The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-02-18

word, do o suppose2 And why
should any word prevent you falling
heir to his fortune,-your father's?'
Il wondered about that. / guess it's
just lawyer talk. Do you think l
should answer that letterr
Il think you should"
'But what would / say? As l said
a while ago, / never wrote a letter"
Neither did l." He saw the answer
did not relieve the perplexity on the
thoughtful face. and went cn. But
I'd tell him about your life here. and
about your father's-accident. and
that this is the first letter you've re-
ceiyed for seven years. He hesitated.
seemed to study his next word. finally
added "And l believe I'd ask him to
come; yes. l believe l would-ask him
to come"
Why. of course; why couldn't l
think OF that? Now you'd better lie
down while | get you a mite Of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet.
protesting.
u shall have to get supper for
Daddy. anyhow" she emphasized.
"And / wouldn't think Of letting you
go without"
no use to argue. The Pearlhunter
didn't-which shows that he was
learning-fast.
"Wll you eat with me again?"
She swept him a deep courtesy.
IF the famous finder of the Blue
Moon is not ashamed to eat with his
cook"
He bowed low. 1t cost him a pang
In his side, but 1t didn't get to his
face.
IF the rich heiress, Miss Hesper
Dawn, is not above eating with the
the Pearlhunter-"
Wonderful is the residence of youth.
With a gay laugh she danced away to
the kitchen. He tramped after her.
His two old friends. the Boss and
dour-faced Bull Masterson, would
have been astonished at the sounds
that came through that kitchen door.
The slow. deliberate, serious-faced
He was dancing about
the cook stove. carrying dishes, and
laughing as lightly as If half the
neighborhood was not out hunting him
with every sort of weapon the Flat
woods could furnish.
That support Bacon and eggs,
brown toast, and coffeei And the
hands that poured that coffee and put
sugar in, and spread the toastl 1t
had to be eaten In semidarkness, for it
wouldn't do to risk a candle-semi-
darkness, but not in silence. He for
got that the girl just around the cor
ner of the table had turned out to be
rich heiress-the princess OF his
fairy story-while he was only the
Pearlhunter-a man without a name.
Twilight at the windows warned
him that the dark was lowering like a
hight raven over the woods. His time
come. The business of a man was
foot.
She closed the stove hearth to hide
he fire light. He opened the east
ioor of the kitchen. once more the
'rave, cautious woodsman. She held
nut her hand; he laid ii upon the arm
n the sling; covered 1t with his own.
wild Rosel" he said. you'll al
Ways be that, NJ matter what they call ,
'ou."
The fancy went through him that 8
er hand thrilled, ever so slightly, up
n his arm. He closed his great palm :
yer 1t. ;
1.-THE woods shall be safe tomorrow q
or you-and me-" he said, and fol- 7
,wed the words with the boldest act
( his life-picked up the hand from r
is arm and laid IT TO his lips. The n
instant he had slipped away Into n
ne gathering night. >
Buried in the bushes. he spared a
scond to look back. She was still In a
lie dark frame of the door. n
A sound like the passing Of a whis- /,
er, like the breeze playing with soft n
aves. caught his quick ear. A gray "
lost-the Wild Man of the Flatwoods a
fitted along under the cliffs and en- o
red the cabin. :
NHan--. I'm