The state herald., 1921-02-15

| rather more pretentl0ue than was
common In the woods. There were
three wings, extending at right an
giles from a common center, making
four rooms. in all, three along the
front, with another, probably the
kitchen, extending back from the GEN.
tral room.
Where the path left the stream to
turn toward the door the girl paused
and held out her hand for the basket
Slowly the Pearlhunter passed 1t over.
1t was an awkward moment. His
eyes Travelled past her to the tiny
garden. He noticed that the fence
around It was sagged and broken. The
garden, however. appeared to be clean
and well-kept. Aside from this-and
the fiowers-the place showed a very
sad lack of care.
The underbrush along the bluffs
trein3ied slightly. but enough to at
tract the woodsman's eyes. Noiseless-
ly the swaying bushes parted-as
noiseless as the unfolding of flower
and in the narrow opening. framed
by its border of quaklng leaves, there
grew n face-sad and vacant, with
pitiful eyes; Enthusiastically. though he
had never seen 1t before. the gaunt,
gray face Of the Wild Man.
The Pearlhunter glanced quickly Mt
the girl, to find her eyes still fixed
on her basket, and when he looked
again at the bushes. the face was
gone.
As his gaze searched the under
brush. glimpse of gray shadow
fitted along under the cliff and dfs.
appeared behind the cabin. He
couldn't leave her now-and yet. by
what excuse could he stay?
"You have pretty place here" he
said, probably because he couldn't
think OF anything else to say. "a
pretty place-all so natural; the
woods are hardly disturbed bit--but
aren't you-afraid?"
~ haven't been till-today." She
raised her eyes to his face. The store
the grave at Fallen Rocks: the lonely
cabin TO which he would have to re-
turn. And he had Just rendered her
service-the age-old service of man
to woman. won't you come up to
the house?"
The Pearlhuhter little knew how
that simple Invitation honored him.
No other man had ever received II.
"I'd like to-"
He said 1t so seriously that the girl
laughed.
Carrying the light basket between
them they walked up what might be
called, for want OF better word to
name II. the front yard. There was
not the least necessity that two hands
should be laid to that one light basket.
II Just happened. as do so many other
pleasant things In this delightfully."- TN
orderly world.
AT the door she stopped and faced
him. A deep seriousness had filled
up the dimples.
"Mr.-Pearlhunter-"
The slow eyes of the man found
her face and she paused.
~" ioiu me W lthNe OH tne MISS.
I'm askln' you to leave OF the Mr."
The dImples came back. but only
for II moment.
"-Pearlhunter." The name came
strange to her. You will he the frs,
man. except my father and the doe
tor, that has crossed his doorstep
In seven years" Her voice fell very
low. "You must not be surprised at
what you see"
From behind the closed door OF the
cabin came groan-not OF physical
pain. but one that seemed to mutter
up out OF II wrncked soul. The girl
dropped her side OF the bnske, hnndle.
Daddy" she cried and dashed the
door open.
The Penrlhunter wns hard man
to jar out OF his hnbitual calm. but
the sight that met him as he followed
her across the doorstep struck him
rigid and staring.
A huge iron grny shell OF n man
rose slowly In the shadow the Intc M.
ternoon east over the room, The
Hight TINT fell In Mt the open door
brought out the pathetic, nervous
CULVER Of his fncc: the solemn vncnncy
OF his pItiful eyes. It was the wild
Man.
The girl rnn to him md nut her
arms nbout his shoulders. He seemed
not to feel her touch. Slowly md
noiselessly he approached the Penrl.
huhte-. A leaf couldn't have drifted
across the floor more silently, or
more inyoluntnrlly. Some extraneous
force seemed to drive him.
The girl rlung TO him nnd tried to
coax him, even drng him. bnck into
his chair. He seemed TO he utterly
unaware Of her weight. There was n
knife In his hand. His hollow eyes
never left the Pcnrlhunter's fgce.
with NIL the girls assurance thni
he wns harmless. that there was no
| dnugpr n toOk nil the Pen tlhuntpr's