The Lamar register., 1920-09-15

It Caught the Intruder Flat In tn,
Mouth.
him. his eyeH strained; stared; MS
hand left his hip and went TO his face.
He straightened and shrank back
against the cabin door. The Pearl.
hunter dared not look around, yet he
knew his mother WIS coming, With
a step he would not have believed II
possible for her TO take she was be
tween then her face atlHze with im.
perious dignity: her eyes ike the pan
ther before the door Of her den. She
had shed her weakness Ms a mantle.
{ The intruder covered his lips moved
She raised her hand and pointed to
the door. Again he tried to speak.
Her body stirened; her arm grew
rigid Like a man compelled to re-
treat before a blaze. he half turned
and backed away 4. -atH
The Pearlhunter followed him
atraiied him up the blufrs, through the
woods and aur 70 the river road
where II came down from the north
right sngled east and led away up the
river to the village.
When he hurried back his mother
was again in her chair. the imperious
outbursr over. spent and trembling.
She looked up at him curiously. He
thought she was about TO speak. She
hssitsted; looked down
81 haven't seen him for twenty
years. He's the-the-other man"
The Pesrlhunter started; glanced
quickly at her. She was rocking back
and forth, the fingers OF her, thin
hands lscins and unlacinx nervously.
The breeze from the door was gut.
tering the candle. He crossed the
/ noor to close II. As he brought II
around. 1t scraped a small packet
ahead of IL along the hoor. He picked
/ II up and. after closing the door. car
/ ried II to the candle. II was not big
ger than the length and width Of q
mans two thumbs, and was wrapped
In brown paper. He unrolled it The
nrst glance. as the folds fell apart and
bit of cloth dropped upon the table.
brought q startled exclamation from
/ him. II was q red maak.
The Iron-Gray-Woman left her
chair and came 10 The table. Ths two
Of them stood staring down upon the
BIT Of flaming cloth.
A sudden Impulse seemed TO sweep
the man. Involuntsrily his hand felt
for the pistol at his hip; he whirled
toward the door The woman clutched
his arm. He caught the appeal In her
I eyes; bowed his head; turned back to
the table.
been. full enough Of meaning OF hu-
man Interest. to anyone able to trace
back through The years the snarled
life-thresds OF the actors the twu
river waifs staring down al the mask ;
the hard man strtding away up the
river road.
The woman went back to her chair
and resumed her quick. nervous rock
ing.
muttered. My poor. poor cousin I!
What must have been her fatei"
She leant forward and sat still and
thoughtful. her face propped In her
palm. The man stood by the table
lingering the bit Of cloth. his eyes,
stern and severe. still irresistibly
drawn in the direction the intruder
had gone.
A hail came up from the houseboat.
The sudden cry half startled them
both, coming SO close as It did on the
heels of that tense moment barely
gone
Its the Boss promised to 90
spearing with him tonight"
Stepping to the door. he opened II
and answered the hail; came back
slid the teakettle on the Ore; closed
the damper OF the stove; and snui1ed
! the candle
Now. mother. don't attempt TO
clear away the dishes. Leave them
till get back. IN only be gone lit
I tie while"
The woman made no answer The
red mask still lying upon the table
caught his eye. Rolling II up. he hid
Il under q loosened chink in the cabin
wall. picked up his hat and started
for the door; hesitsted; came back to
- D..~ O,-N