Cleveland County herald., 1920-12-16

Make lt Good Whisky" fe Said. thing, but it couldn't be heard. The bartender set out a long row of glasses. The river men grew suddenly quiet with the gurgle of the filling.
 Each man picked up a glass and stood waiting until every other man was served. The crowd was too oecu- pied to notice it, but the Pearlhunter's knees were fairly shaking under him ; his face set and pale. He was about to do the hardest thing he had ever tackled in his life, even harder than mentioning money to the Wild Rose. He picked up his glass; set it down pushed it back.
 "Water for mine!"
 To a man, the crowd whirled and stared. Louie Solomon swore.
 'Vot iss!" he said. You make it foolishness?"
 No" was the slow answer. "Tm off this for keeps"
 I'll" growled the one-eyed fisher- man. "Since't when did y'u quit?'
 YeSterday-about sundown."
 He raised his glass and clinked with Louie Solomon-the aristocratic bour- bon against the Flatwoods spring-and drank the celebration of his great day in glass of water. The others were too busy just then, or cared too little, to press the point or take the trouble to wonder just what and what all he meant by "yesterday-abou5 sundown." ;"
 Louie Solomon set his glass down with bang.
 "Himmel Dot don'dt shtruck bot tom yet. It vas all soaked up in mine throat a-ready., Fill 'em up ag'in, all hands roundt. Undt dis one iss on Louie.
 'Nyhere iss mine friendt vot trim from me txenty-t'ree dollar?" Louie asked, feeling his vest pocket, as he had done probably score of times since crossing the street.
 "0h, he went up the Yellow branch this afternoon to look at some timber options" the bartender answered.
 "Tcll i'm mebbe he come by d'e camp t'nisht undt giff me chance to git it back my twentyt'ree dollar"
 I'll tell him when he comes in"
 The bartender wiped off the bar. The Fearlhunter was already out on the sidewalk, where the Jew soon joined him, and they walked together down to tho white skiff. The three rowers were still in their places, glum as their em- ployer was yoluble
 Ii was well toward evening when they pulled up to the landing at which the heuseboat lay. Louie gave careful directions where to build the fire, and followed the Pearlhunter up through the underbrush beyond the strip of open shore, and to the cabin, tapping, every few steps, the pocket where the pear lay He went straight to the spring.
 You should eat supper nit me, hain'dt it?" he said, the dripping gourd poised i'll his hand
 Sure. But I'm not much on that friend-of yours. think I'll leave be- fore he comes"
 The Pearlhunter had for some time been debating with himself whetAer or not to warn Solomon of the danger ous character of the man that was com iug. The one consideration that kept him from speaking was the fact that he had no proof-certain knowledge, but no proof. He decided not to speak yet.
 You no like him?" The Jew laughed easily, hung the gourd back on the stick and stood looking out over the landscape spreading away under the genial sunshine. .Yot you do now?" The question caught the Pearlhunter l unawares. He. too, was gazing out over the landscape, but absorbed in things of which the placid little Jew had not the remotest inkling. T hardly know" he answered slow. y, IS if feeling for each word Thought maybe I'd go to school" "ScAooliH The Jew ridiculed the word with his hands. q know a-ready men could be professors, undt dey goi l noting go by school not more as ! two weeks for mine life, undt look al me"
 The Pearlhunter did look at him hari-faced, red-nosed, yellowish teeth a potty protuberanee swung to ths