Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-26


4ioor-writhed. Strengthened and lay
still.
The revolver was foul with blood
and gray hair. The murderer noticed
It, hastily wiped it away on IA corner
or the fallen mans coat, thrust it back
into his pocket aud raced the girl.
The spell was broken. She started
as If from a nightmare and sprang
back of the chair. Like man pressed
for time, he dashed after her With
the chair between them. she managed
Tor bare moment TO keep beyond his
hands. He kicked the chair OUT of
the way. She darted toward the
Kitchen door, probably with the hope
OF escaping TO the woods bur he was
TOO close 10 her. She whirled toward
the door of the bedroom. The turn
was fatal. His hands reached her and
drove her back into the corner of the
room at the head of the couch
She fought as only a woman fights
for stake infinitely higher than
life itself. Since time began the earth
has staged that struggle. Her dress
was torn, her body bruised her hands
gradually driven together behind her
back; hot wild face near her own.
A step creaked the plank AT the door.
Her aSSalant whirled at the sound and
she sank painting against the wall.
Just inside the door, his body
crouched forward, his lips tight drawn,
stood the tall form Of the Pearlhunt-
er.
Things happened so fast in the next
instant that words are too slow to
Keep up with them. 1t was man to
man, and an even draw. The two
shots came so close together that the
hills out through the open door caught
but one echo. But the shot from the door
struck tirst-a scant little mite of an
instant tirst-and Jared the aim of
the other a trille high. The shot from
the corner merely clipped a bandage
at the top of the Pearlhunter's Shout
der drew little welt on the skin,
and whiStled harmlessly away into the
night. The bullet from the door evil
IDENTIFY found the core of the target.
The Red Mask bent backward. The
revolver dropped to his side. He tried
to raise it again; seemed surprised
that he couldn't. He laughed oddly.
and swOre; stared round toward the
girl; gasped and choked. The revolver
slipped from his fingers. He CROPPED
with his hands. as if searching tile
air for ii; staggered, caught himself,
tottered. pitched heavily to the floor
The girl edged out of the corner
past his body and threw herself upon
the form of the old man. The Pearl
hunter eased down the hammer of his
revolver, thrust ii back into his peck
ct, and stopped beside her. At the
touch of his hand, she raised her head
and knelt stroking the still face and
crying softly. The Pearhunter opened
the old mans coat and felt over his
heart.
He's alive!"
She laid her face down close and
spoke his name-the only name she
knew. There was no response.
Help me lift him to the couch"
the man said
They had the old man on the couch.
and the girl had run for water, when
the sheriff, who had been far out-
stripped by the younger man. dashed
into the cabin. All three worked over
him. The Pe9rlhunter chafed one
wrist, the sheriff the other, while the
girl bathed his face. washed the blood
out of his hair. and strove to staunch
its flow by binding up his head in cold
cloths.
Suddenly. without any warning signs
of returning consciousness. the old
man piucked his hand away from the
Pearlhunter and rubbed@it over his
face. His eyes came open but they
We're not the same eyes. And his face
was free from twitching. The girl
stared down upon him in wonder The
Pearlhunter stopped low and marveled
at the startling transformation. Nei-
Their knew, nor even suspected, until
the doctor explained 1t days later, that
the blows of the revolver butt had
looSened the tiny bit of skull that had
so long shackled his brain-looseued
it at the expense Of a far worse hurt.
but undoubtedly loosened it. They
only knew that the eyes were free from
the vacant stare: that his face was
calm with the light of reason.
He felt again over his face, seemed
astOnished at the beard. His eyes
calmly gazed up at the girl and stud
led her a long time.
"YOu couldn't be Dotty2"
zI4is voice was queer. hollow, quaver-
ing Ike some sound from another
world, so long had it gone unused.
ION. Daddyp
She threw her arms around him and
dropped her head on his breast He
sat stroking her hair. finally raised
her, looked hard at her, rubbed hts
eyes and looked again.
"You must be Dotty. But you've
changed 50 since morning"
The girl seemed unable to tell him.
She sti0ve for words, bat none came.
The Pearlhunter drew nearer.
You've beeu-sirk long time. sir"
he said. Seven years. And you're