Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-12-11
CHAPTER ~.
3
The Girl Wiz : Basket

IL vas June outside. June-it
slipped down out Of the cool dells and
dingles of the woods and soothed the
Pearlhunters face, red with the stife
and reek he had Just left. He filed
his lungs with it--June-he tasted It
with his lips.
With half an eve on the door Of the
Mud Hen, half an ear over his shout
der, he crossed to the bank.
What manner" 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.
'PearI-hunter! the other STAN
mered.
''Pearlhunter-what?
"Just-P
"Pearlhunter Why. that's no
name"
''It's-it's all I have"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~
The banker had his mouth already
get to say something more-but he
didn't Instead, he took a better look
at the tall young fellow on the other
side Of the window. Dipping his pen
into the ink well 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 I lose it?"
''Then-well-jus bring your face.
Yes, that will do-your face. l reck-
on you won't lose It,"
The old fellow chucIled as If he
had surprised himself making a joke
It usually puts q 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: a 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
in-the-Fancy-Eest was standing just
inside the door.
At the moment. a young woman
with basket on her arm came out Of
a grocery a block ~ the street and
walked rapidly coward the saloon.
rhe man just inside the door appar
emily 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
to stop her. He even stepped in
font of her. She turned out around
him and, with a bare word or two In
response to his efforts to engage her
h talk, hurried rapidly on.
He stood looking after her till she
WIS a block or more down the street
road would be the better word
since the river road formed the one
street Of the viuage-and then DELHI
srately followed.
All thoughts Of the cabin at Fallen
Rock, Of the Boss sprawled over
table at the Mud Hen, instantly fed
the mind Of the Pearlhunter. His
somewhat passive face livened; into
his slow eyes came a Quickened inter-
est. He hardly knew why he followed
&c simply found himself walking az
ter them.
The river road, as 1t follows along
under the brow OF the cliffs below
Buckeye. makes many turns The
girl and her pursuer were walking
fast when the Pearlhunrer peepeq out
around a turn and looked after them.
By running at such times as the wind