The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-02-05
CHAPTER xIi-continued.


is
Huh That wasn't nothin'." His
voice was thin and sharp like his face:
high like the peaked crown Of his
rusty hat.
did your grandpa send your
"Uh-huh! l brung y'u letter.
Gran'pa tends t. tn post Office now.
The oil postmaster had stroke night
b'fore last, an hain't knowed nothin'
since. So gran'pa tends to it."
He unbuttoned the bosom Of his
waist, drew out letter and handed it
over.
"Air you Box 23?r
Lyes-I guess so" was the
startled answer as she took the letter.
Huh! That's funny name-fer a
girl"
But she was too busy with the let
ter to notice the remark 1t was ad
dressed in a very bold and legible
hand: Box %, Buckeye, Ind. The
postmark she could not be sure Of. 1t
appeared to be ylncennes, but some Of
the letters were too dull to read with
SIS that your r'volver?'
There was not much chance to read
letters-r do anything else-with a
youngster like that in the house.
"Yes. Have they found that man
that escaped from Jail last night?"
SHAW! An I hope they don't.
met that timber buyin' Teller on the
way down here He came near the
girls chair. IF they's anybody hate,
It's him. Gran'pa says"-he leant
nearer, and spoke low-''he kills peo-
pie! Gee but l wus skeered when l
saw him a-comin' down tn road He
wus awful mad. an a-swearin' to his
self. He slashed at me with a switch.
But ducked. an cut dirt, an Skinned
over tn fence. When looked back
he was a-goin' on toward town. an ]
streaked 1t through tn woods lickety-
split"
The very information she had been
about to venture forth into the woods
to acquire.
.How is your grandma today?'.
| SOh, she's well ag'in. She cooks
1 lots Of things now. She fried me
some screw-cakes yisterd'y."
He was -'lickety-split."
The girl closed the door. laughing
softly, and turned toward the curtains
/ The Pearlhunter was just coming
4 through them. ut couldn't have
turned out better" he said. 'sThe
dark, one stroke more, and things Wal
take q turn"
sThat stroke!' She was yer,
thoughtful, her eyes searching the sidt
Of his face toward her. "You speal
OF 1t lightly: but 50 You spdke Of tina
dreadful fight with the mob"
| He. sat still y long time.
4 II don't know why / shouldn't tel
you.r he said at last. 1.-THE only rea
/ SON / didn't was to save you tn
thought Of 1t. But girl like you-r'
ask no better backin' in tight place.
| Her face lighted.
.sThen why not take me with your
He started, turned his slow eye
toward her. A moment he studies
her. and then shook his head.
sNo's-the word seemed final. Il
wvo't do for girl-a lady--to hea
what viii have to be heard tonight
and see what will have to be seer"
4 Her eyes dropped; sc did his. The
both met at the same focus the lette
Il her hand. She passed It to him. Il
turned it over and over, looked at tn
address, the postscript, and handed.
back.
III never got letter In my life" q
aid, .snor wrote one"
.Neither did L" She turned the le
~ over and over. studying It. DO
a. she unused. its for Daddy! p
couIdn,t read 1t, even 4 he were her
~ ron think / should open 1t r
sYes. / think you should" he a.
vised.
she tore open the end Of the enve
one and drew out folded sheet
leral cap. Az she unfolded 4, 2 q
= ereenback- tell out upon her IL
she pounced upon It.
~rifty dollarsl Why--why-r
.srhe letter win tell" he said. lea
,ne eagerly toward her.
sha unfolded the stiff sheet, the I
ner side Of ii covered with The lette
written ii clear, readable hand:
svincennes Ind. June ~, 49,.
.~ls