The Mena weekly star., 1921-08-18
Obe Blue Moon 4 7dle of the F7QtuOOdS
BY DAVID ANDERSON
8 ls is ts is is S R l,s ISs st
 { 7lopyright by Bobbs-M Col

zze~ It the moment he'd said it 1t @ar unlike him. The man leaning in a1n1rHnf carelessness against the h'fch rack was probably quite un- aS=arn that he was suspected. It mIkhI prove a costly mistake to let h1n know that he was. Besides, 1t ues extremely unlikely that he would have the pearl still on him. With the near] gone, the proof would be gone. The PearIhunter's usual slow caution should have brought a good many con ssdersf:ons to his mind before he said fhaf. But rope around a mans neck makes a prodlgious difference in the ,oek of things. One cannot help won darin4 what would have been the out como had the sheriff needed the re- onesf and cut loose the hands of his prIsoner. Things would have hap penc1-~and they would have hap penea fast.
 Inc sheriff laughed; a hard, raspy faueh. good many things in that lau31l the jangle of handcuffs; the rrafe of keys in stiff loeks-but never mite of mirth.
 eTIe'z roped now"
 e4z's not" was the Pearlhunter's lncfutious answer. "but he's handy"
 Ho had purposely raised his voice. 7 v15 '7:5 zs zssz $ man for whose ear it was n- feHued never shifted his position; neyar changed. even in the slightest, hIs easy smile. He did slip his hand doxn the front of his frock coat and loosen it against his side, but that x4s all.
 The sheriff swore; turned slowly in lis saddle and glanced the crowd over.
 Ladies an gentlemen" he said, rais- Ink Bis voice, "as said before, this man Is entitled to a trial, an trial hen fit. He'll hang-but It'll be the 1ag that hangs i'm, an not you. ad- vIse you to break up this damn fool iehness an go home"
 II could be seen with half an eye fhaf the sheriff was in no humor to stand any back talk. The crowd didn't try It they obeyed--many sullenly, eolne grumbling openly. A few stayed. The man leaning against the hitch rack went back to the Mud Hen.
 The village of Buckeye struggles 1o1 q quarter of mile along the river foad. The road Is bigger institution thau the town. It formed the princi- na1 street. The village lookup, or 1sH, stood in plain sight a short way fo the west on the north side of the r0ad.
 The sheriff dismounted picked up the slit and trampled blouse, threw 1t about the shoulders of his prisoner and untied the severed rope end stfll knotted about his neck. With a nut tered command, he made a slight mo- ton toward the jail with his revolver. Inc Pearlhunter, stiii with bound Ennis, his shirt so tattered that 1t left him half-naked from his waist up, fhe blood upon his face and body fast stiffening into clots, obeyed the com i1nnd
 Inside the lookup the sheriff cut his hans1s loose, and immediately stepped outside and locked the door. seeming to have no fancy to tarry after his tEf9 bnck to his prisoner he pointed out hIs house and told him he would bring Over Some supper later on.
 The Buckeye lookup was a two efory. Rectangular structure of heavy 3oxS There were two cells. with hallway between. on the first floor, and the same arrangement above. The Penrlhunter was the only prisoner. so ho had free range of both lower cells. The barred gate opening to the stair leading to the upper floor was heavily pNdIocked. The door of the jail faced s3nfhA-faced the river road. Each cell had one window; the window of the one looking east, the window of flie Other looking west. These win doWS were both rather larger than might have been expected. Each con- fained single sash, with the four bars to each window, set in auger holtS in the logs at the top and bot tom. The sash was hinged at the side so as to swing in.
 The Pearlhunter opened the sash at fine west window and swung 1t back as far as it would go. Through the bars be could look out under the cool, eaIf1 trees in the jail yard. The river roQd wound dusty and dry toward the sundown wound to the first curve and bid itself in the hills wound on :. f1 {hat sharp turn at the rim of the aeen woods by the low fence. And fh6rc the path began. the dim slim p4th worn by wonderful feet; the path <hat led to a girl with eyes like the s4 < f55'Effsa sky at the bottom of the 1pxing; eyes that trusted" him. that Monld look for him. What would they M Ike when he didn't come: when 16 word reached her that he was the Hed Mask? He thought of that bit of oeaflet cloth behind the books. with Inc knife thrust near an eyehole. What If he should never have the fhance to set himself right-if he 1t0nld die without the chance? What vould the eyes be like then7
 The thought distressed him we'll nikh past bearing. He winced as 0IouRh 1t had been a blade that ribbed him. The crinkle of paper in 6i5 Battered blouse caught his atten- too. He drew the paper forth-the l1{tl Tn the fast falling light ne
 65ofhed 1t out and bored over the LIE again.
 IS dayl His great dayl He had <hed 1t slip Into starry woriu
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