Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-26

I
-door-writhed, Strengthened and lay
still.
The revolver was foul with blood
/ and gray hair The murderer noticed
it, hastily wiped it away on a corner
of the fallen mans coat. thrust it back
into his pocket and raced the girl.
The spell was broken. She started
as if from a nightmare and sprang
/ back of the chair Like a man pressed
for time. he dashed after her. With
| the chair between them. she managed
for bare moment TO keep beyond his
hands. He kicked the chair out Of
/ the way. She darted toward the
kitchen door, probably with the hope
OF escaping to the woods but he was
| too close 10 her She whirled toward
the door of the bedroom, The turn
was fatal. His hands reached her and
drove her back into the corner Of the
room at The head Of the couch
She fought as only woman fights
for a stake infinitely higher than
life itself Since time began the earth
has staged that struggle. Her dress
was torn, her body bruised her hands
gradually driven together behind her
back; hot wild face near her own.
/ step creaked the plank NJ the door.
Her assailgnt whrled at the sound and
she sank painting against the wall
Just inside the door, his body
crOuched forward, his lips tight drawn,
stood the tall form of the PearIhunt-
| err.
| Things happened so fast in the next
! instant that words are too slow to
! keep up with them. 1t was man to
man, and an even draw. The two
| shots came so close together that the
| hills out through the open door caught
/ but one echo. But the shot from the door
| struck tirst-a scant little mite of an
| instant tirst-and Jared the aim of
! the other a trille high. The shot from
the corner merely clipped a bandage
/ at the top of the Pearlhunter'S shout
| der. drew a little welt on the skin,
| and whiStled harmlessly away into the
! night. The bullet from the door evil
| IDENTITY found the core of the target.
| The Red Mask bent backward The
revolver dropped to his side. He tried
TO raise II again; seemed surprised
| that he couldn't He laughed oddly.
/ and swore; stared round toward the
/ girl gasped and choked. The revolver
/ slipped from his fingers He grOped
with his hands, as if searching tile
a p
tottered pitched heavily to the floor
The girl edged out of the corner
! past his body and threw herself upon
the form of the old man. The Pearl
| hunter eased down the hammer of his
revolver, thrust il back into his peck
ct, and stopped beside her. At the
touch of his hand, she raised her head
and knelt stroking the still face and
| crying softly The Pearlhunter opened
the old mans coat and felt over his
| heart.
He's aliver
She laid her face down close and
spoke his name-the only name she
knew. There was no response.
Help me lift him to the couch"
the man said.
They had the old man on the couch.
and the girl had run for water, when
the sheriff, who had been far out
stripped by the younger man. dashed
/ into the cabin. All three worked over
him. The Pearlhunter chafed one
wrist. the sheriff the other, while the
girl bathed his face. washed the blood
| out of his hair and strOye to staunch
its flow by binding up his head 10 cold
cloths
Suddenly, without any warning signs
of returning consciousness, the old
man pIucked his hand away from the
Pearlhunter and rubbed@it over his
| face. His eyes came open, but they
were not the same eyes. And his face
was free from twitching The girl
stared down upon him in wonder The
Pearlbunter stopped low and marve,eo
at the startling transformation. Nei-
Their knew. nor even suspected. until
the doctor explained it days later, that
the blows Of the revolver butt had
| Ioosened the tiny bit of skull that had
so long shackled his brain-looseued
it at the expense Of a far worse hurt.
but undoubtedly loosened it. They
only knew that the eyes were free from
the vacant stare; that his face was
calm with the light Of reason.
He felt again over his face, seemed
astonished at the beard. His eyes
calmly gazed up at the girl and stud
led her a long time.
you couldn't be DOtty7"
zI4is voice was queer. hollow, guaver.
ing, Ike some sound from another
world, so long had it gone unused.
"Oh, Daddy !"
She threw her arms around him and
dropped her head on his breast. He
sat stroking her hair. finally raised
her looked hard at her rubbed his
eyes and looked 8Eain.
You must be Dotty. But you've
changed so since morning"
The girl seemed unable to tell him.
She st15ve for words but none came.
! The PearIhunter drew nearer.
You've beeu-sirk long time. sir"
ne said. Seven years. And you're