The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-02-11

WIFI Rose J..
She almost dropped the cup she wa
| wiping. That call was not inspired b.
pain. No pain in the world could hav
wrung it from him. She hurried bacl
! into the room. He had risen and wa
standing near a window, look on hi
face that made her half afraid Of him
his eyes like blade half drawn. HI
had heard a step. How he heard it,
sensed it-only the hunted know.
The girl .sprang TO his side, her eye.
followed the motion of his hand, ant
her lips turned white. A man was com
ing up the path--the man both dread
ed most to see.
Handsome, iaunty. debonair, smooth
faced except for the aggressive mus
tache slightly shot with gray, the no
torious bandit swung along up the
walk. The Pearlhunter stood crouched
forward. His hand dropped to his hip.
closed over the butt Of the revolver,
then slowly Enclosed. He was taking
his arm out of the sling when the girl
caught him, shook him, dragged him
| back.
"Quick p she cried, pushing him
across the floor, MY rooml Behind
| the curtainsl"
At the door he hung back. his head
still over his shoulder.
81 reckon must hidel - he muttered,
still glazing back toward the window.
But not there The kitchen?"
mo, my room. It's safest"
She pushed him behind the curtains.
but If he comes in3"
''He won'tl"
He caught glimpse of her-whlte.
hard as the face of the hills, and the
blue in her eyes like bright steel
touched with fame
A quick glance at the tiny slit be-
tween the curtains behind which she
knew the Pearlhunter was standing,
very positive and vigorous shake of
her finger that said palmer than words
to stay there; and she rose and walked
with firm step 20 the door. A mar
row inch she opened 1t and with her
left hand held 1t so, with her right
shoulder propped against 1t In such a
way that her right side and arm were
concealed.
The man on the outside of the door
drew back step. and, with sweep
ing bow-too sweeping, even for the
Flatwoods-hi hat came or and his
handsome face put on its most affable
smile.
"And how is my wood fairy this aft
ernoon?"
The girl made no reply. Her face,
framed in the narrow opening, changed
not q shade
Nothing so disconcerts q man as to
have his advances met with silence.
Some of the. lines and wrinkles that
did duty for the smile left the bold
face of the renegade.
at was so very lonesome In the vii
Iage. with the men all hunting that
that thought I'd walk out
and spend the afternoon, with you. and
talk over with you some very charm
ng plans have formed. You have
what believe to be wonderful voice.
While. to my great regret you have
never sung for me, yet, as / have
passed back and forth through the
woods in my business of looking up
imber options. / have sometimes
heard you sing. You undoubtedly have
great voice. Now, / am rich. with
10 one to spend my money on. What
letter could do with 1t than give to
he world great singer? If you will
% with me. you shall have the best
raining the world affords"
He put one foot up on the doorstep.
is face beaming-if such a face, can
cam. The Pearlhunter stiffened in
is place behind the curtain. The girl
ever changed hairs breadth in the |
arrow opening between the cheek of !
lie door and the jamb. Her cold ST.
nee was apparently too much even ,
,r the bold man that faced her. 1
Aren't you going to invite me in?" /
my father is away this afternoon. t
can not invite you In" 4
1t was the first word she had spok-
la word cold and hard enough y
1t the brazen intruder seemed to take k
lcouragement from 1t. n
''Then permit me to invite myself" h
He advanced a step. laid his hand to +,
e door. pushed lightly. The narrow
/ between cheek and jamb widened Il
t hair. q
The passions Of d Prussian noble h
re behind that face outside. They Of
gan 10 break through its thin> We ST
er of politeness. He put his hat back OF
but still kept his hand on tlss b,
or. re
Il might choose to come in" Ia
The girl made no answer; neither
she suffer the door 70 yield. The n,
i vestige of the smile left the mans
e. 50
I might demand to come in"-some- tn
ng close kin to snarl slipped into dl
voice-"to search this cabin for IN
t notorious desperate, the Red tn
SIX, the murderer of Louie Solo Sc
A." ST;
The Red Mask is not in this cab lit
III
he answer came slowly, and there tn
5 a peculiar emphasis upon the lie
I'd "in," doubtless unconscious. To