The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-29

still. ,,oa
The revolver was foul with DIo"''
and gray hair. The murderer noliceu
il, hastily wiped il away on ~'ii''
of the fallen mans coat, thrust IL p"OA
into his pocket and raced the girl
The spell was broken. She siar'e'
as if from a nightmare and si'FdhS
back of the chair Like man pfesseu
for time. he dashed after her "''i,
the chair between them. she iiiahas
for a bare moment 70 keep beyohd hls
hands. He kicked the chair ou' Va
the way. She darted toWaFd INC
kitchen door. probably with the nope
of escaping to the woods. >but ne ""e
too close TO her. She whirled fo"a''
the door of the bedroom. 1lie 'uih
was fatal. His hands reached her anu
drove her back into the corner OF tse
room at the head of the couch.
She fought as only woman uShiS
for stake infinitely higher 'hih
life itself Since time began the earl"
has staged that struggle. Her oress
was torn. her body bruised. her haiioS
gradually driven together behind her
back; hot wild face near her own.
A step creaked the plank at the door.
Her assailant whirIed at the sound ana
she sank painting against the wall.
Just inside the door. his BODY
crouched forward. his lips tight drawn
stood the tall form Of the Pearihunf-
er
Things happened so fast In the next
instant that words are too slow 10
keep Up with them. 1t was man TO
man, and an even draw. The two
shots came so close together that the
hills out through the open door caughf
hut one echo. But the shot from the door
struck first-a scant little mite OF an
instant first-and Jared the aim or
the other a triiie high. The shot from
the corner merely clipped bandage
at the top of the Pearlhunter's shout
der. drew a little welt on the SKIN.
and whstled harmlessly away into the
night The bullet from the door evil
IDENTIFY found the core OF the target.
The Red Mask bent backward. The
revolver dropped TO his side. He tried
TO raise it again: seemed surprised
that he couldn't He laughed oddly.
and swore; stared round toward the
girl: gasped and chOked. The revolver
slipped from his fingers. He CROPPED
with his hands, as if searching the
air for it: staggered. caught himself.
tOttered pitched heavily 10 the floor
The girl edged ont OF the corner
past his body and threw herself upon
the form of the old man. The Pearl
hunter eased down the hammer of his
revolver. thrust it back into his pock-
er, and stopped beside her. Al the
touch of his hand. she raised her head
and knelt stroking the still face and
crying softly. The Pearlhunter opened
the old mans coat and felt over his
heart
Hes alivew
She laid her face down close and
spoke his name-the only name she
knew There was 10 response.
Help me lift him to the couch"
the man said.
They had the old man on the couch
and the girl had run for water. when
the sheriff. who had been far out
stripped by the younger man. dashed
into the cabin. All three worked over
him. The pearlhunter chafed one
wrist. the sheriff the other. while the
girl bathed his face. washed the blood
out of his hair. and strOve To staunch
its flow by binding up his head in cold
cloths.
Suddenly. without any warning signs
of returning consciousness. the old
man plucked his hand away from the
pearihunter and rubbed it over his
face. His eyes came open. but they
were not the same eyes. Aud his face
was fire from twitching. The girl
Slai'sei down upon him in wonder The
Pearlhunter stopped low and uiarvelet.
nj the startling transformation Nei-
Their knew. nor even suspected. until
the doclor explained ii days later. that
| the blows of the revolver burr had
loosenesl the tiny bit of skull that had
SO long sllackied his hrain-iooSelsec ed
" at Hle expense Of a far worse. hurt
bur undoubtedly lo,sened 1t. They
only knew that the eyes We're free from
| the vacant stare: that his face Was
| calm with the light of reason.
He felt again over his face. seemed
| aStonished at the beard. His eye,
calmly gazed MP a, the girl and stud
| ted her a Tong time.
| You couldni he DoityT'
His voice was queer. hollow. quaver
ing. Ike some sound FROM ano,he,
world. 50 long had 1t gone unused.
"oh Daddy
She threw her arms around him ant
dropped her head on his breast. II,
sat sfrokins her hair finally raised
her. lacked hard al her. rubbed hi.
eyes and looked again.
| "yon must he notty But you'y,
changed So since morning"
! The girl seemed unahle to tell him
She strove for words. hui none came
The tearlhnn'er drew nearer.
| You've been sick long time. sir
he said. "Seven years And. you'r
juss getting well again.
The puzzled eyes suddenly wasene,
l tutn ,,..x.,