Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-01-22
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER VlII-Contlnued.

III
The tall form Of the Pearlhunter
StlHened In the glomn his fingers
crippled the revo er butt
You might get Bull Masterson he
said, and wais across there on tha
lower point u Alpine island Rnt
don't do anything unless the moh
st1rts don't know mucn law. but 7
do know the law coIldn't hurt Won for
resSuing a sherl1s prisoner from q
moi
LawI Law" The Ross grov1pd
"WfSeE know they've ketche,1 tn
wTODg man"
He would have grumbied still
further. but the PearIhunter urged
MIN 10 go. With o last whispered
word the sturdy old fellow stv.e
away In me gloom. half reluctant still,
as though he felt he was disgracing
himself not to stay and fght-some-
body
The Pearlhunter strained his ears
for sounds farther up the street par
ucularly for any loud talk or excite
ment back of the MUD Hen.
1t was the hour just after nightfall,
when 'llage streets are most likely
TO be deserted-the hour when
ioungers 90 home to supper. Not
sound out of the ordinary rode the
air.
AT The moment, a door opened on
the back porch of q. = sheriff's house.
a square of light picked out the rough
boards The sheriff appeared With
nat basket in the hollow of his arm.
a womans hand pulled back the mus
lin curtains ut a side window and held
d candle close to the pane to light him
across the jail yard.
The Pearlhunter lounged down on
the broken chair. A moment later
Key, scraping unbelevably loud on the
dull silence of the jail hunted its way
into the lock. The heavy outer door
whined back. A match scraped; the
sputtering flame was laid 30 the stub
OF a candle; an arm held it through
the bars of the inner door.
"Oh, you're awake, II was so quiet
In here thought mebOe y'u might be
asleep"
With the air f man dog tired the
Pearlhunter dragged himself up off the
chair. shambled out into the hall and
took the stub of candle from the sher-
IFS hand
The sheriff fumblod three or four
dishes and a tin cup vi black coffee out
Of the fiat basket and held them close
to the bars. He stood we'll back. Il X
ing quite evident pains to keep his re
vOlver butt out of reach, He did not
know there was very dependable
weapon already on the other side of
the bars. He made no move to unlock
tie door or to enter the cell.
None Vt this ee ped the Pearlhunt-
er. The chance to use his stove leg
was as good as gone, or rather, it was
not going to come. Once he considered
the desperate move of drawing his re-
gOlYer and forcing the sheriff TO open
the door. But the sheriff was known
to be a brave man. He might fight,
and if he did, one or the other of them
would be killed. The Pearlhunter dis
missed the plan.
18th woman didn't know there'd be
company tonight" the sheriff muttered
as he held the fishes within reach of
the arm thrust through the bars. I'm
afeared you'll be skimped a little. But
we'll trv an cook up aplenty in the
morning."
He closed the door and turned the
key in the lock. The Pearlhunter
watched him until he had crossed the
square of light shining out from the
Kitchen aud re-entered the house, until
the door closed and the muslin cur
tains fell back into place at the side
window. Then he laid the stove leg
by. His chance was gone
The revolver tucke6 under his
waistband at the flank of his back
and hidden by his blouse seemed TO
have a personality. It's friendly pres
ence helped his appetite. though, for
that matter. 1t was already keen
enough. as he had eaten nothing since
morning. He could have eaten three
such suppers as the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver; the thought
of a grizzled old river man, doubtless
Mt that moment rowing hard mp the
river, to0s some Of The smart out Of his
eats and bruises. His left eye was
swelling shut He wlnked 1t timber
and nood wondering whether to blow
out ths candle or leave il burn a while;
onaliy bleR ii out, and went Jack to
the west window.
A sound caught his ear; steps corn
sng down the river 70, J. Ii listeDed.
The steps turned in at the Jail yard;
came around to the west window. A
face appeared between the barn.
Enough hght tell from the stars to re-
veal its identity-the suaye, handsome
face of the man he least expected TO
see there.
The Pearlhunter came close TO the
window The other backed q step
away.
PLEASED 70 find you In" he sneered.
The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt
IN silence. II seemed 70 irr!tate the