Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-12


wild ROse"
She almost dropped the cup she was
wiping. That call was not inspired by
pain. No pain in the world could have
wrung ii from HIM. She hurried back
into the room. He had risen and was
standing near window, look on his
face that made her half afraid of him,
his eyes like a blade half drawn. He
had heard a step. Hoy he heard it
sensed it-only the hunted know.
The girl sprang to his side, her eyes
followed the motion of his hand, and
her lips turned white. a man was com
ing up the path-the man both dread
ed most to see.
Handsome, jaunty. debonair. smooth
faced except for the aggressive mus
tache slightly shot with gray, the no
tOrious bandit swung along up the
walk. The PearIhunter stood crouched
forward His hand dropped to his hip,
closed over the butt of the revolver
then slowly Enclosed. He was taking
his arm out of the sling when the girl
caught him, shook him, dragged him
back.
Quick !" she cried, pushing him
across the floor. My room Behind
the curtains"
At the door he hung back. his head
still over his shoulder
81 reckon must hide" he muttered,
still glaring back toward the window.
But not there. The kitchen?"
mo, my room. It's safest
She pushed him behind the curtains.
"But If he comes I'M"
"He won'tr'
He caught a glimpse Of her-white.
hard as the face of the hills and the
blue in her eyes like bright steel
touched with flame.
A quick glance at the tiny slit be-
tween the curtains behind which she
knew the Pearlhunter was standing, a
very positive and vigorous shake of
her finger that said palmer than words
to stay there; and she rose and walked
with a firm step 10 the door. A mar
row inch she opened It and with her
left hand held 1t so, with her right
shoulder propped against it in such a
way that her right side and arm were
concealed
The man on the outside of the door
drew back step, and with a sweep
ing bow--too sweeping, even for the
| Flatwoods-hi hat came off and his
/ handsome face put on its most affable
smile.
And how is my wood fairy this aft
/ ernoon?"
The girl made no reply. Her face,
framed in the narrow opening changed
not a shade.
/ Nothing so disconcerts man as 10
have his advances met with silence.
| Some Of the lines and wrinkles that
! did duty for the smile left the bold
| face of the renegade.
1T was SO very lonesome in the vii
lage, with the men all hunting that
desperate, that thought I'd walk out
| and spend the afternoon with you, and
talk over with you some very charm
log plans I have formed. You have
! what believe to be wonderful voice.
While, to my great regret, you have
never sung for me. yet, as I have
passed back and forth through the
woods in my business of looking up
timber options, / have sometimes
heard you sing. You undoubtedly have
a great voice. Now. am rich, with
no one to spend my money on. What
better could do with II than give Ia
the world a great singer? RI YOU will
90 with me, you shall have the best
training the world affords"
He put one foot up on the doorstep
his face beaming-lf such a face car
beam. The Pearlhunter stiffened in
his place behind the curtain. The Cir
never changed q hairs breadth in the
narrow opening between the cheek OF
fhe door and the jamb. Her cold ST
lence was apparently too much even
for the bold man that faced her
Aren't you going to invite me IMP
"My father is away this afternoon
can not invite You in"
1t was the first word she had spok
en-a word cold and hard enough
but the brazen intruder seemed to take
/ encOura cement from il.
Then permit me 10 invite myself
He advanced d step, laid his hand t.
the door, pushed lightly. The narrow
slit between cheek and jamb wldeneC
not a hair
The passions OF a Prussian noble
were behind that face outside, They
began 10 break through it's thin ve
neer Of politeness. He put his hat bacl
on, but still kept his hand on tn,
door.
Il might choose TO come In"
The girl made no answer; nelthe
did she suffer the door TO yield. I'll,
last vestige Of the smile left the mar
face.
II might demand to come in"-some
hing close kin 20 a snarl slipped int,
his voice-"t0 search this cabin to
that notorious desperado the Re-
Mask, the murderer Of Louie Solo
mon"
The I, O Mask Is not in this cab
in
TN ore,r-or 70 ma eIor4t.., .rs .h<.-