The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-01-07

1t was well toward evening Whe
they pulled up to the landing at whic
the hOuseboat lay. Louie gave careful
directions where to build the fire. an
followed the Pearlhunter up throug
the underbrush beyond the strip o
open shore, and to the cabin, tapping
every few steps, the pocket where tn
pearl lay. He went straight to thu
spring.
"You should eat supper NIT me
hain'dt it?" he said. the dripping
gourd poised in his hand.
"Sure. But I'm not much on that
friend-of yours. / think I'll leave be
fore he comes"
The Pearlhunter had for some time
been debating with himself whether
or not to warn Solomon of the danger.
GUS character of the man that was com
ing. The one consideration that kept
him from speaking was the fact that
he had no proof-certain knowledge,
but no proof. He decided not to speak
yet.
"You no like him?" The Jew
laughed easily, hung the gourd back
on the stick and stood looking out over
the landscape spreading away under
the genial sunshine.
''Vot you do now?"
The question caught the Pearlhunter
unawares. He, too, was gazing out
over the landscape, but absorbed in
things of which the placid little Jew
had not the remotest inkling.
81 hardly know" he answered slow
ly, as if feeling for each word.
Thought maybe I'd go to school,"
school !" The Jew ridiculed the
word with his hands. 81 know Already
men could be professors, undt dey got
noting. | GO by school not more as
two weeks for mine life, undt look at
me-"
The Pearlhunter did look at him
hard-faced, red-nosed, yellowish teeth,
a potty protuberance swung to the
front of his waistline. 1t looked like
two weeks wasted.
"Why you don't buy timber? You
can shoot it dis waterfall into flume
undt run mill yet"
The Pearlhunter made no answer.
The little jew talked on.
You can buy it de Flatwoods a.
ready yet, If you handle right your
money" He walked back around the
end of the cabin. The Pearlhunter
followed. "vell. you come,,Iopg ven
yAn get ready. haip'Q 1t q -
He went on down he SLOPE, through
the bushes toward his skiff; the Pearl
hunter turned in at the cabin door.
Alone at last, he did the very thing
that nine men out of ten would have
done; took the draft out of his pocket
and fingered it over-the concrete and
tangible evidence of great day won.
He had seen 1t born at midnight; had
seen ii drive in through the gates OF
now 1t was forever his. He
spelled out the magic words: Five
thousand, wavy line, no hundredths,
dollars. He said each bold figure over
% himself. Slowly face grew alive |
lmong the words and figures; face
framed in yellow hair; eyes that |
aughed. They had laughed for him.
lie had made them laugh. The draft |
would make them laugh again. And |
omorrow she should send for that sur
'eon.
The sound of grooming came in at
he cabin door from the bushes down
he hill. The face was gone from the
Iraft. He thrust it back in his pocket
nd stepped out into the yard. His
ba Iaxu
Ione too sure-footed among the rocks,
ad stumbled and hurt himself.
The groan came again. He sprang
MO the bushes. The jew had hurt
imsef look so wild and terrible
he Pearlhunter Lad never seen upon
he face of man. He had fallen upon
is back. with one arm cramped under
i'm. The other arm was free. but he
eemed unable to rise. With his free
and he was clawing desperately at
is bosom, and the fingers of the hand
ere mussed with blood.
The Pearlhunter Ieaped down the
Ill and bent over him. 1t was then
e saw what the bloody hand was
awing at-the handle Of a knife, hilt
eep in his breast. The Pearhunter
used him, and the other hand came
zee. Ii clutched a bit of cloth of fam
e red-a red mask.
The jew opened his eyes. recognized
lie man bearing him up.
Dot timber buyer" he gasped out OF |
IS flooded chest. He choke mel {
ar off DE mask-he shtick me-" The {
ricken jew dropped the mask and !
,at the pocket of his vest. "IIlmmell c
e pearl De Blue MoOni' His eyes 4
.ew vacant; lared up again. Mine
Dtt Rachel Rachel :"
His mouth quiyered open so wide Z
at his beard rumpled upon'his breast, J
ID the blood weled cut over his chin. Il
Is eyes bulged the smeared fingers L
ased clawing at the knife; he gasped g
ice; and dropped back-dead. v
The Peaflhunter picked up the bit n
scarlet cloth that had fallen from a
e dead mans hand. II is surprising q
w fast a man can think when he has p
The mystery of the arm thrust in HI
the cabin door across Tho moonlight
jared The finding 'f n red mask be- n