The state herald., 1921-04-01

the real man came out--a wildcat.
fanged and clawed
"Tll uncork this rotten old Jug" he
growled, "if you'll bolt the Flatwoods
and stop Queerin' my game"
His lips snapped tight. His cards
were on the table. The Pearhunter
Wondered them In his deliberate way
and cast up the sum total of their er.
act value.
First. There would be no mob.
Otherwise he would have trusted to
that. The meeting behind the Mud
Hen had fizzled.
Second. He had no stomach for
going into court.
Third. "Queerin' his "game." What
did he mean by his game? He couldn't
have meant the Blue Moon. for he
didn't know the Pearlhunter knew he
had 1t. His game. Tha, tense scene
at the fence the evening before flashed
up clear as the river he'd under the
jack light: girl with II basket:
frightened eyes: n yellow curl that rose
and fell upon startled bosom.
"I'il stay where am" he answered.
crisp and cold. "The law put me In:
the law can get me out"
The other shrugged his shoulders.
furious at the battling GOODNESS he en-
countered. And yet he couldn't afford
to give up his plans. or spoil them by
any untimely show of his real feel
ings. The easy smile came back.
Those questions you were expect
Ing to ask might answer them to
boot"
The Pearlhunter's fingers frightened
on the bar. He breathed deep. Those
questions! His life through, they had
haunted him. And the man before him
knew the answer. His face set hard.
Answer or not, as you please" he
said; "but I'll not bolt the FlatwOods.
was expectin' to ask about my-fa-
ther."
The other whipped a curious look at
him.
"Your father" he snarled. The
scowl on his face became 1t better than
the smile. "As like sou as two peas;
with the same lot OF fool. Sir Galahad
notions about the women-angels and
white lilies. and all that rot. He
crossed my path once too often. and
for the last time. seven years ago. He's
in hell now. And your mother"
The fist that stabbed out of the win
dow fell almost short. landing with
snap instead OF crash. like lash that
can reach only so far. 1t stung the
man on the point OF the cheek and shot
his head back.
to his face. His other hand involun-
tarlly dropped toward his hip. Well
for him that 1t stopped before 1t got
there. The Pearlhunter had snatched
the revolver from under his blouse md
held 1t Just below the window ledge.
The man on the outside backed
away. his face stung to flame by the
blow. He felt for his knife; seemed
TO remember where he hnd left it-be-
tween the ribs of a man. Anyhow. It
would have been as useless as the re-
volver. Noise precluded the use Of
the one; walls and bars the other.
I'D kill you" he retorted finally. his
tones steady. though strained, like the
current that plays across the top OF n
whirlpool. "only haven't time. There's
n flock OF yellow curls and devillsh
trim pair OF ankles waltin' for me
down the road"
He had so framed the taunt as TO re.
fleet on the girl his very thought dis.
honored. Without another word he
turned and walked away.
The Pearlhunter seriously debated
whether TO shoot him dead and trust
to fate for the rest. The revolver
crawled up over the window sill. lie
grasped one of the bars to steady his
hand. A start of surprise came to his
face. The revolver went back below
the window sill, The bar was loose.
1t was almost unbelievable. but II
was so. For some reason or other II
had not been fixed very firmly In Its
auger hole sockets. There was play
n heartening amount OF lt-betw' IN
the upper and lower auger holes. nls
blood missed beat: then leap.d the
higher.
He Jammed the bar into the lower
socket. The bottom OF the hole was
soft. The rain had probably rotted II.
He jnmmed the bar again and the wood
gave. He put all hls strength to II.
Each effort drove the bar n little dcep.
cr: gave II little more play nt the
Top. II he could only drive II far
enough so that the top would clear lie
was working like n Wild man.
Bearing Gown with all his strength
he rotated the bar. The tremendous
xertion opened the cuts and scrntchcs
on his neck and breast until they hlcd
afresh. He jammcd the bar down
again; bore upon II with nll his
strength: rotated II again md again
Less thnn half nm inch still held Mt The
top.
His cxcriions brought the swcnt on,
upon his fncc Another effort: tire.