The St. Charles herald., 1921-01-01

CHAPTER vIii-continued.

Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER vlii-continued.
~
The tall form Of the Pearlhunter
fdhened in the gloom; his fingers
1Fipped the revolver butt.
"You might get Bull Masterson," he
eaid, "and wait across there o. the
lower point of Alpine island. But
don't do anything unless the mob
starts. I don't know much law. but /
DO know the law couldn't hurt you for
|rescuing a sherifrs prisoner from a
mob"
'Tawi Laww The Boss growled.
.sWhen I know they've ketched tn
wrong man"
He would have grumbled still
Further, but the Pearlhunter urged
MIN to go. With last whispered
word, the sturdy old fellow stole
away In the gloom, half reluctant still,
pc though he felt he was disgracing
himself not to stay and fight-some-
body.
The Pearlhunter strained his ears
FOR sounds farther up the street, par
ticulariy for any loud talk or excite
ment back of the Mud Hen.
1t was the hour just after nighdaii,
when village streets are most hKeiy
to be deserted-the hour when
aoungers go home to supper. Not
sound out of the ordinary rode the
hir.
At the moment, q door opened on
the back porch Of the sheriff's house.
"a square of light picked out the rough
boards. The sheriff appeared with
Hat basket in the hollow Of his arm.
"a woman's hand pulled back the mus
hin curtains at a side window and held
q candle close to the pane to light him
across the jail yard.
The Pearlhunter lounged down on
1.-THE broken chair. A moment later
key. scraping unbelievably loud on the
dull silence of the jail, hunted its way
into the lock. The heavy outer door
whined back. A match scraped; the
bputtering flame was laid to the stub
s0f o candle; an arm held 1t through
the bars of the inner door.
"Oh, you're awake! 1t was so quiet
An here thought mebbe y'u might be
asleep"
With the air Of man dog tired the
iPearlhnnter dragged himself up on the
chair, shambled out into the hall and
took the stub Of candle from the sher'
hf's hand.
The sheriff fumbled three or foul
dishes and tin cup Of black coffee out
tof the fiat basket and held them close
Ito the bars. He stood well back, tax
ling quite evident pains to keep his re
Holver butt out Of reach. He did mo-
know there was very dependaDi
weapon already on the other side O
the bars. He made no move to unioci
the door or to enter the cell.
8 None Of this escaped the Pearlhunt
ier. The chance to use his stove lei
was as good as gone, or rather, 1t wa
mot going to come. Once he considere'
the desperate move of drawing his re
,yolver and forcing the sheriff to opel
the door. But the sheriff was know
ito be brave man. He might fight
Iand If he did, one or the other of then
would be killed. The Pearlhunter dis
missed the plan.
.aTh' woman didn't know there'd D
company tonight" the sheriff mutfere
as he held the dishes within reach
the arm thrust through the bars. TT
Iafeared you'll be skimped little. Blu
wen try an cook up a-plenty in tn
rmorning."
He closed the door and turSed tn
lkev in the lock. The Peatihunte
watched him until he had crossed tn
square Of light shining out from tn
Kitchen and re-entered the house, unit
ithe door closed and the muslin Gu
ttains fell back into place at the SID
window. Then he laid the stove ie
by. His chance was gone.
The revolver tucked under b
,wa,stband at the flank Of his bac
and hidden by his blouse seemed
have = personality. Its friendly pre-
.ence helped his appetite, though. 4
that matter, II was already kee
enough. as he had eaten nothing stint
,u,orninr. He could have eaten thr
such suppers ss the sheriff provided.
The friendly revolver; the thougl
.of rrizzled old river man, doubtie
~ that mcment rowing hard up Il
river. took some Of the smart out Of b
cuts and bruises. His left eye ~
swelling yllut. He winked It limb
and srood wondering whether to bio
ont the candle or leave It burn Will
f,nally blsw it out, and went back
the west ~indow.
4 sound caught his ear; steps col
,nr down the river road. BE listene
The steps turned in at the jail var
came around to the west window.
face appeared between the bal
Enough light fell from the stars TO
veal Its identity--the suave, handson
face OF xhe man he least expected
lgee there
The l.earlhunter came close to Z
window The other backed 80
away.