The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-09
PAGE THEE


tor, that has crossed his tioor-ste
N seven years" Her voice fell very
low. "You must not be surprised at
what you see."
From behind the closed door OF the
cabin came a groan--not Of physical
pain. but one that seemed to mutter
up out of a wracked soul. The girl
dropped her side Of the basket handle.
"Daddyi" she cried; and dashed tho
door open.
The Pearlhunter was . hard man
to jar out Of his habitual calm, but
the sight that met him 40 he followed
her across the doorstep struck him
rigid and staring.
A huge iron gray shell OF q man
rose slowly In the shadow the late ar
ternoon cast over the room. The
light that fell In at the open door
brought out the pathetic. nervous
culver OF his face; the solemn vacancy
OF his pitiful eyes. It was the wild
Man. u.
The girl ran to him and pw her
arms about his shoulders. He seemed
not to feel her touch. Slowly and
no'selessly he approached the Pearl
hunter. A leaf couldn't have drifted
across the floor more silently, or
more Involuntary. Some extraneous
force seemed to drive him.
The girl chung to him and tried TO
coax him. even drag him. back into
his chair. He seemed to be utterly
unaware Of her weight. There was
knife In his hand. His hollow eyes
never left the Pearihunter's face.
With all the girls assurance that
he was harmless. that there was no
danger. It took all the Pearlhunter's
resolution to abide the coming Of that
gaunt apparition. His breath came
fast. He set the basket down on the
floor. dropped his hat beside It and
kept his eye on the knife.
A pale fire burned away back In
the Wild Mans vacant eyes, and his
beard writhed with the culver of his
features. He even raised his hands
and ran them over the Pearlhunter's
face, as blind man might In search
Ing for some recognizable feature.
Apparently he did not nnd It. The
pale fires died out OF his eyes; hts
face qulvered; his breast seemed to
collapse: the tense silence shlvered
| with q groan. The thrush Of strength
that had seemed to dover his vast
| frame with Irresistible force fell
from him as mantle. He tottered
MS the girl led him, like tired child.
back TO his chair.
Her fatherl The daughter Of the
Wild Mani
He stepped aside out of the open
door and let the sun in. It streaked
across the floor and caught her
where she stopped over the old mans
chair. ...r m st
She seemed for the moment to have
forgotten his presence. He glanced
around the cabin. 1t was really four
cnbins-four rooms-under one roof.
The door by which they had entered
faced south. He stood in the center
room. or center cabin. A curtained
opening led to another room on the
west; similar opening. with the cur.
tain looped back and tied with bit
of ribbon, disclosed room on the
east. A closed door gave entrance to
the third room, probably the kitch.
en-, logged little to allow for 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 II, arranged across drnped
American flag, hung silk sash, a
tasseled cord. pair of silver spurs,
and . sword. Looped in the sword
hilt were two strands Of ribbon. one
purple, the other gold. There came
dim remembrance that he had once
heard somewhere these were the col
ors Of famous regiment that great
!y distinguished Itself In the Indian
wars.
The half minute or more he had
spent looking over the room had Civ.
en him time to recover his calm. and
now his glance came back to the ruin
In the chair.
I The Wild Man was whetting his
knife against his palm, mumbling and
mutterlng. He seemed to gloat over
the glitter Of lt-and the girl within
easy reach Of his hand. The Pearl
hunter stiffened; gathered himself to
spring. She happened to look up,
caught his eye, and shook her head.
Seemingly unconscious of any danger,
she came TO the door, picked up her
basket and his hat and put them on
the table beside the WISE of wild roses
You're not afraldf" asked the Pearl
hunter.
He wouldn't harm a fly"
But the knife2"
He plays with II by the hour.
That knife" as II weighing the
thought II raised HE keeps II with
him night and day. l fear death will
sometime come OF that knife!"
His eyes urged her to go on.
"Seven years he's been as you see
him. Up TO that time he was the most
IA.aI .WI