The Lamar register., 1921-01-05

with his hands. nS If searching the
air for il: staggered. cnught himself
tottered pitched heavily 10 the moor.
The girl edged ont Of the corner
past his body and threw herself upon
the form OF the old man. The Pearl
hunter -ascd down thc hammer Of his
revolver. thrust it back into his pock-
ct. aud stopped beside her. Al The
touch of his hand. she raised her head
and knelt sJroking the still face and
crying softly. The Pearlhunter opened
the old mans coat and felt over his
heart
Hes alive"
She laid her face down close and
spoke his nalne-ihe only name she
knew There was no response.
Help me lift him to the couch.
the man said
They had the old man Oh the couch,
and the girl had run for water. when
the sheriff, who had been far out
stripped by the younger man, dashed
into the cabin. All three worked over
him. The Pearlhunter chafed one
wrist, the sheriff the other. while the
girl batlled his face, washed the blood
out of his hair, and strove 10 staunch
Its tiow by binding up his head in cold
cloths.
Suddenly. without any warning signs
Of returning consciousness, the old
man plucked his hand away from the
Pearlhunter and rubbed 1t over hi-
face His eyes came open. but rhrS
were not the same eyes. And his face
was free from twirching The girl
stared down upon him Ia wonder. The
Penrlhunter stopped low and marvelcd
at the startling transformation. Nei-
ther knew, nor even suspected, until
the doctor explained IL days later. thai
the blows of the revolver burt had
loosened the tiny bit OF skull that had
50 long sliackled his brain-looseneJ
IL ut the expense of a far worse hurt,
but undoubtedly looseued 1t. They
only knew that the eyes were free from
the vacant stare; that his face was
calm with the light OF reason.
He felt again over his face. seemed
astonished mt the beard His eyes
calmly gazed up at the girl and stud
led her long time.
"You couldn't be DottyT'
His voice was queer, hollow, qusver-
ing. like some sound from another
world. SO long had 1t gone unused.
"Oh. Daddy"
She threw her arms around him and
dropped her head On his breast He
sat stroking her hair. nnally raised
her, looked hard at her. rubbed his
eyes and looked again.
"You must be Dotty. But you've
changed so since morning"
The girl seemed unable to tell him.
She strove for words, but none came.
The Pearlhunter drew nearer.
you've been-slck long time, sir"
he said. Seven years. And you're
lust getting well again"
The puzzled eyes. suddenly wskened
Into u world new and strange. turned
toward him.
II haven't the pleasure Of your ac.
quaintance," he said with the stately
poiiteness of a day loog gone. Nay
| ask"
"Pm-Tm--"
He hesitated. flushed. The girl.
calm again. came to the rescue.
He's the Pearihunter. Daddy. He's
been-good TO me-sincs 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 II cold. He glanced hastily into
the old mans face. A pallor wss
spreading over 1t that was unmistsk-
able--tlie nonentary return 10 con
sclousness WAS but the CLEAN that, at
the end OF gray day. sometimes nsres
out between shutdown and dark. He
said nothing Of II to the girl. who was
happily busy again with the water and
bandages.
The sheriff had left the couch and
vas sauatted over the BODY Of the
fallen bandit. The Pesrlhunter hap
pened TO glance that way. The sh+riff
heckoned 10 him.
This feller Amt dead yet" he said
when the P-arlhunter had Joined him.
The young man stopped over the
sprawled robber. He was still breath
ing.