The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-02-10

TO h3s fortune, If no word comes. What
word, do you suppose? And why
should any word prevent you falling
heir to his fortune,-your father's?'
Il wondered about that. ] guess it's
just lawyer talk. Do you think !
should answer that letter."
II think you should"
But what would | say? AS I said
a while ago, / never wrote a letter"
Neither did l." He saw the answer
did not relieve the perplexity on the
thoughtful face. and went on. But
I'd tell him about your life here, and
about your father's-accident, and
that this is the first letter you've re-
ceived for seven years." He hesitated,
seemed to study his next word, finally
added: "And l believe I'd ask him to
come; yes, 1 believe / would-ask him
to come"
why, of course; why couldn't |
think of that? Now you'd better lie
down while / get you a mite Of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet,
protesting.
II shall have to get supper for
Daddy, anyhow" she emphasized.
And I wouldn't think of letting you
go without"
When a woman talks like that, It's
no use to argue. The P~earlhunter
didn't-which shows that he was
learning-fast.
VIII you eat with me again."
She swept him a deep courtesy.
IF the famous finder Of the Blue
Moon is not ashamed to eat with his
cook"
He bowed low. 1t cost him a pang
In his side, but it didn't get to his
face.N
IF the rich heiress, Miss .Hesper
Dawn, is not above eating with the
the Pearlhunter-"
Wonderful is the residence of youth.
With a gay laugh she danced away to
the kitchen. He tramped after her.
His two old friends. the Boss and
dour-faced Bull Masterson, would
have been astonished at the sounds
that came through that kitchen door.
The slow, deliberate, s~erious-faced
Pearlhunter! He was dancing about
the cook stove. carrying dishes, and
laughing as lightly as If half the
neighborhood was not out hunting him
with every sort of weapon the Flat
woods could furnish.
That supper! Bacon and eggs,
brown toast, and coffeel And the
hands that poured that coffee and put
the sugar in, and spread the toastl 1t
had TO be eaten in semidarkness, for ii
wouldn't do to risk a candle-semi-
! darkness, but not in silence. He for
got that the girl just around the cor
ner OF the table had turned out to be
a rich heiress-the princess of his
fairy story-while he was only the
Pearlhunter-a man without a name.
Twilight at the windows warned
him that the dark vas lowering like a
night raven over the woods. His time
had come. The business of a man was
afoot.
She closed the stove hearth TO hide
the fire light. He opened the east
door of the Kitchen. once more the
grave, cautious woodsman. She held
out her hand he laid it upon the arm
In the sling; covered it with his own.
"Wild Rose!" he said. you'll al
ways be that, no matter what they call
you"
The fancy went through him that
her hand thrilled, ever so slightly, up
on his arm. He closed his great palm
over IL.
"The woods shall be safe tomorrow
for you-and me-" he said, and fol
lowed the words with the boldest act
of his life-picked up the hand from
his arm and laid II to his lips. The
next instant he had slipped away into
the gathering night.
Buried in the bushes, he spared a
second 10 look back. She was still In
the dark frame Of the door.
A sound like the passing of a whis-
per, like the breeze PLAYING with soft
leaves, caught his quiss ear. A gray
ghost-rhe Wild Man of the Flatwoods
fitted along under the cliffs and en-
tered the cabin.