The Little River news., 1921-01-12

the flaw can get ins out."'
 The other shrugged his shoulders, fvious at the baffiing c0olness he en. sasuntered. And 5st hes couldn't anssd to give up his plans. oR spoil them by any untimely show of his real feel ings. The easy smile came back. ' Those questions yon were expect ing to askfp might answef Shsm o boot"
 The Pearihunter's fingers frightened on the ban 7s Dss4thed dsep Thobe questionsi Hls lifs through, they had haunted him. And the man before him knsw the answer. EiG 3AcS - hatd. Answer or not, as you please" he said; sbut rllsnbti bolt the Flatwoods. I was expedtin' to ask about my fa- ther."
 The other whipped curious look at him. esf &
 "Your 'fatherr he sharled. The scowl on his face became t better than the smile. "As like you as two peas ; with the same lot of fool Sir GaAahadd 2 notions about the women angels and } white lflies, and all that rot. Ffs crossed my path once too often, and for the last time, seven years ago. He's in hell now. And your mother The fist that stabbed out of the win dow fell almost short, landing with a snap instead of crash, like a lash that can reach only so far. It stulg the man on the point of the cheek and shot his head back. u He staggered and threw up his hand to his face. His other hand ipvolun- tarily dropped toward his hip. We'll for him that t stopped before 4 got there. The Pearlhunter had snatched the revolver from under his blouse and held 1t just below the window ledge.
 The man on the outeide backed away, his face stung to flame by the blow. He felt for his knife seemed to remember where he had left be tween the ribs of a man. Anyhow 1t would have been as useless as the re volver. Noise precluded the use of the one; walls and bars the other. "T'd kill you" he retorted finally, his tones steady, though strained, like the current that plays across the top of a whirlpool, "only haven't time. There's a flock of yellow curls and devilish trim pair of ankles waitin' for me down the road."
 He had so framed the taunt as to re- fleet on the girl his very thought dis honored. Without another word he turned and walked away. Y
 The Pearlhunter seriously debated whether to shoot him dead and trust to fate for the rest The revolver crawled up over the window sill. He grasped one of the bars to steady his hand. A start of surprise came to his face. The revolver went back below the window sill. The bar. loose.
 1t was almost unbelievable, but 1t was so. For s6me reason or other 1t had not been fixed very nrmlg vin its auger hole sockets. There was play-- 6 heartening amount of it'-betw.en the upper and lower auger holes. Ais blood missed beat; then leap.d the higher.
 He damned the bar into the lower socket. The bottom of the hole was soft. The rain had probably rottei' it. He. damned the barsagain ndsthe wood gave. He put all his strength to it. Each effort drove the bar little deep CT; gave 1t little more play, at the top. If he could only drive 1t far enough so that the top would Glearl He was working like wild man.
 Bearing Gown with all his strength. he rotated the bar. The tremendous exertion opened the, cuts. and scratches on his neck and breast until they bled afresh. He damned the bar down again; bore upon 1t with all his. strength; rotated 1t again and again. Less than half an inch still held at the top.
 His ,exertions brought the sweat out upon his face. Another effort; Ire tnendous; to the last ounce of his power.
 His hands were like flre-but the bar cleared. He could, move 1t tiny mite to the side of the upper auger HOlc. 1Hc CIcdTduCc WIS ever so u6tle l--but 1t cleared. Bracinga his knee against the wall and grasping the case ,ment with his left hand for anchorage. he bent and worked and twisted the bar outward. At last, by flnar su- preme heave, 1t cleared the upper log. There remained only to lift 1t out of the lower auger hole.
 The Pearlhunter dropped back pant ing and mopped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. The effort had been tremendous. sst
 A minute to get his breath; another spent in listening; and he worked the loosened end little freer; lifted out the bar; crawled outside; put 1t back into; place again, feeling about with his fingers to make sure there were no scars on the wood or bits of chips scraped loose. and stole away under the trees.
 It would probably be quite, impossi- ble for the city,bred to;appreciate fully the feelings of the Pearlhunter at flnd. ing the breath of the open woods once