The Little River news., 1921-01-15

washing his wounds. Nothing can Eo l refine a man as the ministry of gobd | woman's hands. It never leaves him l quite as it found him. He can newer | again be quite the same. His life out | he will be a grain the finer for it. So | great is the grace of nature that no | man is denied that touch. Once to | every man 1t comes-tO recreate; to l make him new; to call him up to his l higher self. It came that night to the | Pearlhunter Il
 The girl seemed to lose all fear of him; to forget that he was in her bed room in the secret night. She even | smiled contented smile of satisfac- 1 tion as he rose and stretched himself. He fumbled in his tattered blouse and drew forth the draft.
 Have you pen and ink?" he asked, his voice, his manner, again the voice and manner of the alert, keen woods man.
 Wondering, she opened the drawer of the small stand under the mirror and placed pen and ink before him. He picked up the pen, awkwardly-a fish spear, an oar, or six-gun fitted his hand better-dipped it in the ink :; laid the draft upon the stand; squared himself; and-after no small pains suc- ceeded in writing the word "Pearihunt- CT" across the back. It was quite evil dently relief when the unaccustomed task was over. He laid the pen down as if glad to be quit of it and handed the draft to the girl.
 'It means that I have five thousand dollars in the bank" he said, "and any body that takes this draft there with my"-he hesitated--"name across the back can get the money. The banker said sO."
 Her face showed how little she guessed what his words were leading up to. It was some time before he went on. "Tm askin' you to keep it," he said. And if anything should happen to me, I'm askin' you to keep. the mon. ey, too" - ,.>;.
 The girl caught his tattered sleeve.
 "Nol Nol" she said. Don't say that"
 He looked down at the hand on his sleeve; picked 1t up; held it an in- stant; suffered her to take it away.
 T know who killed Louie Solomon" he said slowly. "1 know who has the Blue Moon-absolute knowledge, but no proof. He'll be on my trail tomor- row and his eyes are the most danger ous eyes in the Flatwoods. He'd ask nothing better than chance to kfll me. And I am any mans game now."
 It is marvellous how woman's in- tuition will drive at the very heart of a matter that puzzles men. She saw at flash what had escaped the wits of the whole village.
 "You mean the-the-timber buyer" she said.
 q mean the timber buyer" he an- swered, with quick look at her. "His eyes see everything. You must destroy these bloody rags, and you must rake the yard in the morning. Rake the east yard first, and then the west. I'm not aiming to leave any tracks but it's so dark can't make sure" He was talking rapidly. "Tm not expectin' to leave the Flatwoods, and-you, un- less they crowd me hard; not till I've run him down and found my proof But the odds are against me. If any thing should happen, want you to, have this money And the minute you hear they've got me, you must go straight to the sheriff. Don't risk the woods another hour. Put yourself un- der his protection, and tell him why; have the money transferred to you; and-send for that surgeon"
 The tears beat their way up into the girls eyes in spite of her, and ran down her cheeks. Her head bent low. It was the one thing he knew not how to face. His hard life hadn't taught him that. The tears hurt him. What had caused them? Maybe it was just a woman's way. Maybe he had done wrong to come to her with his cuts and blood and danger.
 She raised her face after a time. He drew long breath; dropped his hand to his side; stared in astonishment. OIlc was IlllIuS-SlulllIlS IlC tears-and the dimples were back. The ways of woman-utterly beyond him, and past finding out! She smoothed the draft out in her hands and was looking at him over it.
 "I wonder if ought to take it," she unused to herself as much as to him.
 H. took the paper out of her hands, folded it and with a masterful air thrust 1t under a fold of the loose gar ment across her bosom.
 "I haven't soul in the world to leave it to but-you."
 His slow eyes left her face and stared hard at the basin of red water. Stepping over to the stand, he stopped and snuffed the candle. The huge shadow of him filled the room. Turn ing away, after he had the candle again at full flame, his eyes came back to the thoughtful face of his compan- ion.
 "That revolver I saw yesterday on the mantel-is 1t loadedT
 'T think so."