The Ordway new era., 1921-04-15

| the SouSh can, dIlu pltieu Lihu III ls~
restless pain.
wild Rosei"
She almost dropped the cup she was
wiping. That call was not inspired by
| pain. No pain in the world could have
wrung it from him. She hurried back
into the room. He had risen and was
standing near window, look on his
face that made her half afraid of him,
his eyes like a blade half drawn. He
had heard step. How he heard it
sensed it-only the hunted know.
The girl sprang to his side. her eyes
followed the motion of his hand. and
her lips turned white man was COM
ing up the path-the man both dread
| ed most to see.
Handsome, jaunty, debonair. smooth
faced except for the aggressive mus
tache slightly shot with gray, the no.
torious bandit swung along up the
walk. The Pearlhunter stood crouched
forward. His hand dropped to his hip.
| closed over the butt of the revolver,
| then slowly unclosed. He was taking
| his arm out of the sling when the girl
| caught him, shook him, dragged him
| back.
"Quick!" she cried, pushing him
across the floor, my room Behind
| the curtains !"
AT the door he hung back, his head
still over his shoulder.
81 reckon must hidei" he muttered,
still glaring back toward the window.
But not there! The kitchen7"
mo. my room. It's safest"
She pushed him behind the curtains
But If he comes in?"
"He won'tl'
He caught a glimpse OF her-white.
hard as the face of the hills, and the
blue in her eyes like bright steel
touched with flame.
A quick glance at the tiny slit be-
tween the curtains behind which she
knew the Pearlhunter was standing, a
very positive and vigorous shake of
her finger that said palmer than words
to stay there; and she rose and walked
with a firm step to the door. mar
row inch she opened 1t and with her
left hand held 1t SO, with her right
shoulder propped against 1t in such a
way that her right side and arm were
concealed.
The man on the outside of the door
drew back step, and, with a sweep
ing bow-too sweeping, even for the
Flatwoods-his hat came off and his
handsome face put on its most affable
smile.
And how is my wood fairy this aft
ernoon?'
The girl made no reply. Her face
framed in the narrow opening. changed
not shade.
Nothing so disconcerts a man as to
have his. advances met with silence
Some Of the lines and wrinkles that
did duty for the smile left the bold
face of the renegade.
"It was so very lonesome in the vii
lage. with the men all hunting that
desperate, that thought I'd walk out
and spend the afternoon with you, and
talk over with you some very charm
ing plans I have formed. You have
what believe to be a wonderful voice.
While. to my great regret, you have
never sung for me. yet. as 1 have
passed back and forth through the
woods in my business of looking up
timber options. / have sometimes
heard you sing. You undoubtedly have
great voice. Now, am rich. with
no one to spend my money Oh. What
better could I do with 1t than give to
the world great singer? If you will
go with me, you shall have the best
training the world affords"
He put one foot up on the doorstep,
his face beaming-if such a face can
beam. The Pearlhunter stiffened in
his place behind the curtain. The girl
never changed a hairs breadth in the
narrow opening between the cheek of
the door and the jamb. Her cold 81
ience was apparently too much even
for the bold man that faced her.
Aren't you going to invite me in?"
MY father is away this afternoon.
! can not invite you in"
1t was the first word she had spok-
en-a word cold and hard enough;
but the brazen intruder seemed to take
encouragement from It.
"Then permit me TO invite myself"
He advanced step, laid his hand to
the door. pushed lightly. The narrow
slit between cheek and jamb widened
not hair.
The passions Of a Prussian noble
were behind that face outside. They
began to break through its thin We
neer Of politeness. He put his hat back
on. but still kept his hand on the
door.
II might choose to come in."
The girl made no answer; neither
did she suffer the door to yield. The
last vestige Of the smile left the mans
face.
II might demand to come in"-some-
thing close kin to snari slipped into
his voice-"to search this cabin for
that notorious desperado. the Red