The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-21

when. without so much as a diverted
fleck of spray in warning, the waterfall
flung forth upon the flat-topped rock
1.-the and active figure that sprang
lightly to shore over the two interven-
ing stones.
The water seemed hardly to have
touched him. Passing on the bring of
the pool barely long enough to shake
his coat by the lapels and to knock his
hat against his hand, he Immediately
set out along the bluffs toward the
village, as unconcerned as if he had
not just pulled off about the most SEN
sational stunt ever seen by a Flat
woodsman.
He passed so close to where the
Pearlhunter lay that the two could
have touched hands. Had he so much
as dreamed that the man he had taken
such pains to saddle his crime upon
lay so near, some other astonishing
things would have happened that night
with the odds against the man care
lesSly shaking the spray of the water
fall from his hat
All unsuspecting, the jaunty des-
perado passed on. The Pearlhunter
slipped out of the cover and softly
followed; trailed him up the bluffs,
through the corner of the woods and
out to the River Road where it angles
north through the cut in the cliffs;
listened at the fence, near where the
path crossed it, till the receding steps
were well on their way to the village.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Candle in the Granny.
All the way back to Fallen Rock the
Pearlhunter pondered the scene he had
gazed on through the chink in the
cabin wall: the mans transfigured
face; his actions with the picture
that above .all-the picture. 1t puz-
zled him, angered him. That such a
man should have her picture; his
mother'sFw.th the darkly beautiful
face and wonderful eyes-warm
against his breastl 1t was another
reason why he should hunt him down.
The mystery back of his Iife-it had
flared anew out through the chfnk be-
tween the logs. The past that he had
80 thirsted to explore--why had he
not pressed his mother to tell him
more! He had trusted to another day,
and there had been no other day. The
past that had no voice; the past for
ever locked in the fresh-made grave
across his life and haunted him. II
crowded out all other thoughts. And
yet there were insistent other thoughts
that must be heeeded. The night was
big with them, and the east was all |
ready showing faint, dim glow that
didn't come from the stars. The moon
was near. When it came it would be |
an hour past midnight: the first hour |
of another day-and the hunt would |
be afoot when the heriff carried that |
fiat basket of breakfast to the lock- |
up in the morning.
The young man shrugged his should /
ers as If to clear them of the specters \
the night had flung upon him out of i
the past He hurried around in front 1
of the cabin. The moon was not far
down behind the ridge Of the east. His
eye swept far and near over the wide
landscape, already picking itself out
In the coming glow.
Away up the river on the lower point
Of Alpine Island, so little above the
village that it seemed from that dis
lance nearly opposite, a campfire
made red eye in the dark The Sc
we're lines Of the lone watchers face
softened. He knew that the staunch
old Boss, with hard faced Bull aster-
son and twelve sturdy river men.
lounged and smoked around that fire.
with boats tied handy and revoIvers
fresh capped, ready to cross to the
village at the instant of need The
sight heartened him. They were
rough lot, gentlemen Of fortune"
every one. Five of them had worn
stripes-two for murder A reckless.
dangerous band-none knew IL better
han the watcher. halted for a moment
put Of his tense night by the sight Of
heir friendly campfire. He had lived
MS life-fought for it some Of the
.ime-among these men. and others of
her ilk. He knew their vices and
heir virtles-their cheerful willing
less to back a comrade in distress:
% the death If need be.
IA Ia n his hard "a r4,.. aoc= 49,. /