The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1921-03-24

THE BLUE MOON
TALE OF THE FLATWOODS
BY


II haven't the pleasure of Your &C
quaintance," he said with the stately
polteness Of day long gone. May
| .sk-W
"rm-I'm-"
He hesitated. flushed. The girl
calm again, came to the rescue.
Hes the Pearlhunter, Daddy. He's
been-good to me--since you've been
sick"
The old man reached out his hand
II seemed heavy for him. The Pearl.
hunter grasped it. He was startled to
find it cold. He glanced hastily into
the ola mans face. A pallor was
spreading over it that was 1nmistak
able-the momentary return TO con
seriousness was but the CLEAN that. al
the end of gray day, sometimes flares
out between shutdown and dark. lie
said nothing of it to the girl, who was
happily busy again with the water ard
bandages.
The sheriff had left the couch ana
was squatted over the body of the
fallen bandit. The Pearlhunter hap
pened to glance that way. The sheriff
beckoned to him.
This Teller amt dead yet" he said
when the Pnarlhunter had joined him
The young man stopped over the
sprawled rotber. He was still breath.
ing.
"He don't deserve it," lie sheriff
went on, "but it's only common 'fe
cency to get him up"
lie put his arm under the man and
raised him, while the Pearlhuntei
brought d. damp cloth from the basin
by the couch, and wiped his face. The
touch of the cold cloth rallied him.
"Water!" he mumbled, husky and
strained.
The girl had turned and was looking
on. She ran to the kitchen and brought
cupful. The Pearlhunter held ii to
the mans lips. He couldn't swallow,
but the touch OF the water seemed TO
revive him. He opened his eyes and
stared like a man trying TO make out
objects in very dim light. His cyes
caught the glitter of the sheriff's star.
frowncd, raised, found the PearlhuntsI
and strained hard at him.
"And it was cusseri Warbritton
that got me at lastW
"Who speaks the name of Warbrit
ton 2" came hoarse voice from tbs
couch.
The dying bandit started, rolled his
eyes toward the sound.
"What was that! That voice"
The Pearlhunter caught the foot Of
the couch and moved IL around SO the
two fast sinking men could see each
other No sooner had the gray giant
on the couch caught glimpse of the
man on the floor than, with crest
cry, he tried to rise. His utmost
strength only served TO bring hin, part
ly up on an elbOw,-and that only with
the Pearlhunter's aid.
Martin Redmondl" he cried-and
almonst instantly: "Where Is shes
The woman you distained? And the
boy? Tell me! I've still the strength
to tear it out Of your cursed throat"
The dying robber fixed his falling
eyes on the couch. Only God knows
who giveth his grace to the just and
to the unjust-how he found strength
for further words.
"Warbritton-" lie muttered the
name huskily, the bloody froth upon
his lips. "She was not distained. n
was all a mistake. let you think IL
because l hated you-because I hved
her-because she loved you and not
me. Twenty years she's roved these
rivers, pure as the dew at dawn. She
sleeps tonight in a grave four days old
at Fallen Rock"
p He picked up his hand from wherr
1t sagged down upon the floor, carried
1t at great labor to his bosom, furlble6
under the fancy vest, drew forth q
picture and laid 1t against his lips
The Pearlhunter snatched 1t away The
action brought the picture near the old
man. He seized it, held 1t an instant
before his eyes, and with deep groan
laid 1t against his bosom.
"And the boy?" he cried to the man
on the floor. 1.-THE bOyT
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ