Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-01-22

gIIILdlIlKEInrlIlIIlllu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER VlII-contl-nued.


ii
The tall form Of the Pearlhunter
Stiffened In the gloom his fingers
crippled the reyof ser butt.
you might get Bull Masterson. ne
said, land waig across there on the
lower point " Alpine island. But
don't do anything unless the mob
starts. don't know nach law. but
do know the law coIdn't hurt YOU for
resSuing a sherlfTs prisoner from
moi
LawI Laww The Boss rrov;ed
"WiseE I know they've ketchei tn
wrong man"
He would have grumDed still
further. but the PearIhunter urged
him 10 go. With q last whispered
word, the sturdy old fellow stole
away In ne gloom. half reluctant still,
as though he felt he was disgracing
himself not to stay and dght-some-
body
The Pearlhunter strained his ears
for sounds farther up the street. par
ucularly for any loud talk or excite
ment back of the Mud Hen.
1t was the hour just after nightfall
when llage streets are most likely
to be deserted-the hour when
loungers 90 home to supper. Not a
sound out Of the ordinary rode the
air.
At the moment, a door opened on
the back porch of tie sheriffs house
A square of light picked out the rough
boards. The sheriff appeared With a
nat basket In the hollow Of his arm
a woman's hand pulled back the mus
lin curtains 1T side window and held
4 candle close to the pane to light him
across the jail yard.
The Pearlhunter lounged down on
the broken chair A moment later a
Key, scraping unbelievably loud on the
dull silence of the Jail hunted its way
into the lock The heavy outer door
whined back. A match scraped; the
sputtering flame was laid TO the stub
Of a candle, an arm held it through
the bars of the inner door.
"Oh, you're awake! Il was so quiet
in here / thought mebUe y'u might be
asleep"
With the air Il a man dog tired the
Pearlhunter dragged himself up off the
chair shambed out into the hall and
took the stub of candle from the sher-
IFS hand.
The sheriff fumbled three or four
dishes and a tin cup OF black coffee out
of the fiat basket and held them close
to the bars. He stood we'll back, TAX
ing quite evident pains to keep his re
volver butt out of reach He did not
know there was very dependable
weapon already on the other side of
the bars. He made no move to unlock
tie door or to enter the cell.
None of this es ped the Pearlhunt-
er. The chance TO use his stove leg
was as good as gone, or rather, it was
not going to come. Once he considered
the desperate move of drawing his re-
golYer and forcing Il sheriff TO open
the door But the sheriff was known
to be a brave man. He might fight.
and if he did, one or the other of them
would be killed The Pearlhunter dis
missed the plan.
9Th woman didn't know there'd be
company tonight" the sheriff muttered
as he held the fishes within reach of
the arm thrust through the bars, I'm
afeared you'll be skimped a little. But
we'll try an cook up a-plenty in the
morning"
He closed the door and turned the
key in the lock The PearlhGnter
watched him u1til he had crossed the
square OF light shining out from the
kitchen aud re-entered the house, until
the door closed and the muslin cur
tains fell back into place at the side
window. Then he laid the stove leg
by. His chance was gone.
The revolver tuckee under his
waistband at the flank of his back
and hidden by his blouse seemed to
have a personality. It's friendly pres
ence helped his appetite, though, for
that matter. 1t was already keen
enough. as he had eaten nothing since
morning. He could have eaten three
such suppers as the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver; the thought
of a grizzled old river man, doubtless
at that moment rowing hard up the
river. took some Of the smart out of his
eUts and bruises. His eft eye was
swelling shut. He winkri It timber
and stood wondering whether TO blow
ont the candle or leave it burn a while;
onalfy ble'P it out, and went Jack to
the west window.
A sound caught his ear; steps corn
Epg down the river roal h listened.
The steps turned in at the Jail yard !;
eane around TO the west window. A
face appeared between the bars.
Enough lYght fell from the stars 70 re-
veal its idenrity-the sLaye, handsome
face Of the man he least expected TO
see there
The Pearlhunter came close to the
window The other backed q step
away.
PLEASED 70 find you In. - ne sheered.
The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt'