The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-01-20
TX.
Once to Every Man.

gables. lie had come into the path
and wss passing the poo when the
light vent out In the windows. He
wa sorry FOR that. He had hoped to
have speech with TIE girl. Tomorrow
would be FOO 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.
II was far the hardest thing he had
ever tried to do In his life to go round
to that east window. II 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 breathless still.
"Wjid Rose"
soft feet moving about over the floor.
A mufled shadow came toward the
Windows shadow and a whisper:
"PearIhunterf 7"
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. II sold
the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to-
day---ive thousand dollars"
He felt a 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.
''They accused me Of the crimel"
The girl gasped. Her hands iut-
tered tower1 her throat.
"Youf"
"Nfe." he answered. strained and
slow. "I've come to tell you, myself,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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 stili 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
iy a ragged girl of the Flatwoods. II
didn't kill Louie Solomon. l didn't
s&s- ;sse E;ur
The white arms reached out toward
him.
"Noi mol I 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-
snent, for they had caught sight OF his
tattered blouse: the dried blood on
him, and clotted In his hair. With a
cry. her hands went to his face.
sWhy. your head is bleedingi And
your facet"
Scratches! Nothing but scratches Z"
he hastily treasured n tones that eau
zion held low; panied at her distress;
pleased. too; his eyes alight.
-But this one on your headi It's
eut-deep-and still bleeding" Her
foice was steadier. "You must let me
eind mp this one"
He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
1--WE da'sE't risk a light" he said.
For your sake we da'sn't. The night
ms eyes. And they'll comb these
foods tomorrow"
She shrank back into the room. He
new half a step nearer. laid his arm
n the ledge and stood fumbling the
1sement. lost In thought.
Sand yet I've that TO do that must
We light" ne unused. more TO him
+ than to her, raising his head after
time and glancing toward the dim
&fline inside the window. us there
blind on your window that would
Ne a GAMBLER
nFwhy-yes--" she answered. puz-
al and slow.
"a d q long time before ne spoke
In. Had the light served, she might
se sees In his eyes the struggle he
going through. He rubbed his
.kwu lips together to loosen them.
WIN o trust me In your roomT"
he girl started. Her hands clutched
other. She knew II was not to
his wounds dressed that he
"a. Short as her Acquaintance
him had been. she knew II was
that. II was no light reason that
driven him TO ask such a prlvi-
II gripped her. shook her, but
aeely enough did not brighten her.
trust you"
/ often In q mans life does ne
such gro cious words. Nature Is
.hvish OF such gifts. The shout
lof the Pearlhunter lifted. The
lett his head
' come now7 The night II 30
The uacon VIII b up N another
ourn.*