Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-02-11
CHAPTER TX.
once to Every Man.


fall he followed him, and then turned
back toward the cabin of the three
gables. He had come into the path
and was passing the pool when the
light went out in the windows. He
was sorry for that He had hoped to
have speech with the girl. Tomorrow
would be too late. Tomorrow the law
would be on his trail-and a pair OF
eyes more terrible than the law.
Leaving the path, he stepped out
upon the fiat rock that jutted from
the bank into the pool. Once he
glanced at the cabin; then sprang to
the bank and went on up the path.
It was far the hardest thing he had
ever tried to do in his life to go round
to that east window. 1t was partly
open. HIS breast was pounding; his
ears humming. He forced himself up
to the window and brought his lips
close to the sash.
"Wild Rose! !"
He heard her start, and spring up
In bed Then all was GREATNESS still.
"Wild Rose !"
The bed creaked. He heard her
soft feet moving about over the floor.
A muffled shadow came toward the
Window-a shadow and whisper:
"Pearlhunter
He reached his hand inside. A white
arm and slender fingers came out OF
the gloom and found his palm. The
shadow on the outside and the shadow
on the inside drew closer, the one
searching what that word would be.
The man swallowed hard. Il sold
the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to-
day-fiye thousand dollars"
He felt thrill in the girls fingers.
"This afternoon Louie Solomon was
murdered, and the pearl stolen"
She shuddered, took her hand out OF
his and fumbled the loose garment
about her shoulders, but made no an
swer. Her mind was uncOnsciously
prepared for terrible things.
s'They accused me of the crime =
The girl gasped. Her hands fiut-
tered toward her throat.
your
"Nfe," he answered, strained and
slow. "I've come to tell you, myself,
because-because- trusted me.
The mob had the rope around my
throat. But the sheriff got me away,
and put me in Jail. broke out, and
came to tell you. / couldn't bear for
you to think"
She stood perfectly still inside the
window. He mistook her silence. He
laid his hand on the window ledge and
tried to drive his eyes through the
gloom to her face.
please believe mel" he pleaded. He
couldn't have pleaded harder had he
faced judge and jury, instead of mere
~ a ragged girl of the Flatwoods. =
didn't kill Louie Solomon. I didn't
take the Blue Moon"
The white arms reached out toward
him.
''Nol MOI / do believe your
Her face had come close to the win
dow. He could see her eyes-like star
spots in the dark-big with startle
ment, for they had caught sight Of his
tattered blouse; the dried blood or
him, and clotted in his hair. With 9
cry, her hands went to his face.
"Why, your head is bleeding! AND
your FACET"
scratches! Nothing but scratches I
he hastily treasured in tones that eau
tTon held low; panied at her distress
pleased, too; his eyes alight.
"But this one on your head! It's :
cut-deep- and still bleeding" Hel
voice was steadier. 'You must let me
tind up this one"
He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
"We da'sn't risk a light" he said
aFor your sake we da'sn't. The nigh
has eyes. And they'll comb these
woods tomorrow"
She shrank back into the room. FIX
drew half a step nearer, laid his arm
On the ledge and stood flmbling The
easement, lost in thought.
"And yet I've that to do that mus
have light" he unused, more to him
self than to her, raising his head after
time and glancing toward the din
outline inside the window. SIS there
blind on your window that would
hide a GAMBLER"
"Why-yes-" she answered, puz
rled and slow.
1t was a long time before he spoke
again. Had the light served, she NIGH
have seen in his eyes the struggle he
was going through. He rubbed his
lrawn lips together to loosen them.
'Will you trust me in your room?"
The girl started. Her hands clutche6
each other. She knew it was not tt
have his wounds dressed chat ht
asked. Short as her acquaintance
with him had been, she knew it was
not that. 1t was no light reason thai
had driven him to ask such a priv
lege. It gripped her, shook her, bu
strangely enough did not brighten her
''Tll trust YOU"
Not often in a mans life does hi
hear such gracious words. Nature il
not lavish Of such gifts. The Shout
ders of the Pearlhunter lifted. The
droop left his head.
MAY I come now? The night is go
ing. The moon will be up in another
two hours"
eyes! p
She stood farther back in the gloom
He slipped lightly in over the sill.
"Please draw the blind before yol
light the CANDLE" he directed.
Ho cow har oru1 ROACH nv, oYorcr a.,