The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-12-17
CHAPTER TX.
Once to Every Man.

gables. He had come into the patti
and was passing the pool when the
light went out in the windows. He
was sorry for that. He had hoped tC
have speech with the girl. Tomorrow
would be too late. Tomorrow the law
would be on his trail-and a pair OF
eyes more terrible than the law
Leaving the path, he stepped out
upon the fiat rock that jutted from
the bank into the pool. Once he
glanced at the cabin; then sprang to
the bank and went on up the path.
IT was far the hardest thing he had
ever tried to do in his life 10 90 round
to that east window. It was partly
open. His breast was pounding; his
ears humming. He forced himself up
to the window and brought his lips
close to the sash.
wild RoseI''
He heard her start, and spring up
in bed Then all was breathless still.
"Wild Rosel''
The bed creaked. He heard her
soft feet moving about over the floor.
A muffied shadow came toward the
window shadow and whisper:
"Pearlhunter
He reached his hand inside. A white
arm and slender fingers came out of
the gloom and found his palm. The
shadow on the outside and the shadow
on the inside drew closer, the one
searching what that word would be.
The man swallowed hard II sold
the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to-
day-fiye thousand dollars"
He felt a thrill in the girls fingers.
This afternoon Louie Solomon was
murdered, and the pearl stolen"
She shuddered. took her hand out Of
his and fumbIed the loose garment
about her shoulders, but made no an
swer. Her mind was unconsciously
prepared for terrible things.
''They accused me of the crimei"
The girl gasped Her hands fiut-
tered toward her throat
Your
Me" he answered, strained and
slow. 1--WE come TO tell you, myself,
because-because-y trusted me.
The mob had the rope around my
throat. But the sheriff got me away,
and put me in jail. 1 broke out, and
came to tell you. / couldn't bear for
you TO think"
She stood perfectly still inside the
window He mistook her silence. He
laid his hand on the window ledge and
tried to drive his eyes through the
gloom TO her face.
please believe eP' he pleaded. He
couldn't have pleaded harder had he
faced judge and jury. instead Of mere
~ a ragged girl of the Flatwoods. 81
didn't kill Louie Solomon. l didn't
take the Blue Moon"
The white arms reached out toward
him.
mol MOI I do believe you!"
Her face had come close to the win
dow. He could see her eyes-like star
spots in the dark-big with startle-
ment, for they had caught sight of his
him, and clothed in his hair. With a
CRY, her hands went to his face.
why, your head is bleedingl And
your face !"
Scratches Nothing but scratches II
he hastily treasured In tones that eau
ton held low; panied at her distress;
pleased, too; his eyes alight.
But this one on your head It's
cut-deep-an still bleeding" Her
voice was steadier. "Y0u must let me
bind up this one"
He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
I'VE da'sn't risk a light" he said. /
'For your sake we da'sn't. The night |
has eyes. And they'll comb these
woods tomorrow"
She shrank back into the room. He /
drew half step nearer, laid his arm
on the ledge and stood fumbling the +
easement, lost In thought
land yet I've that to do that must |
have light" he unused. more to him
self than to her. raising his head after
a time and glancing toward the dim
outline inside the window as there
a blind on your window that would
hide candle?"
''yvhy-yes-'' she answered, puz-
zled and slow.
It was q long time before he spoke
again. Had the light served, she might
have seen In his eyes the struggle he
was going through. He rubbed his
drawn lips together to loosen them.
'Nrfn you trust me In your roomT'
The girl started. Her hands clutched
each other. She knew It was not to
have his wounds dressed that he
asked. Short as her acquaintance
with him had been, she knew it was
not that. It was no light reason that
had driven him to ask such privi-
lege. 1t gripped her. shook her, but
strangely enough did not brighten her. ,
''T1l trust you"
Not often in a mans life does he
hear such gracious words. Nature is
not lavish of such gifts. The shout
iers Of the PearIhunter lifted. The
Troop left his head.
May come now? The night is 60
ng. The moon VIII be up in another
.wo hours"
''Yesi" :
She stood farther back in the gloom. Z
1e slipped lightly in over the sill.
please draw the blind before Won 4
light the candle" he directed
He saw her arm reach ND along the +
asement. The blind came down. q
within touching distance of each other q
hey stood in pitch darkness: a man r
md n-alone-wrappe in the
ilent secrecy OF the deep woods. He :
ieard her quick breath. His heart
eat up into his throat. Her qar- !
onr1<r /