Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-09-30

where she stopped wei the old mans
chair.
She seemed for the moment to have
forgotten his presence. He glanced
around the cabin. 1t was really four
cabins-four rOomS-under one roof.
The door by which they had entered
faced south. He stood in the center
opening led to another room IN the
west; a similar opening. with the cur
tain Topped back and tied with a bit
of ribbon, disclosed a room on the
east. A closed door gave entrance to
the third room, probably the kitch-
en-, logged a little to allow for a Win
dow near the northwest corner of the
center room.
His gaze Travelled to the fire place.
A revolver-a very dependable look
ing siX-gun-lay upon the mantel.
Above it, arranged across a draped
American flag, hung a silk sash, a
tasseled cord, a pair of silver spurs,
and a sword. Looped in the sword
to what he had dreaded. Her eyes
sprang to his face. and there was
something in them he had not seen
there before. He knew in that In
slant that she had not misunderstood
him. With a freedom from which the
high moment toOk even the tiniest
semblance of holiness, she stepped to-
ward him and laid her hand on his
arm.
You're wonderful! I don't suppose
anybody else in the world would do
such a thing for folks like-us-for
strangers. Forgive me that l didn't
thank you. 1t was all so marvellous!
But l do, 1 do, over and over!"
The puzzled misgivings on the wind
seasoned face Of the man melted up
into a slow smile.
ITS nothing" he said.
That was the best he could do, the
utmost syllable he could muster.
Nothing! When Daddy is to be
well, and the good days are coming
back! How can l eve thank you'll"
ITS nothing" he repeated. "Td just
as SOC you'-he hesitated; finally
added the word, "folks-had the mon
ey for a while as to let it stand there
in the bank idle"
eyes, but how many would look at it
that way? I'm sure the bank wouldn't;
nor the doctor; nor anybody-but
you. Except Daddy" she added. HE
would-when he was well. He was
~like-you."
anyhow" he said, as if continuing
some previous remark-some remark
he had doubtless been turning over in
his mind, since he had let fall no word
of 1.-THE first thing is to sell the
pearl"
He stepped toward the open door.
She followed him. With the air of a
man seeking some excuse to linger, he
turned at the threshold.
"Sure you're not afraid?"
Afraid! With Daddy?" A thought
clouded her eyes. Her face fell. "I'm
only too safe," she continued in a low
voice. Nobody in the Flatwoods
would venture near this place. They
think it's-it's-"
She did not finish. The man guessed,
and stood silent.
But the future held too big a hope
for her to stay long under a chance
cloud. She raised her face after a
moment and held out her hand. He
grasped it in both his own.
"Don't feel bad" she said, because
you have no name but-Pearlhunter. 1
haven't any either but-but--"
"NVild Rose" he finished.
He watched the dimples come back
and the soft twilight in her eyes; and
a shaft of bronze sunset doing straight
magic with her hair. He felt her hand
slipping out from between his-the
cushions of her palm her soft fingers
and turned away.
Down near the flat rock at the pool
he looked back and found the cabin
through the trees. She was still stand
ing in the door. He waved his hand.
Her white arm shot up in the twilight,
outlined for a brief instant against the
gray logs.