The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-01-28
CHAPTER TX.
Once to Every Man.

0FNf N'f ftAfNAhS ~ lF'N wiz - '
light vent out In the windows. |
was sorry for that. He had hoped
have speech wi'h the girl. Tomorro
would be too laie. Tomorrow the In
would lie on his trall-and u pair
eyes more terrible than the law.
Leaving the path. he stepped o.
upon The fat rOck that jutted fro
the bank into the pool. once
glanced at the cabin then sprang
the bank and went on VI the path.
1t was far the hardest thing he ha
ever tried to do in his life to go roun
to that east window. 1t was partl
open. His breast was pounding; hi
to the window and brought his lip
close to the sash.
"Wild Rose :"
He heard her start. and spring III
In bed. Then all was GREATNESS still
"WiId Rosei"
The bed creaked. He heard hel
soft feet moving about over the floor
A mufled shadow came toward the
window-a shadow and a whisper:
"~Pearlhunter!"
He reached his hand inside. A white
arm and slender fingers came out of
the gloom and found his palm. The
shadow on the outside and the shadow
on the inside drew closer, the one
searching what that word would be.
The man swallowed hard. 81 sold
the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to-
day-ive thousand dollars"
He felt a thrill in the girls fingers.
This afternoon Louie Solomon was
murdered. and the pearl stolen"
She s~huddered. took her hand out of
his and fumbled the loose garment
about her shoulders, but made no ~
swer. Her mind was. unconsciously
prepared for terrible things.
"They accused me of the crimel"
The girl gasped. Her hands fut-
tered toward her throat.
"Your"
"AIe." he answered, strained and
slow. "Pve co1e to tell you, myself.
Observation-Disclosures trusted me.
The mob had the ROPE around my
throat. But the sheriff got me away
and put ma In Jail. l broke out. and
came to tell you. l couldn't zeal for
you to think"
She stood perfectly still inside the
window. He mistoOk her silence. He
laid his hand on the window ledge and
tried to drive his eyes through the
gloom TO her face.
aalplnorA holfaro n,n ~ h. rIA.IxI NJ |
couldn't have pleaded harder had he
faced Judge and jury. instead of mere
iy a ragged girl of the Flatwoods. 81
didn't kill Louie Solomon. l didn't
take the Blue Moon"
The white arms reached out toward
him.
"No, MOI I do believe youl"
Her face had come close to the win
dow. He could see her eyes-like star
spots in the dark-big with startle-
ment, for they had caught sight of his
blouse; the dried blood on
him, and clotted in his hair. with a
Try. her hands went to his face.
"Why. your head is bleedingl And
-FOUR facet"
"Scratchesi Nothing but scratches ="
Re hastily treasured in tones that eau
ion held low; panied at her distress:
,leased. too; his eyes alight.
But this one on your head It's a
ut-deep-and still bleeding" Her :
was steadier. you must let me '
ind up This one" :
He glanced toward Fallen Rock. '
ave Ga.sn't risk a light" he said. !
For your sake we da'sn't. The night =
eyes. And they'll comb these :
tomorrow" :
She shrank hack into the room. He "
rev half a step nearer, laid his arm :,
! the ledge and stood fumbllng the ,
lsement. lost in thought. r
"And yet I've that to do that must
I'VE light he unused. more TO him h
If than TO her. raising his head after r.
time and glancing toward the dim {,
inside the window. SIS there ii
blind on our window that would II
he a candle?' d
"Why-yes-" she answered, puz-
ID and slow. hi
II was a long time before he spoke al
ain. Had the light served. she might m
We seen in his eyes the struggle he
s going through. He rubbed his of
avn lips together to loosen them. al
VIII you trust me in your room?" II
The girl started. Her hands clutched ifs
N other. She knew II was not TO hi
We his wounds dressed that he la
,ed. Short as her acquaintance hi
h him had been, she knew IL was ce
that. 1t was no light reason that err
J driven him TO ask such a privi- de
e. II gripped her, shook her. but tai
enough did NOT brighten her. as
III trust you" tn,
Tot often in a mans life does he
n such gracious words. Nature is do
lavish of such gifts. The Shout DO,
s of the Pearlhunter lifted. The my
Hop left his head. ha,
May I come now7 The night is go sal
The moon will be up In another
hours" u,