The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-12-10


Hen had hzzled.
Second. He had no stomach for
going into court.
Third "Queerin' his game" What
did he mean by his game? He couldn't
have meant the Blue Moon, for he
didn't know the Pearlhunter knew he
had Il. His game. That tense scene
at the fence the evening before flashed
mp clear as the river bed under the
jack light: girl with basket; ;
frightened eyes; yellow curl that rose
and fell upon a startled bosom.
"Tll stay where / am" he answered,
crisp and cold. 1.-The law put me in (;
the law can get me out"
The other shrugged his shoulders.
furious at the battling GOODNESS he en-
countered. And yet he couldn't afford
to give up his plans. or spoil them by
any untimely show of his real feel
ings. The easy smile came back.
Those questions you were expect
ing to ask-I might answer them TO
boot"
The Pearlhunter's fingers frightened
on the bar. He breathed deep. Those
questions! His life through, they had
haunted him. And the man before him
knew the answer His face set hard.
Answer or not, as you please" he
said "but I'll not bolt the Flatwoods.
l was expectin' to ask about my-fa-
ther."
The other whipped a curious look at
him.
your fatherl" he snarled. The
scOwl on his face became it better than
the smile "As like you as two peas;
with the same lot of fool, Sir Galahad
notions about the women-angels and
white lilies, and all that rot. He
crossed my path once too often. and
for the last time. seven years ago. He's
in hell now. And your mother"
The fist that stabbed out of the win
dow fell almost short, landing with a
snap instead of a crash, like lash that
can reach only so far. 1t stung the
man on the point of the cheek and shot
his head back.
He staggered and threw up his hand
to his face. His other hand involun-
tarily dropped toward his hip. Well
for him that it stopped before 1t got
there The Pearlhunter had snatched
the revolver from under his blouse and
held 1t Just below the window ledge.
The man on the outside backed
away, his face stung TO flame. by the
blow. He felt for his knife; seemed
to remember where he bad left it-be-
tween the ribs of a man. Anyhow. it
would have been as useless as the re-
volver. Noise precluded the use of
the one; walls and bars the other.
''I'd kill YOU" he retorted finally. his I
tones steady, though strained, like the /
current that plays across the top of a
whirlpool, 'only l haven't time. There's !
a flock of yellow curls and a devilish |
trim pair of ankles waitin' for me /
down the road"
He had so framed the taunt as to re-
fleet on the girl his very thought dis
honored. Without another word he /
turned and walked away.
The Pearlhunter seriously debated /
to shoot him dead and trust |
to fate for the rest. The revolver |
crawled up over the window sill. He /
grasped one of the bars to steady his |
hand. A start of surprise came TO his
face. The revolver went back below
the window sill. The bar was loose.
1t was almost unbelievable, but 1t
was so. For some reason or other it
had not been fixed very firmly In its
luger hole sockets. There was play
l heartening amount of it-between
he upper and lower auger holes. His
blood missed a beat; then leaped the
higher.
He damned the bar into the lower
socket. The bottom of the hole was
soft The rain had probably rotted it.
he damned the bar again and the wood
gave. He put all his strength to 1T.
Each effort drove the bar a little deep
n; gave it a little more play at the
op. If he could only drive it far
enough so that the top would clear He
vas working like wild man.
Bearing Gown with all his strength.
le rotated the bar. The tremendous
xertion opened the cuts and scratches
n his neck md breast until they bled
fresh. He jammed the bar down
gain; bore upon 1t with all his
trength; rotated it again and again. /,
.ess than half an inch still held at the
op.
His exertions brought the sweat out
pom his face. Another effort; ire
lendous; to the last ounce of his /.
over.
His hands were like fre-but the
ar cleared. He could move ii a tiny
lite TO the side of the upper auger
ole. The clearance was ever so little
but ii cleared. Bracing his knee
gainst the wall and grasping the case
tent with his left hand for anchorage.
e bent and worked and twisted the !.
ar outward. AT last, by a final su- !.
RENE heave. 1T cleared the upper log
here remained only to lift It out of
he lower auger hole.
The Pearlhunter dropped back pant :
e and mopped the sweat from his face !.
18th his sleeve. The effort had been =
emendous.
A minute to get his breath: another
lent in listening; and he worked the :
osened end a little freer: lifted out u
e bar; crawled outside; put ii back .
to place again, feeling about with y
S fingers TO make sure there were no o
ars on the wood or bits of chips u
raped loose, and stole away under
e trees. m
1t would probably be quite impossi- I'll
e for the city to appreciate fully fl
e feelings of the Pearlhunter at find 81