The Ordway new era., 1921-04-22

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to his 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?"
II wondered about that. guess it's
Just lawyer talk. Do you think I
should answer that letterT
II think you should"
'But what would 1 say? AS said
while ago, I 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 I believe I'd ask him to
come; yes. believe would-ask him
to come"
"Why, of course; why couldn't I
think Of that? Now you'd better lie
down while get you q mite Of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet,
protesting.
snail nave u ScL supper AoA
Daddy, anyhow" she emphasized.
"And wouldn't think Of letting you
go without"
When a woman talks like that, It's
no use to argue. The Pearlhunter
didn't-which shows that he was
learning-fast.
"Will you eat with me again?"
She swept him q deep courtesy.
"h 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.
eff the rich heiress, Miss Hesper
Dawn, is not above eating with the
the Pearlhunter-"
Wonderful is the residence of youth.
With 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.
Pearlhunteri 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 support Bacon and eggs,
brown tcast, and coffee! And the
hands that poured that coffee and put
the sugar in, and spread the toast! 1t
had to be eaten in semidarkness, for it
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
rich heiress-the princess" Of his
fairy story-while he was only the
Pearlhunter-a man without name
Twilight at the windows warned
him that the dark was lowering like
night raven over the woods. His time
had come. The business of 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 Rosew 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 1t.
'aThe 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 1t to his lips The
next instant he had slipped away into
the gathering night.
Buried in the bushes, he spared a
second to look back. She was still in
the dark frame Of the door.
A sound like the passing Of whis-
per, like the breeze playing with soft
leaves, caught his quick ear. A gray
ghost-the Wild Man Of the F1atwoods
fitted along under the cliffs and en-
tered the cabin.