The Ordway new era., 1921-04-01
CHAPTER TX.
Once to Every Man.

back toward the cabin of the three
gables He had come into the pain
and was passing the pool when tue
light went out in the windows. DE
was sorry for that. He had hoped TO
have speech with the girl. Tomorrow
would be too late. Tomorrow the law
would be on his trail-and a pair OF
eyes more terrible than the law.
Leaving the path. he stepped out
upon the fiat rock that jutted from
the bank into the pool. Once he
glanced at the cabin: then sprang to
the tank and went on up the path.
1t was far the hardest think he had
ever tried to do in his life TO go round
to that east window. 1t was partly
omen. His breast was potrEiing; his
ears humming. He forced himself up
to the window and brought his lips
close to the sash.
"Wild Rosei"
He heard her start. and spring up
In bed. Then all was breathless still.
"Wild Roser'
The bed creaked. He heard her
euft feet moving about over the floor.
A muffied 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 or the outside and the shadow
on the inside drew closer. the one
searching what that word would be.
The man swallowed hard. ~ sold
the Blue Moon TO Louie Solomon to-
day-five thousand dollars"
He felt a thrill in the girls fingers.
"This afternoon Louie Solomon was
murdered. and the pearl stolen
She shuddered. took her hand out of
his and fumbled the loose garment
about her shoulders. but made no an
swer. Her mind was unconsciously
prepared for terrible things.
'sThey accused me of the crime
The girl gasped. Her hands flut-
tered toward her throat.
"You,''
Me" he answered strained and
slow "I've come to tell you. myself.
becausAbecauz@y trusted me.
The mob had the rope around my
throat But the sheriff got me away.
and put me in jail broke out, and
came to tell you l couldn't bear 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.
"Piease believe me!' he pleaded. He
couldn't have pleaded harder had he
faced Judge and jury. instead of mere
iy 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.
mol MOI do believe you!"
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
tattered blouse; the dried blood on
him. and clotted in his hair With a
cry. her hands went to his face.
"why, your head is bleedingl And
your facer'
Scratches, Nothing but scratches :"
he hastily reassured in tones that eau
don held low; panied at her distress;
pleased. too; his eyes alIght.
<'But this one on your headl It's n
cut-deep-and still bleeding" Her
voice was steadier. you must let me
bind up this one"
He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
eve da'sn't risk light" he said
tFor your sake we da'sn't The night
has eyes. And they'll comb these
woods tomorrow"
She shrank back into the room. He
drew half q step nearer laid his arm
on the ledge and stood fumbling the
easement. lost in thought.
Sand yet I've that to do that must
have light" he mused, more to him
self than to her, raising his head after
a time and glancing toward the dim
outIirc inside the window. SIS there
blind on your window that would
hide candle?"
"Why-yes-" she answered, puz-
zled and slow.
1t was long time before he spoke
again. Had the light served, she might
have seen in his eyes the struggle he
was going through. He rubbed his
drawn lips together to loosen them.
sWiII you trust me In your room?"
The girl started. Her hands clutched
each other She knew It was not to
have his wounds dressed that he
asked Short as her acquaintance
with him had been. she knew it was
10 ttnt
had driven him 10 ask such prIvi-
iege. 1t gripped her. shook her. but
strangely enough did not frighten her
"TlI trust you"
Not often In a mans life does he
hear such gracious words. Nature is
pot lavish Of such gifts. The shouI-
hers Of the PearIhunter lifted. The
tro0D left his head,