Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-10-14

NhSoAI W SSSSSi uDOuL SuLuOWIIs
Louie Solomon set his glass down
with a bang.
"Hfmmel! Dot don'dt shtruck bot
tom yet. 1t a all soaked up in mine
throat Already. Fill 'em up ag'in, all
hands roundt.s Undt dis one ISIS on
Louie.
where iss mine friendt vot trim
from me t~wenty-t'ree dollar?" Louie
asked, feeling his vest pocket, as he
had done probably a score of times
since crossing the street.
"Oh, he went up the Yellow branch
this afternoon to look at some timber
options" the bartender answered.
TEL i'm mebbe he come by DE camp
t'night undt Gift me chance to git it
back my twenty-t'ree dollar"
I'll tell him when he comes in"
The bartender wiped off the bar. The
Pearlhunter was already out on the
sidewalk, where the Jew soon joined
him, and they walked together down to
the white skiff. The three rowers were
still in their places, glum as their m
plOyef was NOluDle
1t was well toward evening when
they pulled up to the landing at which
the %houseboat lay. Louie gave careful
directions where to build the fire, and
followed the P%earlhunter up through
the underbrush beyond the strip Of
open shore, and to the cabin, tapping,
every few steps, the pocket where the
pearl lay. He went straight to the
spring.
"You should eat supper nit me,
hain'dt itY he said, the dripping
gourd poised in his hand.
Sure. But I'm not much on that
friend-of yours. I think I'll leave be-
fore he comes"
The Pearlhunter had for some time
been debating with himself whether
or not to warn Solomon of the danger
Gus character Of the man that was COM
ing. The n consideration that kept
him from speaking was the fact that
he had no proof-certain knowledge,
but 40 proof. He decided MOTTO speak
yet.
"You no like himY The Jew
laughed easily, hung the gourd back
on the stick and stood looking out over
the landscape spreading away under
the genial sunshine.
"Vot you do now?'
The question caught the Pearlhunter
unawares. He, too, was gazing out
over the landscape, but absorbed in
things Of which the placid little Jew
had not the remotest inkling.
II hardly know" he answered SLOW
ly, as if feeling for each word.
Thought maybe I'd go to school,"
SCHOOL," The Jew rldiculed the
word with his hands. IT know Already
men could be professors, undt dey got
noting. I go by school not more as
two weeks for mine life, undt look at
me-"
The P%earlhunter did look at him
hard-faced, red-nosed, yellowish teeth,
a potty protuberance swung to the
front of his waistline. 1t looked like
two weeks wasted.
"Why you don't buy timber? You
can shoot it dis waterfall into a f1ume
undt run a mill yet"
The Pearlhunter made no answer.
The little Jew talked on.
you can buy it DE Flatwoods a.
ready yet, If you handle right your
money" He walked back around the
end Of the cabin. The Pearlhunter
followed. "Vell, you come long ven
you get ready, hain'dt it?"
He went on down the slope, through
the bushes toward his skiff the Pearl
hunter turned in at the cabin door.
Alone at last, he did the very thing
that nine men out of ten would have
done; took the draft out of his pocket
and fingered it over-the concrete and
tangible evidence of a great day o
He had seen it born at midnight; had
seen it drive in through the gates Of
dawn-and now it was forever his. He
spelled out the magic words: Five
thousand, a wavy line, no hundredths,
dollars. He said each bold figure over
to himself. Slowly a face grew alive
among the words and figures; a face
framed in yellow hair; eyes that
laughed. They had laughed for him.
he had made them laugh. The draft
would make them laugh again. And
tomorrow she should send for that sur
geon.
The sound Of %groaning came in at
the cabin door from the bushes down
the hill. The face was gone from the
draft. He thrust it back in his pocket
and stepped out into the yard. His
first thought was that the little Jew,
none too sure-footed among the rocks,
had stumbled and hurt himself.
The groan came again. He sprang
into the bushes. The Jew had hurt
himself. A look so wild and terrible
the Pearlhunter had never seen upon
the face Of a a He had fallen upon
his back, with n arm cramped under
him. The other arm was free, but he
seemed unable to rise. With his free
hand he was clawing desperately at
his bosom, and the fingers Of the hand
were mussed with blood.
The Pearlhunter leaped down the
hill and bent over him. 1t was then
hQ cow wbo& tho h1ooI- la- ---