The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-12-30

''Ns t"'N' ~ =" ~ a'N'f o. Fa''a
the houseboat lay. Louie gave careful
directions where TO build the fire. and
followed the PearIhunter up through
the underbrush beyond the strip of
open shore. and 10 the cabin. tapping.
every few steps, the pocket where the
pearl lay. lie went straight to the
spring.
"You should eat supper NIT me.
hain'dt it?" he said, the dripping
gourd poised In his hand.
Sure. But I'm not much on that
friend-of yours. / think I'll leave be-
fore he comes"
The P~earlhunter had for some time
been debating with himself whether
or not to warn Solomon of the danger
u character of the man that was com.
Ing. 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.
"Vot you do nowY
The question caught the P%earlhunter
unawares. He. too. was gazing out
owe the landscape, but absorbed in
things of which the placid little Jew
had not the remotest inkling.
sI hnr,ll, I.n.V+ I, 10 ,ncr.o~oI .tox.,
Iy, as If feeling for each word.
Thought maybe I'd 90 to school,"
school !" The Jew ridiculed the
word with his hands. II know Already
men could be professors, und, dey got
noting. | go by school not more as
two weeks for mine life, undt look at
me-"
The P~earlhunter did look at him
hard-faced, r~ed-nOsed. yellowish teeth.
a potty protuberance swung to the
front of his waistline. II looked like
two weeks wasted.
"Why you don't buy timber? You
can shoot it dis waterfall into a lume
undt III a mill yet"
The Pearlhunter made no answer.
The little Jew talked OH.
ready yet, If you handle right your
money" He walked back around the
end of the cabin. The Pe%arlhunter
followed. "Vell, you come long ven
you get ready. hain'dt itT
He went on down the slope, through
tIn H,,,In, tn,-,,l lf, .I.gec +. a. D,,.l
hunter turned in at the cabin door.
Alone at last, he did the very thing
that nine men out of ten would have
done; took the draft out of his pocket
and fingered II over-the concrete and
tangible evidence of a great day won.
He had seer II born at midnight had
seer II drive In through the gates of
dawn-and now II was forever his. He
spelled out the magic words: Five
thousand, n wavy line, no hundredths.
dollars. He said each bold figure over
10 himself. Slowly a face grew alive
among the words and figures; a face
framed in yellow hair; eyes tina,
laughed. They had laughed for hiin
he had made them laugh. The draft
would make them laugh again. And
tomorrow she should send for that sur.
geon.
The sound Of grooming came In AZ
the cabin door from HE bushes down
the hill. The face vas gone from the
draft. He thrust II back In his pocket
and stepped out into the yard. His
first thought was hat the little Jew,
none too sure-footed among the rocks,
had stumbled and hurt himself.
The groan came again. He sprang
into the bushes. The jew had hurt
himself. A look so wild and terrible
the P~earlhunter had never seer upon
the face of a man. lie had fallen upon
his back. with one arm cramped under
him. The other arm was free. but he
seemed unable TO rise. With his free
hand he was clawing desperately at
his bosom, and the fingers of the hand
were mussed with Blood.
The Pearlhunter leaped down the
hill and sbent over him. II vas then
he saw what the bloody hand was
clawing at-the handle 1T a knife, hiit
deep In his breast. The %Pearlhunter
raised him, and the other hand came
free. Ii clutched a bit Of cloth of liam.
ing red-a red mask.
The jew opened his eyes. recognized
the man bearing him up.
dot timber buyer" he gasped OUT Of
his i0Oded chest. He choke mel
ear of de mask-he shtick me-" The
stricken Jew dropped the mask and
beat the pocket of his vest. "Himmel!
De pearl! De Blue Moon !" His eyes
grew vacant: fiared up again. 'Mlne
Gottl Rnchel! Rachel! Z"
His mouth quivered open so wide
that his beard rumpled upon his breast.
and the blood welied out over his chin.
His eyes bulged: the smeared fingers
ceased clawing at the knife: he gasped
twice: and dropped back-dead.
The ~Pearlhunter picked up the bit
Of scarlet cloth that had fallen from
the dead mans hand. II is surprising
low fast a man run think when ne has
10. The mystery OF che arm thrust In
M the cabin door cross the moonlight
cleared. The finding Of a red mask he
side the body would identify the muir.
derer to any man Ir the Wabash coun