Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-28

Testing an almost uncomfortable in
clination to tuck themselves into his
palms: but he held himself and an
swercd civilly:
They do call me that" ~
What are you doing in this
rs it yours?" 50.
NO difference whether it is or
whether -it isn't. It's no place for
river scum to wash ashore"
stranger ought to be pretty sure
Of himself before he says a thing like
that, especially when he says it the
way the n-in-the-F'ancy- Vest said
it. He, didn't know the Pearlhunter
not as the river men knew him-or
re would have considered a long time
first: Almost any river man along
the Wabash could have told him that
things would happen. Things did
happen. Still, it probably would
have been just the same anyhow. A
wildcat couldn't have lodged the toll
calloused fist that stabbed across the
candle-light. 1t caught the intruder
fiat in the mouth and pitched him
back against the door. which
him from going clear to the floor.
He was up in a flash. His hand
dropped toward his hip. That is al
ways a dangerous motion to make in
the Flatwoods; never more so than
just then and there. The Pearlhunt-
er had anticipated such a move. His
own hand reached his hip the flash
of a second ahead. The two stood
eying each other. crouched and tense.
Iron-Gray-Woman. She had risen
from her chair. The Pearlhunter
dared not look, but he saw the eyes
OF the man he faced turning irresisti-
bly, toward the sound. With the first
glance a startling change came over
him: his eyes strained; stared; his
hand left his hip and went to his
face. He Strengthened and shrank
back against the cabin door. The
yet he knew his mother was coming.
With a step he would not have be-
lieved it possible for her to take she
was between thenN her face ablaze
! with imperious dignity; her eyes like
the panther before the door Of her
den. She had shed her weakness as
a mantle. The intruder covered; his
pointed to the door. Again he tried
to speak, Her body s%tifrened; her
arm grew rigid. Like a man COM
PEELED to retreat before a blaze, he
half turned and backed away.
The Pearlhunter followed him,
trailed him up the bluffs. through the
woods and out to the River Road.
where it came down from the north,
right angled east and led away up the
river to the village:
When he hurried back his mother
was again In her chair, the impertous
outburHt over spent and trembling,
Fearful lest the excitement should
bring on another coughing spell, he
bent a%nxfously owe her chair and
smaothed the cushions. G.,
She looked up at him curiously. He
Thought she was about to speak. She
hesttated: looked down.
II haven't seen him for twenty
years. He's the-the-other man."
The Pearlhunter started; glanced
quickly at her. She was rocking
back and forth, the fingers of her
thin hands lacing, and u~nlacine
The breeze from ths,door was gut.
tering the candle. .SHe crossed the
around, it scraped q smali packet
ahead Of 1t along the floor. He pick
ed 1t up and, after closing, the uoor.
carried 1t to the candle. It was not
bigger than the length and width OF 9
mems two thumbs. and ri wrapped
In browN paper. He unrDlled 1T The
hrst glance, ~ the folds fell apart
and q bit Of cloth dropped upon the
table. brought . startled exclamation
from him. twas = red mask.
CHATTER ~.
CLAN OF THE GRAZ WOLF.
A red mask! The Iron-Gray-Wom.
an left her chair and came to Sthe
table. The two OF them stood, STARING
down upon the bit Of Naming CLOTH
A sudden impulse seemed to sweeE
the man. Involuntafily his hand fell
for tho pistol Ut his hip he Whirled
toward the door. !. The woman clutch.
ed. his arm. HI caught the Appeal
In her eyes; bowed his head turned
back to the table.