Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-12-04

trunk. The satinwood box YVES the
last article in it, and II had told him
nothing. He laid the picture in it. re-
placed the baby clothes and ring.
closed the box and put ii back He
even took a sort of melancholy salts
faction In replacing, with studied
neaness, the glove. the dress and
other articles, after which he closed
the lid, locked it, pocketed the key.
and turning to the window, stood star
ing out over the river.
He was still man without a name
The Boss stepped back from the
door.
THE Blue Moon" he said. Tilt
orta be putt away safe"
AS II the statement recalled
thoughts that had strayed far, the
young man reached In his pocket and
drew forth the pearl, still rolled in the
bit of cloth
The two days of ripening and the
chafe OF the cloth had greatly en-
HANGED its brilliance. Quietly rolling
the pearl up in the cloth again. he left
the cabin and, followed by the Boss,
strobe down the slope through the
trees to the boat, and together they
rowed away toward the village
The fame of the Pearlhunter had
preceded him. AS he came up from
the wharf into the town. the Mud
! Hen, the one saloon Of the place dis
gorged a staggering. swearing popH-
lation that gathered round him. The
Boss crew. camped half mile below
Fallen Rock, and the crew Of Bull
MastersOn, Camped three miles above,
were both there. Besides these, the
Obenchain, small steamer plying be
tween the ports of the Wabash. had
come in that morning, bringing other
river men.
Caught In the swirl Of the crowd,
the Pearlhunter and his companion
were swept into the Mud Hen. A hun
dred voices clamored to have the pearl
laid upon the bar where all could file
by and see 1t. There fell few min
utes of comparative quiet while the
youring 1t. Then followed drinks all
round-at the expense Of the finder
and-whai followed is not a pleasant
task to describe.
The Pearlhunter, remembering that
mound of fresh earth at Fallen Rock.
kept his head and drank but little.
! The Boss, on the other hand, "cut tn
| dog loose" as the river men say. BY
noon he was singing snatches Of half
forgotten songs and fighting the In
dian wars all over again. Coming mp
| to where his young friend leaned
against the bar, in easy reach Of the
| pearl, still lying upon its bit Of cloth.
he threw an arm about his neck and
leant hard upon him, something he
| couldn't have been hired to do when
| sober.
Come ere, you fellers This'n's on
me. an it's to tn Pearlhunter. tn
whitest man along tn Wabash-an'
be ID Z tn man what says e
ANTI"
The rabble swarmed about the bar
| gurgled; glasses clInked; red whisky
sizzled down hot throats; a few
shouted; some swore; others merely
laughed foolishly.
That last drink was the Boss fin
ish. He wflted down into the nearest
| chair; lurched heavily over upon a Ia
bic and lay there mumblng, or. laugh
ing in high, shrill key; occasionally
shouting out a note or two Of boat
| ing song that had been old on the riY-
er for a quarter Of q century.
It was early afternoon before the
Pearlhunter dared to think seriously
Of deposltlng the pearl-before river
etiquette permitted him to remove Il
from the bar. He tried to rally this
Boss. All ne got was further IN
stallment Of the Indian wars.
Half Disguised with II ALL be turned
| back TO the bar and stood leaning his
| chin upon his hand. A door opened
from another part Of the building
the Mud Hen being an inn, the only
one in the place. A man entered
! Crossing the floor with as little at:eu
ton to the crowd as II the place hac
| been deserted. he staggered up to the
bar. Perhaps he secretly wished thai
somebody would get in his way. liz
had Just that air about him.
| The Pearlhunter heard tho door
open; felt the nusii that fsll--th'
hush that always f8Vs upon ne rab
bic at the coming OF masterf,'l pres
ence. He turned his eyes slowly to
ward the newcomer. His nerves were
as steady as the woods make them
but they were not quite proof agains