The Holbrook news., 1921-04-08

back; a hot wild face near her own.
 A step creaked the plank at the door.
 Her assailant whirled at the. sound and she sank panting against the wall.
 Just inside the door, his body crouched forward, his lips tight drawn, stood the tall form of the Pearlhunt- er
 Things happened so fast in the next
 instant that words are too slow to keep up with them. It was man to man, and an even draw. The two shots came so close together that the hills out through the open door caught but one echo. But the shot from the door struck first-a scant little mite of an instant first-and jared the aim of the other trifie high. The shot from the corner merely clipped a bandage at the top of the Pearlhunter's shOul- der, drew a little welt on the skin, and whiStled harmlessly away into the night. The bullet from the door evi- dently found the core of the target. The Red Mask bent backward. The revolver dropped to his side. He tried to raise it again; seemed surprised that he couldn't. He laughed oddly, and swore; stared round toward the slipped from his fingers. He groped with his hands, as if searching the air for it; staggered, caught himself, tottered, pitched heavily to the floor.
 The girl edged out of the corner past his body and threw herself upon the form of the old man. The Pearl hunter eased down the hammer of his revolver, thrust it back into his pock ct. and stopped beside her. At the touch-of his hand, she raised her head and knelt stroking the still face and crying softly. The Pearlhunter opened the old mans coat and felt over his heart
 He's alivei"
 She laid her face down close and spoke his name-the only name she knew There was no response.
 Help me lift hirl to the couch," the man said.
 They had the old man on the couch and the girl had run for water, when the sheriff, who had been far out stripped by the younger man, dashed into the cabin. All three worked over him. The Pearlhunter chafed one wrist, the sheriff the other, while the girl bathed his face, washed the blood out of his hair, and strove to staunch it's flow by binding up his head in cold cloths.
 Suddenly, without any warning signs of returning consciousness, the old
 h; ebr Pearlhunter and rubbed it over his face. His eyes came open, but they were not the same eyes. And his face was free from twitching. The girl stared down upon him in wonder. The Pearlhunter stopped low and marveled at the startling transformation. Nei- ther knew. nor even suspected, until the doctor explained it days later, that the blows of the revolver butt had loosened the tiny bit of skull that had so long shackled his brain-lOOsened it at the expense of far worse hurt. but undoubtedly loosened 1t. They only knew that the eyes were free from the vacant stare; that his face was calm with the light of reason.
 He felt again over his face, seemed | astonished at the beard. His eyes calmly gazed up at the girl and stud ied her long time.
 You couldn't be Dotty?"
 His voice was queer, hollow, quaver- ing. like some sound from another world. so long had it gone unused.
 "Oh, Daddy"
 She threw her arms around him and | her head on his breast. He | sat stroking her hair, finally raised | her. looked hard at her, rubbed his | eyes and looked again.
 "You must be Dotty. But you've | so since morning"
 The girl seemed unable to tell him. She strOve for words, but none came. The Pearlhunter drew nearer.
 "You've been-sick a long time. sir" he said. Seven years. And you're just getting well again"
 The puzzled eyes, suddenly wakened into a world new and strange, turned toward him.
 II haven't the pleasure of your ac- quaintance," he said with the stately politeness of day long gone. May I ask-?"
 ''Fm-Fm-"
 He hesitated, flushed. The girl. calm again, came to the rescue.
 He's the PearIhunter, Daddy. He's been-good to me-since you've been sick
 The old man reached out his hand 1T seemed heavy for him. The Pearl hunter grasped it. He was startled to find it cold. He glanced hastily into the old mans face. A pallOr was spreading over it that was unmistak- able-the mOmentary return to con- sciousness was but the gleam that, at the end of a gray day, sometimes flares out between sundown and dark. He said nothing of it to the girl, who was happily busy again with the water and bandages.
 The sheriff had left the couch and was squatted over the body of the fallen bandit. The Pearlhunter hap pened to glance that way. The sheriff beckoned to him.
 "This feller ain't dead yet" he said. when the Pearlhunter had joined him. The young man stopped over the sprawled robber. He was still breath ing.
 He don't deserve it." the sheriff went on, "but it's only common de- rency to get him up."
 He put his arm under the man and -aiSa1 him xuhflo fho Doo rIhn1far