The Meeker herald., 1921-04-16

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CHAPTER viiI-csatinSsA
~
The tall form Of the Pearihunter
seintened 10 the gloon: his fingers
Qipped the revolver hut.
~Yos might get Bull Mastessoo," be
sid. "and walt scross there on the
lower point q Alpine Island But
don't do anything unless the mob
starts. dent know much law. baf !
DO ksov the law couldn't hurt you for
rsseuias . shsSifs psis'ssr free .
Doo."
Haw! Lawr Ths Hsss rovied.
.when I know thsy'vs kstehed III
vroog nan-"
He would have srsableA stin
further. but de Pearihunter urssd
him 70 90. Win . last Whispered
word. the sturdy cid nsalow stole
amy In the gloon. half reluctant still.
- thosgh be fsit be was disgradns
Anssif not 70 stay and nsht-soms-
bsdy. --.
Tbe PnriAuates ssraissd his sass
for sounds farther up the street. Jar
eeuiasiy fse any looA talk OF excite
0sot hack It the Nod Hen.
u was the hour just aftes nightfail.
weea vtliass streets arc mast ilhsiy
to - dssssted-tAs hour when
tesnxefs 60 hone b supper. Net .
ssssd out q Tie ordinary rode he
air.
Al The moment. Q door opened %
~ back porcA Of the sheri6s house.
square Of light picked ost the rough
esarda. The sheriff appeared with Q
0st basket Ia the hollow Of his arm
= voman's hand pulled back the 0us-
tis curtains 1t q SIDE window and held
Q easdls cioss to the paos to light hin
eefoss the jail yard.
The Pearihuntes lounged down %
ne broken chair. A moment later Q
ny. scrapins unbelIevably loud on the
doll alenee Of the jail. hunted its way
into the lock. Tie heavy outer door
~hined back. 4 match scraped: the
sputtefin& name was laid to the stub
At candle: m arm held II through
The bars Of the inner door.
~Oh. you're awake, II was no quiet
In here thought mebbe IN might Be
asleep" .
with the. air Of man dog tired the
Poarihuntef dragged himself mp Of the
chair. shambled out Into the hail and
took the stub Of candle from the sbef.
i6's hand.
The sheriff fumbled three or four
dishes and tin cup Of black coffee out
of the nat basket and held them close
70 tie bars- He stood well back. TAX
Tag ssIte evident pains 10 keep his re-
solver butt out Of reach. He did not
know there was q very dependable
weapoa already 90 the other side Of
de harA He made no move to unlock
the door o. to enter the cell.
None Of this escaped the Pearihunt-
81. The chance to use his stove leg
~as n coed - gone. OF rather. II was
not going to come. Once he considered
the desperate move Of drawing bis re-
voivef and forcing the sheriff to open
the door. But the sheriff vas known
TO be q brave man. He might nght.
and II he did. one or the other Of them
Would be killed The Peorihuntef dis
missed the plan.
I'll woman didn't know there'd be
company tonight the sheriff muttered
a. he held the dishes within reach Of
the arm thrust through the barx I'm
afenred you'il be skimped little. Bur
we'll try an cook up a-plenty In the
morning."
He closed the door and turned the
key IN the lock. The PearIhunter
watched him until he had crossed the
square Of light shining out from the
kitchen and re-entered the house. until
taIns fell hack into place ut the side
window. Then he laid the stove leg
by. His chance was gone.
The revolver. tucked, under hi.
wnistband Mt the flank Of his back
and hidden by his blouse seemed to
hnve personality. Its friendly pres
ence helped his appetite. though. for
that matter. II was already keen
enough. a. he Ind eaten nothing since
morning. He could have eaten three
such suppers as the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver; the thought
OF grizzled old river man. doubtless
at that moment rowing hard up the
river. took some Of the smart out Of his
cuts and bruises. His left eye was
swelling shut. lie winked II timber
ard stood wondering whether to blow
cut the candle or leave II burn q while
finally blew 1t out, and went back to
the west window.
A sound caught his enr: steps COM
ing down the river road. He listened.
The steps turned In at the jail yard
came around to the west window. A
face appeared between the bar..
Enough light fell from the stars to re-
zeal lta identity the suave, handsome