The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-01-08
CHAPTER v.

IAktt Nuh mali NlklN UthAAuNf
| ABOVE the Fallen Rock, the
y River Road angles abruptly
TO the north through "a cut IN
Fthe cliff ana leads back into the level
| highlands. Just where the road turns q
| path leaves u, crosses dilapidatcd
rail fence running along the east
line OF the WRrbriyton lands. and en-
! terra tho woods. The girl took this
path. She was in the act OF climbing
tho fence low and broken where the
path crossed it-awh,n, with pro-
dglOus step cor tvo, the man follow
ing caught up with her and took hold
OF the basket.
ALLOW mc TO assist YOU, hc said
The peaHhlmtcE from where he
had darted bohind a slump o. hazel
growing rank along the side OF the
road, could just distinguish tue
words
Without answering, the glrl sp,Jnu
to the ground on the opposite 1Lc u(
the fence, but without letting 80 ~
he basket. Neither did the utl.r let
go. Placing his disenEd god hand upon
the top rail Of the ,CGrD, be vaWtcl
lightly over the pDarthurior -ellvd
the taVoIaDl, instant 10 steal nearer
The gu aunuet . tht g.I.s acs sa
that 70. could mo- F.r bu' To
lanDlod the plump brown hand on the
basket huudle yWs &C. mhl'ns, The
smile an the lace ~ the maa cling
Ing pcrs,stOu, o. th, ~ rlut {
the basket meant things th., @ vn'lc
has no busin 80 10 mean
why do W always avoid mc?'
His voice was low, soft, muslcul-
too musical. 'Surcly ~ no crime
for man to adruire pretty ETi
The cat may look az the queen, YOU
know"
", laughed, Som,tniro tttor.trcl
different from uirih in that Laugh -
HomCthlug altogether dificront from
vrth behind 70 The g'l made no
rep.N--It the hgaVipy OF her bosom
gave amy index % ncr feelings. she
nohahlv could not reply. She aid not
evon raise her tycs.
You tEEortt mo 'h'rC 10 the va
iage." he pursued. "I'ut out here in
the wooGf--WciL It's out here In tho
woods, You've so; to- H,ll!"
Tie cNClHmai ON was su!prisOd out
OF him, The girl had suddenly dr,p-
ped her v du OF 'h' nar'r t.lr WIiJ az.
But quick as she was, he was Qu,rkCr.
A. The bas,"t c'aitCrcd 20 the ground
he seized her arm There followed
some mutterCd words and a 'moth-
cred cry that tho Pearlhuuter was
too busy iust then ." 40. -tuud.
Tho girl wa stlll struggling, her
assailant mutterlng and trying TO dc
tain her without too great show OF
violence, when a grim face scowlcd mp
from behind the fence, long arm
shot over. the fingers Of Ctllouscd
hand twisted themselves into thu col
lar of the assailant and slammed him
back against the rail with force that
took tn. breath out of him In a grunt
Nor was that all. The same long arm
dragged him backward over the fence
and Chucked him head ltr,t down into
/ the path on the other side, where for
moment he lay half stunned. gasp
ling for the breath that had rs good
rs gone. and gazing half foolishly up
At the man who stood over h'm.
But II was only for a moment. with
face like the flames Of he'll he sprung
mp. The body " the PoarlhunteT
crouched, tghtened.
There IL Just one thing TO ,peot In
such situation; but the expected
failed TO happen. For the second time
that day the Mgn-in-tha- Fancy Vest
treated the Pearlhuntcr 10 u very gem
ulne surprise. The flame OF anger In
his eyes slowly changed TO naughty
contempt, infinitely ranking. he
turned, and without "A backward glance
stalked down the road toward the viii
lage.
The Pcarlhunter stood gazing offer
him. The He'd MaSk--and he hadn't
struck. Three times anronted and he
hadn't struck. Each time there had
been death In Ibis eyes. What was
holding his hand Was he bidiug his
time? II was not pleasant thing to
contemplate, for any man can kin an
other II he waits his opportunity and
takes him at "A disadvantage.
Why hadn't he struck? Always the
question came back to that And what
was holding him to the FlatwoodaP
The PearIhunter whirled with the
thought and looked back over tina
fence.
The girl was gone.
The basket and bundles were still
scattered about the path. lie climbed
the fence and began gathering them
up lie had them all back In the bas-
ket and was leaning against the fence,
wondering how 10 get them to their
proper owner when slight rustic
among the bushes reached his ear. lie
glanced up the girl stood before him.
II was the girl Of the pool--the wild
Rose.