The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-05-21
CHAPTER xIv-contInued.

CHAPTER xIv-contInued.
~
The Red Mask was going fast, but he
raised his face and muttered hoarsely
'The boy-stands before you"
Since the old man snatched the pic
ture the Pearlhunter and the girl had
been staring at each other. Events
were happening developments unfold
ting, too fast for comprehension. The
old man was staring at them both,
from one to the other, as II unable to
grasp a revelation that had been twen-
ty years coming. He stretched up his
hands at last to the young man, pulled
his face down to him, gazed on it as
at something Of which he had long
dreamed but never hoped to see;
turned back to the man on the floor.
Martin Redmond. I'll requite the
deed you've done, the one good deed
OF your evil life. The little girl I've
raised as my own, the child Of the
good woman you cruelty killed, the
child you deserted, your daughter
stands before you"
The girl recoiled In horror. The un-
natural father strained his glazing
eyes toward the daughter his thought
had outraged; a cry muttered up out
of his chest and brought with 1t gush
Of froth and blood; he stiffened; his
face tightened horribly; he fell heavy
against the arms Of the sheriR-dead.
The girl turned away from the grue-
some sight, stole a half faltering
glance at the bewildered face Of the
Pearlhunter, threw herself down by the
side Of the couch and bowed her face
upon the old mans bosom
@Unsay 1t, Daddy Oh, Daddy. un-
~ I'll"
He softly stroked her hair with his
great gaunt hand.
ITS the truth, Dotty, and can't be
unsaid. But yen owe him no respect
. parent only, never . father. He de-
serted you, and killed your mother
IN ways unspeakable killed her-a
woman Of the high blood Of the
DawnA" He funbled the picture up
~ his breast. held 1t before his face
. moment, laid It back. "Godi" he
sreaned. The ruin he wrought! For
yea1 searched for her'-he spoke
De name in reverence, ~and you, my
sen."
HIS hand found its way back into
tie PeafiAuAtes's; his eyes strained
hard toward the face bending over
hin.
They seemed hungry to know many
tAdngs-the twenty years Of wander
ing; the death Of the woman Of the
picture; how the yeung man came to
b Just there; Of his wounded arm.
But with the steady courage Of a SOL
put them by. and dropped his eyes to
the girls hair.
Your grandfather. Dotty. old God
frey Dawn, cast your mother OF when
she married Martin Redmond. Alone
and dying in poverty and want, she
sent for me at last" The girl was
crying softly. He stopped, put his
arm about her and drew her close. II
had the privilege-and honor-of max
ing her last hours less terrible. She
died with0ut-seeing you. You were
three years old when 1 gave up the
search, left everything In the hands
Of my good friend. Judge Eskridge
and came up here to lose myself in
these vast woods along the Wabash
. present from General Jackson"
His eyes closed wearily. He laJ
70 sffll, and the pallor on his face was
90 CHASTITY that the Pearlhunter benz
anxiously over him But the heavy
lids presently unclosed; the voice
queer and hoarse from long disuse
and noticeably growing weaker, fal
tered on.
"Seven yearsl It seems only thii
morning he shot mel And yet, 4
couldn't be. or Dotty wouldn't be ths
wonderful woman she has become. mol
you, my son, the man you are-the mar
was when led Jackson's rangers
Hesper Dawn Red" the quaverin,
voice hesitated. mo, no, let tha
name perish with his who disgracet
It The Judge knows. Hesper Dawn
David Wulf Warbritton. Both Of the
high blood Of the Dawns; your moth
ers both named Hesper Dawn, distant
cousins, both the same name, and botf
Of the same high blood. Neither need
you be ashamed. my son, Of your name
Of Warbrttton. 1t has been more O,
less on the tongues of men since the
brave days Of Saxon Harold. Share
your estate with Dotty. II is In the
will that you do SO. and there's ample
for you both. The judge will know
The Pearlhunter was on the poin,
Of mentioning the letter-the deatf
Of the girls grandfather, his relentina
his viii. But the faltering voice lef
him no opening.
my son, you are man grown, bu,
you will not deny your father the
heart hunger Of twenty bitter years.
His voice was fast falling; his eyes
strained hard to find the Pearlhunter's
face, though he was bending low over
him. The young man read the mean
ing, the twenty years of longing, In
the straining eyes. He knelt down and
laid his face against the old mans
cheek. An arm stole about his neck