The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1921-01-06

giles from q common center, making
four rooms, in oil. three along the
front. with another, probably the
kitchen, extending back from the cen.
tral room.
Where the path left the stream to
turn toward the door the girl paused
and held out her hand for the basket.
Slowly the Pearlhunter passed 1t over.
1t was an awkward moment. His
eyes Travelled past her to the tiny
garden. He noticed that the fence
around 1t was sagged and broken. The
garden. however. appeared to be clean
and well-kept. Aside from this-and
the dowers-the place showed a very
sad lack Of care.
The underbrush along the bluffs
trembled slightly, but enough to at.
tract the woOdsman's eyes. Noiseless-
~ the swaying bushes parted-as
noiseless as the unfolding Of flower
and in the narrow opening, framed
by it, border Of Quaking leaves, there
grew face-sad and vacant. with
pitiful eyes; unmistakably. though he
had never seen 1t before, the gaunt.
gray face Of the Wild Man.
The Pearlhunter glanced quickly at
the girl. to md her eyes still fixed
on her basket. and when he looked
again at the bushes, the face was
gone.
As his gaze searched the under.
brush. glimpse Of gray shadow
fitted along under the cliff and dis.
appeared behind the cabin. He
couldn't leave her now-and yet. BY
what excuse could he stay1
"You have q pretty place here" he
said. probably because he couldn't
think Of anything else to say. "A
pretty place-all 30 natural: the
woods are hardly disturbed bit-but
aren't you-afraidr"
II haven't been tiil-today." She
raised her eyes to his face. The store
keepers story came to her mind -
the grave at Fallen Rocks; the lonely
cabin to which he would have to re-
turn. And he had Just rendered her
Q service-the age-old service Of man
10 woman. won't you come up 70
the houser'
The Pearihunter little knew how
that simple Invitation hon0red him.
No other man had ever received IT,
I'D like to-"
He said II 10 seriously that the sira
laughed.
Carrying the light basket between
them they walked up what might BE-
called. for want Of better word to
name II. the front yard. There was
not the least necessity that two hands
should he laid to that one light haskell.
1t just happened. ~ do 40 many other
pleasant things In this delightfully."- IN.
orderly world.
At the door she stopped and faced
him. A deep seriousness had alled
up the dimpIea.
"Nr.-Pearihunter-
The slow eyes Of the man found
her face. and she paused.
"fOu told me to leave OF the Miss.
I'm aakin' you to leave on the Mr."
The dimples came back. but only
for Q moment.
s-Pearihunter." The name came
strange to her. "You will be the f,rst
man. except my father and the doc.
tor. that has crossed bis doorstep
In seven years." Her voice fell very
low. "You must not be surpriaed At
what you ase."
From behind the closed door Of the
cabin came Q krOan--not Of physical
pain. hut one that seemed to uutser
up out Of wrncked soui. The xiri
dropped her side Of the basket handle.
Daddy" she cried: and dashed the
door open.
The Pearlhunter was q hard man
to Jar out Of his habitual calm. bu,
the sight that met him ~ he followed
her acr0sa the doorstep struck him
rigid and staring.
A huge Iron kTay shell Of q man
roas slowly In the shadow the late NJ.
terno0n cast over the room, The
light that fell IN At the OPEN DIOR
brought cut the pathetic. nervous
CULVER Of HE face: the solemn vacancy
Of his pitiful eyes. II was The wild
Man.
The xiri nan to him and nut her
arms about his shoulders. He .eeme,,
MT to feel her touch. Slowly and
no,sessssiy b. approached the Pearl.
hhnses. A leaf cOuldnt have drifte,j
ncroaa the floor more silently, or
more invoiuntarily. Some extrnneoua
force seemed to drive him.
The gtri chung TO him and tried to
coax him. even drag him. hack into
bic chair. lie seemed 10 bs utterly
unaware Of her weight. There WAS y
knife II his hard. His hollow eyes
never left the Psasihuntsrs lace.
WITH Oh ths 6st's asssrases that
I've was hasmlsss. that thsrs was m
danger: u toek gu tAs Psahhuntsr's
rssolut1oo 70 sbt6s the ceuing q that
sauat appasitisa. His breath cane
fast Ne ~ he baskss 6ewD . ~