The state herald., 1921-03-25
SYNOPSIS.

houseboat on the Wabash river. 'Thc
Pearlhunter''-the only name he has
learns from her part OF the story Of
ier sad life. The recital is interrupted by
IL fearful dt Of coughing and he hurrte,
ashore to seek root that affords relle'.
young girl whom he mentally chrlstcns
ne wild Rose" She eludes him before
he can make her acquaintance.
HaPTER ia vacant cabin on the
shore has attracted the attention of the
ailng woman. and they move into it,
Their first meal is interrupted by n
stranger who resents their presence. The
youth drives the man from their home.
His presence has strangely affected the
mother That night the youth finds with
In a mussel the largest pearl that has
been found on the river. the Blue Moon"
Returning exultant to the cabin, he dis
covers his mother dead, she having sue
cunbed while endeavoring to leave
message revealing the secret OF his par
entsge
CHAPTER III.-At the village Of Fallen
Rock. to which he takes the gem for safe
keeping the "Pearlhunter' meets the
stranger who had disturbed his mother
IN their cabin. and insults him. They
part as bitter enemies.
CHAPTER ~ = In the village the
''Pearihunter'' sees the girl who had at
tracted his attention in the woods. She
Ia annoyed by the stranger. and the
''Pearlhunter'' rescues her from his un-
welcome attentions, He accompanies her
10 her home.
CHAPTER Vat the house he meets
the father OF his wild Rose" known to
he ha Ma toll
irresponsible as the result OF n wound re-
eeived from a man wearing a red mask.
a notorious desperate. The youth de-
elares his intention of devoting the
money he is to get for the pearl to pay
ing for n surgical operation which will
restore the old mans reason.
CHAPTER Win the cabin that night
the ''Pearlhunter'' Is aroused from sleep
by the siealthy visit OF a man who con-
seals n red mask In the wall and makes
his es ape The "Pearlhunter." mystified.
and suspecting foul play. destroys 1t.
Next day Louie Solomon. pearl buyer.
purchases the gem for 500,
With the knife stifl sticking IN the
dead mans breast. they carried him
down To the boat. driving the Pearl
hunter before them. There they load
cd them in, the dead and the living.
and rowed bacl; up the river To the
sillage-the second time that day: the
same trip: the same boat: the same
nve men. Then. great day opening:
the greatest trade ever made among
pearl fishers along the Wabash In
prospect; now. the day nearly done:
ihe pearl lost: one of the men dead:
another likely soon TO he,
What difference In the crowd that
set them at the wharf! Again lriy.
ag their prisoner before them. the
ihree grim henchmeu carried The dead
man up the hill to small plot Of
open ground west OF the Mud Hen and
laid him down upon the grass.
For the second time that day the
village emp,lcd It's houses TO meet
them. Women came this time-old
women with scared faces: girls with
blooming cheeks; and children. Hard
@er that had drunk to the Pearlhunt.
er barely two hours ago came out of
the 'fud Hen and stood staring Mt him
In snllen silence. Men from the stores
and shops came running. Men that
Ind neither stores nor shops strag.
sled In from every quarter of the VII
lave and iostlsd about IN :he ever
growing. omlnously mutterlng circle.
Suddenly, and Unexpectedly. two. OF
the henchmcn caught the Pcarlhunter
and held him while the third tied the
red mask over his eyes. Bound as he
WINS. he had flung them loos. In nn In.
stnni and rnlcd the mask on ngnIns,
hls shoulder. Bur that one brief mo
ment was enough. Tho mischief was
done, Women screamed; men nut.
sred and sworc but all shrank back.
widening the circle.
] Who started IT, who said II first.
will never be known Nobody knows
how the mob folms-n low humble;
n quick ilnrc Into frenzy; mild eyes
grown Wild; stolld fnccs aiirc; rab.
bic; clnmor; reason down, blood
bsst up.
Hang 'im' HING 'iml'
, Even the women took up the cry. so
great was the terror OF his name-the
Red Mnsk-n name that might have
stlmpedcd the village The mob
charged him. Bourd ns he was. he
dashed Mt them. A butt Of his shout.
der caught the foremost mnn. burly
blacksmith. on the Inw, lie went
down like beef under the mnilct y
drive OF his head TO the pit Of the
stomach crumplcd III another. A well.
directed kick laid out third
lie fought ns the men ~ his blood
hnd always fought But whnt can
one mnn. with his hands tod, do
against mnnyf They Ind his blouse
rhrei m his shirt In shrrds. md n
mndfcd hands sim itching "a get NJ
hlru 'rhp' beat his fncei hls body
wherever n nst or n club could reach
him. a stick ~ stove wood In the
hnudp of lnni,y woodchoppcr hid
ornn nm ur'v ensil across his hend.
tinirdaged. he was trying to wlnk
NJ llood md mist on' or his crca
,.f.sN a ruur wna heard an The out