The Holbrook news., 1921-01-21
s- CHAPTER W.
The Girl With a Basket.

The Girl With a Basket.
 It was June outside. June-it slipped down out of the. cool dells and dingles of the woods. and soothed the Pearlhunter's face, red with the stifle and reek he had just left. He filled his 'llihgs with it-June+=he tasted it with his lfps.f:: ft ;-'- .. ''@%-' nd
 With half an eye on the door of the Mud. Hen, half an. ear over his. shOul- der, he crossed t9 the bank. ...-:...:,.
 ''4vhat,a name?Tl- inquired the old banker making out the receipt, after having placed: the pearl away in the vault.
 The color set the tan on the young mans face afire. It was. something he 'rhadr not >foreseen-that a name would'1be required and he had none. A pearl worth thousands. but no name he would gladly have given the one for the other. .,. .; .:-.
 What name?" repeated the banker. looking over his glasses out through the window. aae .-i.
 "Pearl-hunterm the other stam- mered.
 Pearlhunter-what?"
 -Pearlhunter-'
 'PearIhunterl Why. that's no name"
 "It's-it's all I have"
 ''Pearlhunter-weIl-
 The banker had his mouth already set to say something more-but he didn't Instead, -he ts,elI a better look at the tall young fellow on the other side of the window. Dipping his pen into the ink well a second time. al- though it was already overloaded to the dripping point, he went on filling out the receipt.
 Just bring this with you when you want your pearl. Mr.-Pearlhunter."
 And If lose it?"
 "Then-well-Just bring your face. Yes,- that will do-your face. I reck- )n you won't lose It."
 The old fellow chuckled as if he aad surprised himself making a joke. It usually puts man in a good hu- nor to discover that he has made a Joke. The banker stood rubbing his pony hands together while the Pearl .Iunterswalked. out. ,.1.- What next? The 'Pearlhunter stood on the sidewalk outside of the bank door and debated that very question a question In two parts; first. whether to go back to Fallen Rock : second, whether to make an- other try after the Boss. He finally decided in favor of the Boss. The thought drew his eyes toward the Mud Hen across. the street. The Man- ln-the- Fancy-yest was standing just Inside the door.
 Att the moment, a young woman with basket on her arm came out of grocery a block up the street and. walked rapidly towurd the saloon. The man just inside the door appar- emily was watching for her. She seemeds to- know that he would be thereto dread that he would be-tO judge. by the way slle Iiurried past. The man stepped, out sn the sidewalk ] as the girl came opposite. and tried to stop her. He even stepped in front of her, She turned out around hipi and. with a bare word or two in EtSDO1SC tO HIS tAAtfA-tS lO CllSdSe HeT in talk, hurried rapidly on.
 He, stood looking after her till she was block or more down the street road would be the better word. since the river road formed the one street of the Village-and then delib- erateIy followed.
 All thoughts of the cabin at Fallen Rock. of the Boss sprawled ove- table at the Mud Hen. instantly fled the mind of the Pearlhunter. His somewhat passive face Iivened; into his slow eyes came a quickened inter- est. He hardly knew why he followed He simply found himself walking af- ter them.
 The river road. as It follows along under the brow of the cliffs below Buckeye, makes many turns. The girl and her pursuer were walking | fast when the Pearlhunter peeped out around a turn and looked after them. | By running at such times as the wind- l ipgs of the road hid, him. he had | caught up with them as near as was | prudent. The girl was walking very | rapidly. It was plain that she knew | she was being followed It was equally plain that she did not want her pursuer. to know that she knew it. | But walk as fast as sne would. the man following her walked just bit faster.
 Nearly mile below the village, and aalf that distance above Fallen Rock, | the river road angles abruptly to the north through a cut In the cliff and | leads back into the level highlands. 1 Just where the road turns q path | caves it, crosses a dilapidated rall 'encs yuDning along the east line of |