The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-15
The Blue
Moon
A Tale of the Flatwood5
BY
DAVID ANDERSON
Copyright, 1919.
The Bobbs- Merrill Company
Publication rights, 1920, Mcclure
Syndicate and Pensacola
Journal.
The Blow Withheld.

| asleep"
| With the air of a man god tired the
Pearlhunter dragged himself up off the
chair, shambled out into the hall and
took the stub of candle from the sher-
! ifs hand. By his direction the pr,s-
oner held 1t over the rusty stove until
| enough tallow fell to hold the candle
upright, and then he turned back to
the door.
The sheriff fumbled three or four
| dishes and tin cup OF black coffee
out of the flat basket and held them
close to the bars. He stood well back
taking quite evident pans to keep his
revolver butt out of reach. He did not
know there was a very dependable
weapon already on the other side of
the bars, He made no move to I'M
lock the door or to enter the cell.
None of this escaped the Pearlhunt
er. The chance to use his stove leg
was rs good as gone, or rather it was
not going to come. Once he consid-
cred the desperate move of drawing
his revolver and forcing the sheriff to
open the door. But the sheriff was
known to be a brave man. He might
fight, and If he did, one or the other
of them would be killed. The Pearl
hunter dismissed the plan.
9TH woman didn't know there'd be
company tonight" the sheriff muttered
as he held the shes within reach of
the arm thrust through the bars. I'm
afeared you'll be skimped a little. But
Wen try an cook up a-plenty in the
morning"
Sorry TO drop in on you like this"
the Pearlhunter answered dryly, shut
fling back to the old stove and blow
ing the dust off the top to make
place for the dishes.
The sarcastic rasp of the remark
missed the sheriff entirely. He was
already reaching for the outer door. 1t
whined shut He opened it a narrow
slit, took one more look. appeared to
feel that some last word was due, but
seemed hardly TO know how to say it.
well, make yourself to home" he
finally ventured awkwardly-"as tn
whale said to oner."
He closed the door. and turned the
key in the lock, chuckling to himself
as he walked away, as if lie had
come through the interview with very
comfortable credit to himself.
The Pearlhunter watched MIN until
he crossed the square of light shining |
out from the door closed and the mus
lin curtains fell back into place at the |
side window Then he lal the stove |
leg by. His chance was gone.
The revolver tucked under his waist |
band at the flank of his back and hid |
den by his blouse seemed to have
It's friendly presence
helped his appetite. though, for that |
matter, it was already keen enough, as |
he had eaten nothing since morning |
He could have eaten three such sup |
pers as the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver; the thought /
of grizzled old river man, doubtless
at that moment rowing hard up the |
river; took some of the smart out of |
his cuts and bruises. HIS left eve was
swelling shut He winked ii timber
and stood wondering whether to blow
out the candle or leave it burn a
while; finally blew it out, and went
back to the west window.
The day had journey down over the
ridge of the world. Not flick of its
gloey played up against the
sky The full strength of the night
was come.
The whirling world had reached
clear place in the armament. June
had wiped clean the faces of the stars.
The wichery of their eyes-Jove's
daughters. alI--beguiled the woods to
UP their arms and breathed
soft messages, Ike troubadours of old
signing at beauty's easement. The
River Road strayed out of sight under
turn. Not even a gray glimpse of the
river found it's way up from under the
night A sinuous, bottomless shadow,
it wound away between the hills.
The ,Pearihunter longed to be out
under the stars-each one a benedic-
Hon. It was the first time in his life
ne had ever been shut away from
hem. The woods, the river, the sky
MS conservatory; his picture gallery:
MS university; his church,: his world
The moldy cell oppressed him. he
oreathed gingerly. as man breathes
air tainted with carrion.
He went back to the rickety chair;
oiled down on 1t. The silence was
10 dead he could hear his pulse beat.
A stealthy little tiptoe of sound came
,ut from under the stair that led to
1 4
Tot have noticed it The sound licked
across from the old stair to the stove
Similar sounds stole out of the silence
rom other parts of the oil jail and
vhisked across the dusty boards 10 the
stove. Nice after crumbs hopeless
quest
He scraped his foot and dozens of
my feet scampered back into hungry
aiding. A heavier body loped across
he bed; leaped to the floor: galloped
nto silence in a corner of the cell ,
md he knew the rats were out.
He sat still Amid the patter OF the
nee, the heavier lope of the rats was !
,asily distinguishable The old jail
eemed TO come alive: to breathe; to
,e trying to tell its secrets. Strained
ancy could almost catch the hiss or ,
ubdued whispers.
He rose; passed his hand over his {
ace: ran his fingers up through his :
lait. A lock Of it was stuck together i
gittl blood from the scalp wound. His :