The Holbrook news., 1921-03-04
CHAPTER vIII-continued.

stiffened in the gloom; his fingers gripped the revolver butt.
 You might get Bull Masterson," he
 said, land wait across there on the
 lower point of Alpine island But
 don't do anything unless the mol
 starts. I don't know much law, but ]
 do know the law couldn't hurt you for
 rescuing a sherifss prisoner from 8
 mob"
 Law! Laww The Boss growled
 ''When know they've ketched tn
 wrong man"
 He would have grumbled still further, but the Pearlhunter urged
 him to go. With last whispered word. the sturdy old fellow stole away in the gloom, half reluctant still,
 as though he felt he was disgracing himself not to stay and fight-some- body.
 The Pearlhunter strained his ears for sounds farther up the street, par ticularly for any loud talk or excite ment back of the Mud Hen.
 It was the hour just after nightfall, when village streets are most likely to be deserted-the hour when loungers go home to supper. Not sound out of the ordinary rode the air.
 At the moment, a door opened on the back porch of the sherif7s house. square of light picked out the rough boards. The sheriff appeared with a flat basket in the hollow of his arm. A woman's hand pulled back the mus lin curtains at a side window and held a 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 unbelievably 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 to the stub of a candle; an arm held it through the bars of the inner door,
 "Oh, you're awakel' It was so quiet in here thought mebbe y'u might be asleep"
 With the air of 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- frs hand.
 The sheriff fumbled three or four dishes and tin cup of black coffee out of the fiat basket and held them close to the bars. He stood well back, talk Ing quite evident pains to keep his re- volver butt out of reach. He did not know there was a very dependable weapon already on the other side of the bars. He made no move to unlock the door or to enter the cell.
 None of this escaped the Pearlhunt- CT. 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- volver 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.
 9Th woman didn't know there'd be company tonight" the sheriff muttered as he held the dishes within reach of the arm thrust through the bars. "I'm afeared you'll be skimped little. But we'll try am cook up a-plenty 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 and 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 tucked under his waistband at the flank of his back and hidden by his blouse seemed to have a personality. Its friendly pres ence helped his appetite. though. for that matter. it was already keen enough, as he had eaten nothing since He could have eaten three such suppers as the sheriff provided.
 The friendly revolver; the thought | of d grizzled old river man, doubtless at that moment rowing hard up the | river, took some of the smart out of his | cuts and bruises. His left eye was swelling shut. He winked 1t Timber | and stood wondering whether to blow | put the candle or leave it burn a while {; finally blew :t out, and went back to the west window.
 A sound caught his ear; steps com Ing down the river road. He listened. | The steps turned in at the jail yard | ,aIne around to the west window A | face appeared between the bars. Enough light fell from the stars to re- veal it's identity-the suave, handsome lace of the man he least expected to zee there.
 The Pearlhunter came close to the window. The other backed a step away.
 Pleased 10 find you in." he sneered.
 The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt n silence. It seemed to irritate the other that his shot had missed.
 Just thought I'd call around at your -ah-your boarding place this evening md talk over a little matter of busi- less-a sort of proposition-a-ah- )argain." he drawled.
 The man on the inside of the bars made no answer. His face was as ,tOlid as If he hadn't heard. Neither was the other much on talk. He shot straight and talked the same way. Half petuIantly he shifted to his other 'oot; took his thumbs out of his vest pockets. The easy smile left his face; he real man came out-a wildcat anged and clawed.
 l s,,o- F&o |