The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-01-14

A step creaked the plank AT the door
Her assafIant whirled at the sound ant
she sank painting against the wall
Just inside the. door. his bod,
crouched forward. his lips tight drawn
stood the tall form of the PearIhunt
err
Things happened SO fast in the mex
| instant that words are too slow tC
keep Up with them. IT was man Il
man. and an even draw. The twC
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 a trifle high. The shot from
the corner merely clipped a bandage
at the top of she -@earlhunter'S Shoul-
/ der. drew little welt on the skin,
/ and whistled harmlesSIy away into the
night. The bullet from the door evil
/ IDENTITY found the core of the target.
/ The Red Mask bent backward. The
revolver dropped 10 his side. He tried
to raise il again; seemed surprised
| that he couldn't. He laughed oddly.
and SWOre; stared round toward the
girl; gaSped and choked. The revolver
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 peck
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 aIiveP'
She laid her face down close and
spoke his name-the only name she
knew. There was no response.
Help me lift him 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
its flow by binding up his head in cold
cloths.
Suddenly, without any warning signs
of returning consciousness. the old
man plucked his hand away from the
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
ut the startling transformation. Mel
Their 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 thar had
so long shackIed his brain-loOSened
it at The expense of far worse hurt
but undoubtedly loosened it. 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 heard. His eyes
calmly gazed up at the girl and stud
led her a 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 !
dropped her head on his breast. He I
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 long time. sir"
he said. Seven years. And you're
Just getting well again"
The puzzled eyes, suddenly Weakened
INTO a world new and strange. turned
-Oward him.
y haven't the pleasure of your ac-
Iuaintance. he said with the stately
1oliteness of a day long gone. May
ask"
"Fn-Pm-"
He hesitated. flushed. The girl.
aim again. came TO the rescue.
Hes the Pearlhunter, Daddy. He's
'een-good TO me-since you've been
lick
The old man reached out his hand.
I seemed heavy for him. The Pearl
unter grasped it. He was startled TO
md it cold. He glanced hastily into /
he ola mans face. A pallor was
preadiEg over it that was unmistak-
ble-the momentary return TO con {
ciousness was bur the CLEAN that. at !
he end of gray day. sometimes flares /;
ut between shutdown and dark. He {
aid nothing of il TO the girl. who WAS
apply busy again with the water and
andages.
The sheriff had left the couch and r
as squatted over the body of the
allen bandit. The Pearlhunter hap
ened TO glance that way. The sheriff
eckoned TO him. d
This Teller amt dead yet" he said
hen the PearIhunter had Joined him. 8
he young man stopped over the
0rawied robber. He was still breath &
g.
.F4o do1,t daSorvo n fho s.~har5Fr u