The Mena weekly star., 1921-09-08
6be Blue Moon A TdIe Of the F7dtUOOdS
W DlWD ANDERSON
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 { lCopyright by Bobbs-Merrill Col

%zii silence of ths jail. hunted it's way Asfp the lock. The heavy outer door ukfned back A match scraped: the egottering flame was laid to the stub & candle; an arm held ft through @ae bars of the inner door.
 ~0h. yca're awake It was so quiet a here thought mebbe y'u might be AaAeep."
 with the air of a man dog tired the 99arihunter dragged himself up of the &mir, shambled out Into the hall and S3ek the stub of candle from the sher- Efs hand.
 The sheriff fumbled three or four dishes and a tin cup of black coffee out ok the fat basket and held them close Go the bars. He stood well back. talk fng quite evident pains to keep his re- voiver butt out of reach. He did not know there was very dependable weapon already on the other side of the bars He made no move to unlock khe door or to enter the cell.
 None of this escaped the Pearihunt- CT. The chance to use his stove leg vas as good as gone, or rather, It was not going to come. Once he considered the desperate move of drawing his re- woiver and forcing the sheriff to open tbe door. But the sheriff was known 10 be a brave man. He might fight, and if he did, one or the other of them would be killed. The Pearlhunter dis missed the plan.
 ''rh' woman didn't know there'd be company tonight the sheriff muttered as he held the dishes within reach of She arm thrust through the bars. I'm afeared you'll be slKlmped a little. But we'll try an cook up a-plenty in the morning
 He closed the door and turned the key in the lock. The Pearlhunter watched him until he had crossed the square of light shining out from the kitchen and re-entered the house, untfl the door closed and the muslin cur tsins fell back into place at the side window. Then he laid the stove leg hg. His chance was gone.
 The revolver tucked under his waistband at the flank of his bnck and hidden by his blouse seemed to have personality. Its friendly pres ence helped his appetite, though, for mat matter, 1t was already keen enough. as he had eaten nothing sincs morning He could have eaten three such suppers as the sheriff provided.
 The friendly revolver; the thought of grixzled old river man. doubtless st that moment rowing hard up the river, took some of the smart out of his cuts and bruises. His left eye was swelling shut He winked it Timber and stood wondering whether to blow out the candle or leave 1t burn a while; finally blew it out, and went back to fhe west window.
 4 sound caught his ear; steps com ing down the river road He llslened. The steps turned in at the Jail yard; came around to the west window. A face appeared between the bars. Enough light fell from the stars to re- veal its identity--the suave. handsome Knee of the man he least expected to see there.
 The Pearlhunter came close to the window. Tine other backed a step sway.
 4Pleased to find you in" he sneered. The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt n silence. It seemed to irritate the other that his shot had missed.
 -:Jast thought I'd call around at your ---ah-your boarding place this evening and talk over little matter of busi- iness--a sort of oposition--a--ah--- bargain" he drawled.
 The man on the inside of the bars made no answer, His face was as stolid as If he hadn't heard Neither was the other much on talk He shot straight and talked the same way Half petulantly he shifted to his other foot took his thumbs out of his vest pockets. The easy smile left his face; the real man came out--a wildcat, fanged and clawed.
 .'rll uncork this rotten old jug" he growled, "lf you'll bolt the Flatwoods and stop queerin' my game"
 Ens lips snapped tight Ills cards were on the table The Pearlhunter spondered them in his deliberate way and cast up the sum total of their ex- act value.
 First. There would be no mob. Otherwise he would have trusted to that. The meeting behind the Mud Hen had fizzled.
 Second He had no stomach for going into court
 Third. "Queerin' his game" What did he mean by hls game? He couldn't have meant the Blue Moon, for he didn't know the Pearlhunter knew he had t. His game. That tense scene at the fence the evening before flashed np clear as the river bed under the Jack light: girl with basket; Frightened eyes; yellow curl that rose and fell upon a startled bosom.
 sril stay where am," he answered. crisp and cold. 'The law put me in: .ghe law can get me out
 The other shrugged his shoulders. furious at the bafiilng cooIness he en- ccuntered. And yet he couldn't afford to give up his plans, or spoil them by any untimely show of his real feel. tngs. The easy smile came back.
 Those questions you were expect Ing to ask--I might answer them to boot"
 The Pearihunter's fingers frightened : on the bar. He breathed deep Those questions His life through they had haunted him. And the man hefora him