The Little River news., 1921-01-15
CHAPTER TX.
once to Every Man,


 For some distance down the branch the Pearlhunter followed the night prowler. Within sound of the water. fall he followed him, and then turned back toward the cabin of the three gables. He had come into the path and was passing the pool when the light went out in the windows He was sorry for that. He had hoped to have speech with the girl Tomorrow would be too late. Tomorrow the law would be on his trail-and pair of eyes more terrible than the law. ! Leaving the path, he stepped out upon the flat rock that jutted from the bank into the pool. Once he glanced at the cabin; then sprang to the bank and went on up the path. It was far the hardest thing he had ever tried'to do in his life to go round to that east window. It was partly open. His breast was pounding; his ears humming. He forced himself up to the window and brought his lips close to the sash.
 "Wild Rose!"
 He heard her start, and spring up in bed. Then all was breathless still. "Wild Rose!'
 The bed creaked. He heard her soft feet moving about over the floor. IA muffled shadow came toward the window-a shadow and whisper: "Pearlhunter!
 He reached his hand inside. A white arm and slender fingers came out of the gloom and found his palm. The shadow on the outside and the shadow Ion the inside drew closer, the one Isearching what that word would be. The man swallowed hard. "I sold the Blue Moon to Louie Solomon to- day-five thousand dollars"
 He felt thrill in the girls fingers.
 sThis afternoon Louie Solomon was murdered, and the pearl stolen"
 She shuddered, took her hand out of his and fumbled the loose garment about her shoulders, but made no an- swer. Her mind was unconsciously prepared for terrible things.
 "They accused me of the crime!"
 The girl gasped. Her hands flut- tered toward her throat.
 "Ypu!"
 "Me." he answered, strained and slow. i've come to tell you, myself, se-because-you trusted me. The mob had the rope around my throat But the sheriff got me away, and put me in jail. I broke out, and came to tell you. I couldn't bear for you to think"
 She stood perfectly still inside the window. He mistook her silence. He laid his hand on the window ledge and tried to drive his eyes through the gloom to her face.
 Please believe me!' he pleaded. He couldn't have pleaded harder had he faced judge and jury, instead of mere ly ragged girl of the Flatwoods. 'I didn't kill Louie Solomon. l didn't take the Blue Moop-"
 The white arms reached out toward him.
 No! No! do believe you!"
 Her face had come close to the win dow. He could see her eyes-like star spots in the dark-big with startle- ment, for they had caught sight of his tattered blouse; the dried blood on him; and clotted in his hair. With a cry, her hands went to his face.
 Why, your head Is bleeding! And your facel"
 ''Scratchesl Nothing but scratches!" he hastily treasured in tones that eau ton held low; pained at her distress; pleased, too; his eyes alight.
 'But this one on your headl It's a cut deep and still bleeding" Her voice was steadier. "You must let me bind up this one"
 He glanced toward Fallen Rock.
 "We da'sn't risk light" he said. j ''For your sake we da'sn't. The night has eyes. And they'll comb these wooda tomorrow"
 She shrank back into the room. He drew half a. step nearer, laid his arp