The daily Alaskan., 1920-12-02

natural father StralReu ms SluHlIS eyes toward the daughter his thought had outraged; a cry muttered up out of his chest and brought with 1t guSh of froth and blood: he stiirened; ms face frightened horribly; he fell heavy against the arms of the sheriff-dead.
 The girl turned away from the grue- some sight, stole half faltering glance at the bewlldered face of the Pearlhunter, threw herself down by the side of the couch and bowed her face upon the old mans bosom.
 "UnSay 1t, Daddy. Oh, Daddy, un' say 1t"
 He softly Stroked her hair with his great, gaunt hand.
 It's the truth, DOtty, and can't be unsald But you owe him TO respect a parent only. never a father. He de- serted you, and killed your mother In ways unspeakable killed her-a woman of the high blood of the Dawns." He fumbled the picture up of his breast. held it before his face a moment laid It back. "God! he groaued. "The ruin he wrought. For years I searched for her'-he spoke the name in reverence, and you, my son."
 His hand found Its way back into the Pearlhunter's; his eyes strained hard toward the face bending over him.
 They seemed hungry to know many things-the twenty years of wander ing; the death Of the woman of the picture; how the young man came to be just there; of his wounded arm. But with the steady courage of a sol dier who knew the end was near, he put them by, and dropped his eyes to the girls hair.
 Your grandfather, DOtty, old God frey Dawn. cast your mother of when she married Martin Redmond. Alone, and dying in poverty and want. she sent for me at last" The girl was crying softly. He stopped, put his arm about her and drew her close. "l had the privllege-und hOnor-Of mak- ing her last hours less terrible. She died withUut-see.ng you. You were three years old when l gave up the search. left everything in the hands of my good friend, Judge ESkridge, and came up here tO lose myself in these vast woods along the Wabash, a present from General Jackson"
 His eyes closed weariIy. He lay so still. and the palIor OH hIS face was So ghastly that the Pearlhunter bent anxIOusly over him. But the heavy lids presently uncloSed; the voice queer and hourse from long diSuSe and noticeably growing weaker, fal- tered on.
 Seven years, T. seems only this morning he shot me. And yet, tt couldn't be. or Dotty wouldn't be the wonderful woman she has become, nor Sou. my son. the man you are-the man I was when l lrd JacESon's rangers. HesDer Dawn Red" the Quayering voice hesimtcd. NO. no, let that name perish with his who disgraced It. The judge knows. HeSper Dawn; David Wulf WarbrittOn. Both Of the high blood of the DawnS; your moth CTS both unmrd I!r>pcr Dawn, distant cousins. both the SHine name. and both of the same high blood, Neither need you be ashamed, my son, of your name of WarbrittOn. It has been more or less on the tongues of men since the brave days Of Saxon Harold. Share your estate with Dotty. It Is in the will that you do sn, and there's ample for you both. The judge will know.'
 The Pcurlhuuter was on the point of mentioning the letter-the death of the girls grandfather, his relenting his will. But the .falrering voice left him. no opening.
 My son, you are a man grown, but you will not deny your father the heart hunger of twenty bitter years"
 His voice was fast failing; his eyes strained hard to find the Pearlhunter's face, though he was bending low over him. The young man read the mean Ing, the twenty years of longing, in the strainIng eyes. He knelt down and laid his face against the old mans cheek. An arm stole about his neck and held him close.
 A long time the old man lay still, his right arm around the girl kneeling at one side of the couch, his left arm around the man at the other. So still, so motiOnleSs he lay that the deep silence became burdened with q heavy fear. The sheriff at the foot of the couch bent forward. The Pearlhunter turned his face, looked and bowed his head. The girl raised her eyes. gazed intently at the placid features, threw herself across the mOtionlesS body and wept aloud.
 The graceful musician, the intrepid soldier-waS dead.
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