a little bit ago, but I think I felt It all along. guess that's why I trusted you-be- cause your voice is like Daddy's." The Pcarlhunter was standing quite close to her. His eyes drank In the plump white mystery of her throat; the bit of ribbon rising and falling upon her bosom. It was an old ribbon, old and worn. He studied her dress. 1 It had been many day since 1t was new. He recalled the old mans coat ! and his shoes. They were as old as hers. He glanced around the cabin; ! stole q quick look toward the east 1 roOm-hcr room. The Pearlhunter was Slow-in some thingS-but some ! how he always managed to arrive in 1 time.
 wild Rose"
 Her eyes jumped to his. She let him see how much the name pleased her.
 "You'vc just said a mighty big thing to me. You've said you trust me. That's big thing for girl to say to man. The Almighty alone knows whether I'll do to trust. Now, don't [ think bard of what I'm about to say. And I wish I knew some nice way to say 1t. But l don't know any way only just to say it. Don't you need help money. l mean?"
 4 succession of emotions fitted l across the girls face-plcasure at the name; bcwiIderment as he talked on; and at the last, smile. The man watched the smile. It was q brave smile. but it had to retreat, beaten back by a stronger foe. Her lips drew together: her chin Quivered; she bowed her head and buried her face in her arms.
 What had he done. Had she mis- understood him. The Pearlhunter l inwardly cursed his clumSlneSS. He i found his hard hand stealing toward l her hair. How helpless she waS-nnd he had hurt her. His fingers strayed over the soft locks and smoothed them. It seemed long time to 4he Pearl i hunter before she raised her face. He | half dreaded to see her eyes; but-a desperate gl0nCc-no reproach in them. He had not been misunder- stood.
 "I don't know how I am to go on." Her throat and neck and face famed 1 crimson at the admission. "I cant | leave to go out to service; and all the furniture that can be spared I have sold"
 "Ouly yoUr own," he blurted out. rather impguIcntly, as he reflected aft erward. for how was she to know that he had glanced into her room?
 'I didn't wish Daddy to miss any 1 thing"
 The unsn'fShness of her act seemed not to have entered her mind, but 1t was not lost on the PcarlhunIcr
 "The storckcepcr has bern so good 10 me, and trusted me for so many things. Pm afraid to think hcw alIch | I owe him. But he is old. and his wife ! has hcrn in. It morGteS mc to have to ask him for more credit. but I cant | let Daddy starye Money used tO come l to us before he gut-hurt But found out aftcrward that it always | came addressed simply tO Box 23. Not even the postmaster knows Daddy's name. Nrither-do-Iw
 Her voice fell very low. The Pearl hunter pitied her. for he knew what 1t was like not to know "Daddy's name"
 "The doctor says" she went on, "that the bullet broke a piece of skull, so that it presses on the brain. He | thinks a great surgeon he knows might be able to raise that little piece of skull and made Daddy well. And that's what hurts me worst of all-that l | cant have it done.'
 She stopped; turned her head away. There came into the mans level eyes a look that the hard men of the river had learned to know
 Listen" he said. "You nrsr trust me. You must let me help you. You already know the story of the Blue Moon. Such find always brings the pearl buyers. They flock to it like vultures to a carcass. They'll soon be here-maybe tomorrow. I'll sell the pearl, and you shall send for that sur geon."
 Like one waking from a dream to | find the dream come true-she turned slowly and raised her face to his. The | full significance of his offer, the big generosity of 1t, the immense fact of it. escaped her in the first moments. EOnIy a mere detail of it reached her.
 "I-we-c0uldn't ever pay you back"
 It was on his tongue to say he didn't expect to be paid back-that he didn't want to be paid back, but a glance at her somehow made such an answer i'm possible. The book case gave him an inspiration.
 "YOu could let me read these books" | tt,E-t,-- --,,, could f11 hot