The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-13
Through the Gates of Sunset.


He had purposely raised his voice.
But the man for whose ear it was in
tended never shifted his position:
never changed. even in the slightest.
his easy smile. He did slip his hand
down the front of his frock coat and
loosen II against his side, but that
was ALL
The sheriff swore; turned slowly in
his saddle and glanced the crowd over
His eye rested on the man leaning
against the hitching rack, and so
searchingly that the man appeared to
| think something was expected of him
/ IF you have any doubts as to the
/ fellows identity" he said, with an easy
| drawl, as If bored with the whole pro-
ceedings, you might search his cabin"
The devilish completeness of the
| plot staggered the Pearlhunter From
| the first, he had been glad of the eau
| ton that prompted the burning of the
two masks in the cabin; now he was
doubly glad.
The sheriff appeared to think there
| was something in the suggestion. What
be would have answered Lor what
would have been the Pearlhunter's
next move, had his answer been ad-
verse, will never be known, for the
Boss, who had regained consciousness,
scrambled to his feet and pushed his
way through the circle.
Sheriff" he said, you've shore
tuck tn wrong channel this trip. That's
tn Pearlhunter. Bull Masterson hung
that monniker on to I'm when he wus
kid. He amt no more tn Red Mask
than I be. I've knowed i'm off and
on ever sence him and is mother first
come on tn river
"And who are your" the sheriff
asked dryly
me? I'm pearl fisher. Everybody
knows me-"
Il don't"
The sheriff was plainly annoyed.
The Boss meant well, and his loyalty
touched the Pearlhunte-;- but he had
no proof-certain knowledge, but no
proof. Truly the law is a queer ma
chine. And the world; the ways of
men! Drink mans whisky III the
afternoon and hang him in the eve
ming! Some queer philosophy in that
But the Pearlhunter was not a phil
osopher.
We'll, stick around. Stick around"
the sheriff continued. still eying the
voluble but well-meaning Boss. you
can tell all that to the Judge. Ladies
a. gentlemen" he continued, raising
his voice and speaking to the crowd,
"as 1 said before this man is entitled
to a trial, an a trial he'll git. He'J
hang-but it'll be the law that hangs
i'm, an not you. I advise you to break
UP this damn foolishness an go home.
1t could be seen with half an eye
that the Sheriff was in no humor to
stand any back talk. The crowd didn't
try it; they obeyed-many sullenly,
some grumbling openly. few stayed.
The man leaning against the hitch
rack went back to the Mud Hen.
The village of Buckeye struggled for
a quarter of mile along the River
Road. The road is bigger institution
that the town. 1t formed the principal
street. The village lookup. or jail, |
stood in plain sight a short way to
the west on the north side OF the
road.
The sheriff dsmounted, picked up
the slit and trampled blouse, threw 1t
about the shoulders of his prisoner and
united the severed rope end sun
knotted about his neck. With a NUT
tered command, he made slisht
motion toward the Jail with his revolt
yer. The Pearlhunter, still with Dolno
hands. his shirt so tattered that y
left him half-naked from his waist up,
the blood upon his face and BODY fast
stiffening into clots, obeycd the com
mand.
Inside the lookup the sheriff cut
his hands loose. and Immediately
stepped outside and locked the door,
seeming to have no fancy to tarry aiseI
his prisoners hands were free. A Few
of the crowd had followed, including
the three Jews, who appeared 70 oe
more concerned about their reward
than about their master, whose DEAD
body had been left lying back on me
grass. Telling them the reward would
not be overlooked. the sheriff ordered
the stragglers away. mad warned them
not TO gather again.
The Sheriff lived at the east edge OF
the Jail yard. Turning back TO ms
prisoner he pointed out the house ana
told him he would bring over some
supper later on.
Lucky 1 happened back from the
farm just when I DID," he muttered.
half to himself, as he started TO lead |
his horse to the barn standing at the
foot of the bluffs back OF his house.
You'd a. been high an dry by now"
The Pearlhunter made no answer:
the sheriff went on to the barn.
The Buckeye lookup was a two /