The daily Alaskan., 1920-10-21


 And If lose it?"
 "Then-well-just bring your face. Yes, that will do-your face. l reck- on you won't lose It."
 The old fellow chuCkled as if he had surprised himself making joke. It usually puts a man in a good hu- nor 10 discover that he has made a joke. The banker stood rubbing his bony hands together while the Pearl hunter walked out.
 What next? The Pearlhunter stood on the sidewalk outside of the bank door and debated that very oucstloni question in two parts; first whether to go back to Fallen Rock; second. whether to make an- other try after the Boss. He finally decided in favor of the Boss. The thought drew his eyes toward the Mud Hen across the street. The Man in-;he-FanCy-Vcst was standing just Inside the door.
 At the moment a young woman with a basket on her arm came out of a grocery q block up the street and walked rapidly toward the saloon. The man just inside the door appar- cnIly was watching for her. She seemed 10 know that he would be thereto dread that he would be-tO judge by the way she hurried past. The man stepped out on the sidewalk as the girl came opposite. and tried to stop her. He even stepped in front of her. She turned out around him and, with bare word or two in response to his efforts to engage her in talk, hurried rapidly on.
 He stood looking after her tllI she was block or more down the street road would be the better word, since the rivar road formed the one street of the v!lIaCe-and then delib- cratcly followed.
 All thoughts of the cabin at Fallen Rock. of the Boss sprawlcd over n table at the Mud Hen, instantly fled the mind of the Pearlhunter. His somewhat passive face livCncd; into his slow eyes me qulckencd inter cst. He hardly knew why he followed. He simply found himself walking af- ter them.
 The river road. as it follows along under tl.e brow of the cliffs below Buckeye. makes many turns. The girl and her purSucr were walking inst when tue Pearlhunter peeped out around turn and looked after them. By running ut such times as the wind- lnCs of the road hid him, he had caught up with them as near as was prudent. The girl was walking very rapidly. IL was plain that she knew she was being followed. It was equally plain that she did no' want her pursuer to know that she knew it.. But walk as fast as she would. the man following her walked just q hit faster.
 Nearly a mile below inc village. and half that distance above Fallen Rock, the river road angles abruptly to the north through a cut in the Cliff and leads back into the level highlands Just where the road turns q path leaves 1t. crosses a dilapidated rail fence running along the east line of the Warhrltton lands, and enters the woods. The girl took this path. She was in the act 0f climbing the fence low and broken where the path crossed lt-when, with q prOdlglous step or two, the man following caught up with her and took hold of the basket.
 Allow me to assist yOu," he said.
 The Pearlhunter, from where he had darted behind a clump of hazel growing rank along the side of the road, could just distinguish the words.
 Without answering, the girl sprang to the ground on the opposite side of the fence, but without letting go of the basket. Neither did the other let 20. Placing his disengaged hand upon the top rail of the fence, he vaulted lightly over. The Pearlhun- ter seized the favorable instant Io steal nearer The sunbonnet hid the girls face so that he could not see It, but he fancied the plump brown hand on the basket handle was trembling The smile on the face of tn" man cllnglng perslstently to the other side of the basket meant things that smile has no business to mean.
 "Why do you always avoid mer His voice was low, soft, musical-too musical. Surely it's no crime for man to admire n pretty girl. The cat may look at the queen you know"
 He laughed. Something altogether different from mirth in that laugh something altogether different from mirth behind it. The girl made no reply-if the hearing of her bosom gave any index to her feelings, she probably could not reply. She did not even raise her eyes.
 You ignore me there in the vil- Iage," he pursued. But out here in the woods-Well. it's out here. in the