The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-03-31

l
followed the motion of his hand, and
her lips turned white. A man was COM
ing up the path-the man both dread
| ed most to see.
Handsome, jaunty, debonair, smooth
faced except for the aggressive mus
tache slightly shot with gray, the no.
torious bandit swung along up the
walk The Pearlhunter stood crouched
| forward. His hand dropped to his hip,
| closed over the butt of the revolver,
| then slowly Enclosed. He was taking
his arm out of the sling when the girl
| caught him, shook him, dragged him
back.
"Quick 70 she cried, pushing him
across the floor, MY room Behind
| the curtains!''
At the door he hung back, his head
still over his shoulder.
81 reckon I must hide!' he muttered.
still glaring back toward the window.
"But not therel The kitchen?'
"No, my room. It's safest"
She pushed him behind the curtains.
"But if he comes in?"
"He wont!"
| He caught glimpse OF her--white,
hard as the face of the hills, and the
blue in her eyes like bright steel
touched with flame.
| A quick glance at the tiny slit be-
tween the curtains behind which she
knew the Pearlhunter was standing, a
very positive and vigorous shake of
her finger that said palmer than words
to stay there; and she rose and walked
with firm step to the door. A mar
row inch she opened 1t and with her
left hand held 1t SO, with her right
shoulder propped against it in such a
way that her right side and arm were
| concealed.
The man on the outside of the door
drew back step, and with sweep
ing bow-too sweeping, even for the
Flatwoods- hat came off and his
handsome face put on its most affable
SMILE
"And how Is my wood fairy this aft
ernoon?"
The girl made no reply. Her face,
framed in the narrow opening. changed
not shade.
Nothing so disconcerts man as to
have his advances met with silence.
Some of the lines and wrinkles that
did duty for the smile left the bold
face of the renegade
.It was so very lonesome in the vii
aage, with the men all hunting that
desperate, that thought I'd walk out
and spend the afternoon with you, and
| talk over with you some very. charm
ing plans I have formed. You have
what believe 20 be a wonderful voice.
While, to my great regret, you have
never sung for me, yet, as have
passed back and forth through the
woods in my business Of looking up
timber options. have sometimes
heard you sing. You undoubtedly have
a great voice. Now, am rich, with
no one TO spend my money on. What
better could do with 1t than give to
the world a great singer? If you will
| go with me, you shall have the best
training the world affords"
He put one foot up on the doorstep.
] his face beaming-if such face can
beam. The Pearlhunter stiffened in
his place behind the curtain. The girl
never changed hairs breadth in the
narrow opening between the cheek of
the door and the jamb. Her cold 81
lence was apparently too much even
for the bold man that faced her.
aren't you going to invite me in?"
my father is away this afternoon.
l can not invite you in"
1t was the first word she had spok-
en-a word cold and hard enough !,
but the brazen intruder seemed to take
encouragement from it.
'Then permit me to invite myself"
He advanced step, laid his hand to
the door, pushed lightly. The narrow
slit between cheek and jamb widened
not hair.
The passions of a Prussian noble
were behind that face outside They
began to freak through its thin We
neer of politeness. He put his hat back
on, but still kept his hand on the
door.
81 might choose to come in"
The girl made no answer; neither
did she suffer the door to yield. The
last vestige of the smile left the mans
face.
81 might demand to come in''-some-
thing close kin to snarl slipped into
his voice-''to search this cabin for
that notorious desperate, the Red
Mask, the murderer of Louie Solo
mon."
'The Red Mask is not in this cab
| In"
The answer came slowly, and there
was peculiar emphasis upon the
word "in," Doubtless unconscious. To
the listener behind the curtains, ii was
as If she had said: mot in the cabin,
| just in frcnt of it,"
The pressure on the door increased.
The Pearlhunter saw the girl brace
her body against it. The door began
to give tiny mite at Tristan inch
two inches
He could stand it no longer. He
was in the very act of sweeping the
curtains aside when the girls right
arm, the one hid behind the door,
dropped to her side. Her hand went
. into the folds Of her dress. When il
! came out it held the revolver he had
cleaned and put in order the night be-
fore. She cooked the weapon and
leaped back. The door flew open. The
MON IN &hn cfap hoto1v couod l,;.,.~o11