Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-11
CHAPTER XVII.

0lLhPsCE fIf1AI CAME A1Al1E.
Il The Pearlhunter was not a man to
be long held DOWN., His day was
gone; but the night remained. It
face out of his hands and stared hard
at the floor.
The Sheriff was to bring his supper
to him. The fact suddenly became
significant. Maybe he'd come inside.
Maybe he'd come alone.
A board Of the floor was warped
up. He tried to get his fingers L.ider
it and rip 1t loose. 1t was nailed too
securely. He looked at the bed-iron
and bolted hard to the wall; not =
loose piece Of metal there. He pick
ed up the chair. twisted out a post.
felt 1t over, balanced 1T in his Rand
too light.
l. A rusty stove out in the hallway
between the two cells caught hiA eye.
No poker; no lid. The door was fas-
tened in a that prevented its
being taken. off. The hearth was
gone. Nothing loose. He stood
studying it.. The legs! He darted
behind the stove. lifted 1t, and
wrenched ona loose. hid it under his
rumpied blouse: and went to the east
A scratching at the west widow
caught his ear. He listened till it was
repeated: crossed the hall and ttptoed
to the window. Peering out and down
he saw the back and shoulders of q
man crouched close to the wall.ss A
hand came up to scratch the window
ledge again. The PeArlhunter laid
his palm upon it. It wa snatched
away: but came back again.
That you, Pearihunter?
Eyes"
"Alone?".
'Yes."t
The mar on the outside raised
himself even with the window. Thu
Pearlhunter would have recognized
him in half the liEht-the Boss. Hi,
face came close to the bars on thu
outside; the P~earlhunter's face came
close to the bars on the inside. Thl
the window ledge. The comfortabl,
feel Of 1t in his fingers gave thu
Peerlhunter a new lease Of lie.
Hide 1t in y'ur pants leg. o
some'rs." the Boss whispered. AN
here's some more bullets. an tn cap
an powder iask.".
The young man grasped the hare
old hand and whispered an awkward
word or two. The Boss drew his han,
, back and swore.
fer "a ne.: h. no s ms.sI' y .Ns1 : ,. stem
Bull Masterson hiss ,eAmped thrc
miles up the river. He's got sevel
men: an I've got ave. That make
fourteen, countin' me and Bull. w
len plum upset this derned OIL 7nea
AMI once't We git w out. lie
lem lay !. claw on y'u Gin Il the
"No, no: the Pearlhunter rnuttsred
"You mustn't do that. You'd eros
1.-THE Law yourselves"
Law" the Boss snorted In III
Ihbarse whispers. Hit Amt tn Law
nor tn Sheriff I'm fearin'. Hit
Ethem cussed town yaps. They're vii
at tn lame OF tn Red Mask. The
think you're him. and they're like :.
herd OF deer that's got a wolf down
b'hind tn Mud Hen. II they star
ag'in, the Sheriff cayn't hold oy
ag'in' 'em. That timber buyin' fsli9i
him with tn howery vest, pears = b
egstn' en- on. IA like t know wha
The tail form Of the Pearihunte
Istifened in the gloom; his fnser
fgripped the revolver butt. He reach
led an arm between the bars and mi
ihts hand on the Bosss shoulder.
"You might get Bull MestefsoH,
fhe said, and wait across there o.
1.-THE lower point Of Alpine Island. IN
don't do anything unless the mo
starts, ! don't know much law. bu
1I do know the law couldn't hurt ~
for rsssutns 2 shsrtf's prisoner fref
Law! Law" ms Boss eYcv1ss
1"Whsn ! ,kn.w shs,'ye hsfehsd q
Nresss ss