The Lamar register., 1920-11-24
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER L-Eever having known his
father. and living with his mother on
houseboat on the Wabash river. THE
Pegrlhunter"-ths only name he has
earns from her a part of the story of
ner sad life. The recital is interrupted BY
fearful Mt OF coughing and he hurrie-
ashore TO seek root hat AFFORDS rsii-'
Returning with the root. lie meets
young girl whom he mentally christe"s
the wild Rose" She eiudes him befor-
he can make her acquaintance.
CHAPTER IA vacant cabin the
shore has attracted the attention Of the
1illng woman. and they move into Il.
Their first meal Ia interrupted by
stranger who resents their presence. The
youth drives the man from their home
His presence has strangely affected the
mother. That night the youth nnds with
In y mussel the largest pearl that mas
been found on the rivef the Blue Moon
Returning exultant 10 the cabin. hs dis
covers his mother dead she having sue
cumbed while endesyoEine TO leave =
message revealing the secret of his par
entaSa
CHAPTER Hat the village Of Fallen
Rock. to which he takes the gem for safe
keeping. the "Pearlhunter' meets the
stranger who had disturbed his mother
in their cabin. ana insults him They
part bitter enemi-s.
CHAPTER Nv. In the village the
"Pearlhunter'' sees tbe girl who had at
tracted his attention In the woods She
is annoyed by the stranger and the
"Pearihunter' rescueE her from his
welcome attentions He accompanies her
10 her horne.
CHAPTER v.-At tie house he meets
the father of his wild Rose" known TO
the locality the wild Man" mentally
irresponsible as the result OF q wound re-
ceived from a man wea ring q red mask.
notorious desperate. The youth de-
ciares his intention of devounE the
money he is to get for the pearl to pay
ing for q surgical operation which viii
restore the old mans reason.
CHAPTER Win the cabin that night
the "Pearlhunter 10 aroused from sleep
by the stealthy visit of . man who con-
ceals n red mask in the wall and makes
his escape The ''Pearlhunter." mystifed.
and suspectinE foul play. destroys IT,
Next day Louie Solomon, pearl buyer
purchases the gem for 300
CHAPTER VII.-Solomon accompanies
the youth to his cabin and within a few
minutes of their parting the pearl buyer
10 stabbed and robbed of the gem. The
"Pearlhunter'' In charged with the mur-
der and robbery and is saved from lynch
ing by the Intervention of the sheriff.
The mob believes the "Pearihunter'' Is
the Red Mask" He 10 confined In the
village lookup.
The tall form Of the Pearlhunter
stifiened In the gloom; his fingers
gripped the revolver butt.
"You might get Bull Masterson." he
said, 'and wait across there on the
lower point OF Alpine island. But
don't do anything unless the mob
starts. ] don't know much law. but
do know the law couldn't hurt you for
rescuins sherifrs prisoner from q
mob"
'Lnwi Lawr' The Boss growled.
when I know they've ketched tn
wrong man"
He would have grumbled still
further. but the Pearlhunter urged
him to go. With last whispered
word the sturdy old fellow stole
away In the gloom. half reluctant still.
as though he felt he was disgracing
himself not TO stay and nght-some-
body.
The Pearlhunter strained his ears
for sounds farther up the street, par
ticularly for any loud talk or excite
ment back Of the Mud Hen.
1t was the hour just after nightfall.
when village streets are most likely
to be deserted-the hour when
loungers go home to supper. Not q
sound out Of the ordinary rode the
air.
Al the moment. a door opened on
the back porch OF the sherifrs house.
square of light picked out the rough
boards. The sheriff appeared with q
fat basket In the hollow Of his arm.
woman's hand pulled back the mus.
lin curtains at a side window and held
a candle close to the pane to light him
across the jail yard.
The Pearlhunter lounged down on
the broken chair. A moment later a
key. scraping unbelievably loud on the
dull silence of the Jail, hunted its wny
into the lock. The heavy outer door
whined back. A match scraped; the
sputtering flame was laid to the stub
of candle; an arm held II through
the bars of the inner door.
"Oh. you're awake! It was so quiet
in here thought mebbe y'u might be
asleep"
with the air Of a man dog tired the
Pearlhunter dragged himself up of the
chair, shambled out into the hall and
took the stub of candle from the sher-
iff's hand.
The sheriff fumbled three Of four