The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-02-05

word, do you suppose? And why
should any word prevent you falling
heir to his fortune,-your fathers"
II wondered about that. i guess it's
just lawyer talk. Do you think
should answer that letter.
Il think you should
But what would l say? AS said
while ago, never wrote a letter"
Neither did l." He wthe answer
did not relieve the perplexity on the
thoughtful face, and went on. but
I'd tell him about your life here. ana
about your father's-accident, and
that this is the first letter you've re-
ceived for seven years" He hesitated,
seemed to study his next word. finally
added: "And believe I'd ask him to
come; yes, believe would-ask him
to come"
.'Why, of course; why couldn't l
| think of that? Now you'd better lie
down while 1 get you a mite of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet,
protesting.
| II shall have to get supper for
Daddy. anyhow" she emphasized
"And wouldn't think of letting you
| go without
When a woman talks like that, it's
| no use to argue. The Pearlhunter
| didn't-which shows that he was
Iearning-fast.
xviii you eat with me again."
She swept him 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 it 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 gay laugh she danced away to
the kitchen. He tranped after her.
His two old friends. the Boss and
dour-faced Bull Masterson, would
have been astenished at the sounds
that came through that kitchen door
The slow, deliberate, seriOus-faced
Pearlhunteri 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 supper! Bacon and eggs
brown toast, and coffee! And the
hands that poured that coffee and pu
the sugar in, and spread the toast! /
had to be eaten in semidarkness, for i
wouldn't do to risk a candle-semi
darkness, but not in silence. He fer
got that the girl just around the cor
ner of the table had turned out to b
rich heiress-the princess" of hi
fairy story-while he was only tn
Pearlhunter-a man without name.
Twilight at the windows warne'
him that the dark was lowering like {
night raven over the woods. His tim
had come. The business of man wa
afoot.
She closed the stove hearth to hid
the fire light. He opened the cas-
door Of the kitchen. once more tn
grave, cautious woodsman. She he'll
out her hand; he laid it upon the arr
in the sling; covered it with his owl
"Wild R0ser he said. you'll a
ways be that, no matter what they ca
} you.'
i, The fancy went through him tha
her hand thrilled, ever so slightly, NJ
/ on his arm. He closed his great pail
over 1t.
saThe woods shall be safe tomOrrO'
| for you-and me-" he said, and 70
lowed the words with the boldest az
4 OF his life-picked up the hand frol
his arm and laid it to his lips. I'll
4 next instant he had slipped away int
the gathering night.
Buried in the bushes, he spared
second TO look back. She was still
Y the dark frame of the door.
/ A sound like the passing Of viii
per, like the breeze playing with so
H leaves, caught his quick ear. A grs
4 ghost-the Wild Man of the Flatwoot
I fitted along under the cliffs and e
tered the cabin.