The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-02-25

Il haven't the pleasure of your az
quaintance," he said with the stated
politeness Of a day long gone. MA,
| ASK"
"Tm-I'm-"
He hesitated. flushed. The girl
calm again. came to the rescue.
He's the Pearlhunter. Daddy. Hel
been-goOd TO me-since you've beer
sick"
The old man reached out his hand
II seemed heavy for him. The Pearl
hunter grasped it. He was startled to
find ii cold. He glanced hastily into
the OLD mans face. A paIlor was
spreading over II that was unmistak-
able-the momentary. return TO con-
seriousness was but the CLEAN that. at
the end of a gray day, sometimes flares
out between shutdown and dark. He
said nothing of il to the girl. who was
happily busy again with the water and
bandages.
The sheriff had left the couch and
was squatted over the body of the
fallen bandit. The ~Pearlhunter hap
pened to glance that way. The sheriff
b~eckoned TO him.
This feller amt dead yet" he said.
when the P~earlhunter had Joined him.
The young man stopped over the
sprawled robber. He was still breath
Ing.
HE don't deserve it," the sheriff
went on, but it's only common de-
cency to get him up"
He put his arm under the man and
raised him, while the Pearlhunter
brought a damp cloth from the basin
by the couch, and wiped his face. The
touch Of the cold cloth rallied him.
water" he mumbled, husky and
strained.
The girl had turned and was looking
on. She ran to the kitchen and brought
a cupful. The P~earlhunter held 1t to
the mans lips. He couldn't swallow,
but the touch of the water seemed to
revive him. He opened his eyes and
stared, like q man trying to make out
objects in a very dim light. His eyes
caught the glitter of the sherif's star,
frowned, raised, found the Pearlhunter
and strained hard at him.
AND it was a cussed Warbritton
that got me at lastv'
"Who speaks the name of Warbrit-
ton? ?" came a hoarse voice from the
couch.
The dying bandit started. rolled his
eyes toward the sound
: ewhat was thati That voice?
tn D~oII,k~~ oo,~Hf the Foot ~ |
the couch and moved it around so the
two fast sinking men could see each
other. No sooner had the gray giant
on the couch caught a glimpse of the
a on the door than. with a great
cry. he tried 20 rise. His utmost
strength only served to bring him part
ly up on an elbow,-and that only with
the Pearlhunter's aid.
Martin Redmond !" he cried-and
almonst instantly: 'Where is she?
The woman you distained? And the
boy? Tell mel I've still the strength
to tear it out of your cursed throat"
The dying robber fixed his falling
who giveth his grace to the just and
to the unjust-how he found strength
for further words.
'Warbritton-i" He muttered. the
name huskily, the bloody froth upon
his lips. "She was not ~distained. 1t
all a mistake. | let you think it
)ecause | hated you-because l loved
ler-because she loved you and not
ne. Twenty years she's roved these
'ivers, pure as the dew at dawn. She
leeps tonight in a grave foul days old
t Fallen Rock" :
He picked up his hand from where
t sagged down upon the floor, carried
t at great labor to his bosom. fumbled
Inder the fancy vest, drew forth a
and laid II against his lips.
he P~earlhunter snatched 1t away. The
ction brought the picture near the old
He seized it. held 1t an instant
efore his eyes, and with a deep groan
lid II against his bosom.
'And the boy?" he cried to the man
n the floor. "The boy?"
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ