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Show A TALE- OP THE T1ATWOODS J iLflBfltoii BBCijL.t?ijji,. copfareHT by the bobbs-merrill cxreXny SYNOPSIS. CHAPTRR I. Never having known hit 'ather, and living Willi his mother on a houseboat on the Wubash. river. "The Pearlhunter" the only name he haa-tearns haa-tearns from her a part ot the atory of 'isr and life. .The recital la Interrupted by "i fearful nt of coughing and ha hurries tshore to seek a root that aftorda relle'. rtetumlng with the root, he meeta a young girl whom he mentally christens the "Wild Rosa." She eludes him before he can make her acquaintance. CHAPTER II. -A vacant cabin on the hore haa attracted the attenUon of the Ailing woman, and they more Into It. Their Drat meal la Interrupted by a tranger who reaente their preaence. The youth drlvei the man from their home "' rrK h, Itrantelr affected the RouSf. That nlglit the outh Jnda with; In musaef the largest Wrrrihjr la been found on the river, the "Blue Moon." Returning; exultant to the cabin, he die-covera die-covera his mother dead, ah having succumbed suc-cumbed while endeavoring to leave a meaeage revealing the secret of his parentage. par-entage. CHAPTER III. At the village of Fallen Rock, to which he takes the gem for sate keeping, the "Pearlhunter". meets the stranger who had disturbed' his mother In their cabin,- and Insulta him. They part aa bitter enemies. , CHAPTER IV. - In the village the "Pearlhunter" sees the gtrl who had attracted at-tracted his attention In the -woods. She Is annoyed by the stranger, and the "Pearlhunter" rescues her from his unwelcome un-welcome attentions, lie accompanies her to" her .horie. CHAPTER V.-At the house he meets the father of his "Wild Rose," known to the locality aa the "Wild Man," mentally Irresponsible 'aS'tho result o("a wound received re-ceived from a man wearing a red mask, a notorious desperado. The youth declares de-clares his Intention of devoting the money he Is to got for the pearl to paying pay-ing for a surgical operation which will restore the old man's reason. CHAPTER Vl.-In the cnbln that nlitht the "Pearlhunter" Is aroused from sleep by the stealthy visit of a man who conceals con-ceals a red mask In the nail and make his escape. The "Pearlhunter," mystified, and suspecting foul play, destroys It. Next day Ixule Solomon, pearl buyer, purchases tho gem for U.C0O. CHAPTER .VI!. Solomon accompanies the youth to his cabin and wllhln a few minutes of their parting the pearl buyer la stabbed and robbed of the gem. The "Pearlhunter" Is charged with the murder mur-der and robbery and Is saved from lynching lynch-ing by tho Intervention of the sheriff. The mob believes the "Pearlhunter" Is the "Red Mask." He Is confined In tho village lockup. CHAPTER VIII.-The stranger offers to secure the release of the -"Pearlhunter" If lie will promise to leave the vicinity. The youth refuses. Made desperate by the stranger's threats of harming the girl, the young man pries the bars from th window of his cell and escapes. CHAPTER IX.-OoIng nt once to the home of his "Will Rose,' he tells the girl tho whole story of tho selling of the gem, the murder of Loulo Solomon, and his accusation of being the "Red Mask." The girl believes lilm Innocent, and he leaves the draft he had received for the gem with her. Returning to his cabin, the "Pearlhunter" finds tho murderer there, and the latter unwittingly discloses to the youth his hiding place, a cave under un-der a waterfall. CHAPTER X. On the departure ot the desperado th "Pearlhunter" visits the cave and discovers certain proof that It Is the "Red Mask's" retreat. Hiding from hla purauers, In a rocky cranny In the woods, he Is seriously wounded by a chance ahot fired by a member of the posse searching for htm. CHAPTER XI. Helpless from his wound, the "Pearlhunter" la found by the "Wild Rose" and taken by her to her home. The "Red Maek" attempts to enter the cabin but Is driven away by the girl, who threatens to shoot him. The "Pearlhunter" would follow him, but the "Wild Rose" Insists he Is not strong enough. -and herself takes the trail of the renegade, both ot them realising how Important It Is to know what the next movements of the "Red Mask" are to be CHAPTER XII.-Th girl returns to her home, drawn back by a visitor, a small boy, who has a letter for her. The youngster has met the desperado and gives her the Information ahe was seeking. seek-ing. The letter proves to be from an old friend of the "Wild Man." Inclosing money and urging him to return to th world and the friends he has left. Th letter also reveals the fact that the "Wild Rose" Is a great heiress, though her Identity Is not fully disclosed. The "Pearlhunter," "Pearl-hunter," having In mind th capture ot the "Red Mask" and hla own vindication, vindica-tion, leaves the girl and goes back to Um village. r ' ' ' ' J 2. "The Ilttlo"girt little Ilcsper Dawn must bo qulto a woman now. As I have written you, her grandfather, old Godfrey Dawn, died Inst year. He repented re-pented In Ills Inst hours nnd left her sole heir to his fortune, which, as you know, Is even moro considerable than your own. Tho estate Is In my hands ready to convey to her. Tho Iesal nge of it woimin In this stale Is eighteen. If old Godfrey lias not misinformed me, she will bc twenty the twentieth ot this present month. So. ho lias been for tome time legally competent to como Into her cstnte. If, under tho terms of your will, she should fall heir to your fortune as well, which sho bids fair to do, as no word tins come nnd none likely to como at this late day, she will be quite tho richest , -Taw U, W, I ioa. I heiress In my knowing. "ffow, my denr Colonel, let me hear from you. .Why should n fninou soldier, sol-dier, nnd tho griiitost cellist of his time, longer Isolate himself from the world to nurse his sorrow? Kor the snkc of tho little girl, If not for your own and'ours lenvo your Flntwoods hcrmltaRo and come back to us. "Awaiting urging nn enrly reply Jo this letter. I beg to rcmnln, ns ever, ",-' f "Toux obedient serv't. i J " "GEO. KSKniDGE." A voice out of the lilff world she had visited only In dream She glanced agnln at the tetter, looked linrd nt the opening of tho third paragraph, dropped her hands in her lap nnd (timed to her companion. Ho had bent forward and snt staring at the floor. "What docs It mean?" "It means," he said slowly after a lime, with his eyes still on (he floor, "that you aro a rich heiress; and you've got a name." "A name!" sho repented, her woman's wom-an's Intuition Instantly catching the minor note. "So hnve you, nnd" she reached In her bowom nnd drew out I he draft "a fortune. And you nindo them both yourself." Ho glanced nt tho draft; wnved It awny without lifting his bend. "Keep It, please, for mo till after tonight." Shu put It back In her liooom, picked up the letter nnd sat pondering, stealing steal-ing nn occasional glunco nt his glum face. "Seven yenrs the letters enme," tho I mnn mused, half nlniiil, "and you never , received them. Thu postmaster has a . stroke you receive the very next let- ter that comes " 1' "You don't reckon ?" "Itockonl It's n plain case. Lot's see every month six hundred a yenr . seven years seven times six bun-! bun-! dred no wonder ho could build that new house" "OH, well! I'oor old main nos pnying for It." "And do you think thut's the way a man pays?" "Sometlmi'i mnjbe." The man raised his eyes after a time to the bright Pilots of metal In the gathering gloom nhovu the mantel. "Tho letter cnlled him a famous: soldier. sol-dier. Ma) ho Hint's his sword, and spurs?" r "They are." "And you keep them shining bright like Hint?" "Always." The man wns silent n long time. One other question hail como to him, but ho-dreaded to ask it. Ho twisted himself him-self around so ns to look Into tho fuco of his companion. It wns deeply thoughtful. Things had recently happened hap-pened In his own life, thnt had brought the question to his mind. Finally very softly, reverently, he ventured It forth. "And your mother?" Tho girl caught her breath; dropped one hnnd, doubtless unconsciously, upon up-on his shoulder. Her lashes drooped low. "I never saw her I" sho said, after a time. "And she never saw mo I" There was a pause. "Her grave. Is on a hill that overlooks the river. Daddy Dad-dy took mo nnd camo up here In tho Klntwoods to forget. I guess he couldn't forget, for he never went The Pearlhunter was sorry ho had asked tho' question. The grave thnt overlooked the river I Wns thero not another such grave not threo days Mil; the orchids upon It still nllvcl The gray eyes followed tho bluo Into the penslvo shadows. "I wonder what It means," ho med-tnted med-tnted half nloud. "You are to fall heir to his fortune, If no word comes. What word, do you suppose? And why should nny word prevent you falling heir to bis fortune, your father's?" "I wondered nbout thnt. I guess It'j just lawyer tnlk. Do you think I should nnswer thnt letter?" "I think you should." "Hut what would I say? As I said a while ago, I never wrote a letter." "Neither did I." He saw the answer did not relieve tho perplexity on the thoughtful face, nnd went on, "Rut I'd tell him nbout your llfo here, nnd nbout your fntber's nccldcnt, nnd Hint this Is the first letter you've received re-ceived for seven years." Ho hesltntcd, seemed to study Ids next word, finally added: "And I believe I'd nsk him to come ; yes, I believe I would ask him to come." "Why, of courso; why couldn't I think of thnt? Now you'd better lie down while I get you a mlto of supper." sup-per." In nn instant he was on his feet, protestl-t,?. "I bhull have to get supper for Paddy, anyhow," sho emphnsr.ed. "And I wouldn't think of letting you go without." When a, woman talks like thnt, It's, no use to'nrcue. Tho I'enrlhunter , . - ., i She swept him a deep courtesy. "If the famous finder of tho Blue Moon Is not nshnmed to ent with his cook " He bowed low. It cost him a pang In his side, but It didn't get to his face. "If the rich heiress, Miss nesper Pawn, Is not above eating with the the I'enrlhunter" Wonderful Is tho resilience of youth. With n gny laugh sho danced awny to the kitchen. Ho tramped nfter her. His two old friends, the lloss nnd dour-fneed null Mnsterson, would hnve been astonished nt the sounds that camo through thnt kitchen door. Tho slow, deliberate, serious-faced I'enrlhunter I He wns dnnclng nbout the cook stove, cnrrylng dishes, nnd Inughlng ns lightly ns If half the neighborhood wns not out hunting him with every sort of weapon tho Flat-woods Flat-woods could furnish. That supper I Hncon nnd eggs, brown tonst, nnd coffee I And the hands thnt poured tba coffee and put the sugnr In, ntul spread tho tonst I It hnd to be enten In semldnrkiiess, for It wouldn't do to risk n candle semi-darkness, semi-darkness, but not In silence. He forgot for-got thnt tho girl Just around the corner cor-ner of the table had turned out to ho n rich heiress tho "princess" of his fairy story whllo he was only the Peorlhunter a tnnn wjtnoui n name. Jwtllght a the windows warned him tint tbt. dark was hovering like a night raven Over the woods. His time hnd come. The business of a mnn wai afoot. She closed tho stove hearth to hide the fire light. He opened the east door of the kitchen, once mora the grave, cautious, woodsman. She held but her hand; he Inld It upon the arm In the sling; covered It with his own. "Wild llosol" he eal't "Xou'11 ill-wnys ill-wnys be thnt, no mntlcr what they call you." The fancy went through him thnt her hand thrilled, ever so slightly, upon up-on his nrm. He closed his groat palm over It. "The woods shnll be snfe tomorrow for you and me," ho said, nnd followed fol-lowed the words with the boldest net of his life picked up the hnnd from bis' arm hnd Inld It to his lips. The next Instant ho hnd slipped nwny Into the gnlberlng night. Hurled In the hushes, he spnred a second to look hack. She wns still In the dark frame of the door. A sound llko the passing of n whisper, whis-per, llko tbo'breezo plnylng with soft leaves, caught bis quick ear. A gray ghost the Wild Man of the Flntwoods flitted nlong under the cliffs nnd eu-tered eu-tered the cnbln. CHAPTER XIII. The Sheriffs Nudge. Tho sheriff bnrn stood ngnlnst the" hillside, the dlstnnrc of half n block hack of bis house. He hnd been In tho saddle most of the day. It wns dark when he rode Into his barn lot to put up his tired horse. So Intent was ho upon his task, so enger to hurry It over nnd get back to the houso to supper, that be failed to notice a dark form stealing down off the hi n IT, through tho bushes, nnd along the bnrn wall. Tbu task finished, tho sheriff closed tho barn door and turned toward the house. "Sh-li 1" He whirled, nnd found himself gnz-Ing gnz-Ing down tho wrong end of n sternly six-gun In the hnnd of tho very mnn ho hnd been hunting nil day. The sheriff was a bravo man, hut he knew where bravery ends am foolhardlncss begins. His bands went up ns quickly quick-ly ns he could get them up. The man with tho six-gun carried his arm In a sling. It must have cost him torture to take It out, hut he did It; reached over and plucked the sheriffs revolver out of his holster, thnist It Into his blouso and put his arm back Into the sling. "Listen I" There was no misunderstanding misunder-standing thnt whisper. "I'll not hurt you If you do ns I sny. Creep up tho hill to tho top of the bluff. Keep out of sight ns much ns possible. I'll bo right behind you." Tho sheriff wns not n brilliant man, but ho did ihnvo n saving grain of horso wise. Ho crept nlong the bnrn wall, up the hill through the bushes nnd Into the thick woods nt the top of tho bluff. The shadow behind be-hind him was noiseless, hut he knew that It was there. "To Fallen Hock," came n low, Incisive In-cisive command. "You know tho way." He knew tho way. Ho took It He never liked to remember that Journey, It brought tho sweat out on his head to recall It. Not even a sheriff a Flatwoods sheriff, to boot has a stom ach for a tramp through the dark at the point of a six-gun In tho bands of such n man. At the spring around back of the west end of the old cabin, he he-jt-tated, undecided whether thnt wns the tlnnl destination, and yet dreading tc mako the mistake, It It wasn't. The gun muzzle prodded him onto tho brink ot tho pool under tho fulls. liarel; out of reach of the spray, the shndow camo around and faced him. "You think I'm tho Itcd Mask. The whole town thinks I am. Llko n pack ot hounds you've hunted me today, but you hunted tho wrong mnn. Tho real Ued Mask was ono of tho pack. Thai timber buyer Is your man." Tho sheriff started. Tho cold volet went on. "Did J on ever know him to buy n timber option? Did you ever hear ol any Ihnt bo bought?" "No y The sheriff was surprised to'flnd h( mouth dry, his tongue stiff. h hretidlnis the Bluo Moon at this K mlntitfT I Rno'w It njl along, but I had W jpo proof. TonlgTit I expect to get' my W proof and I brought you along to help HH me get ft.'' ' 'Z. LSEeP"- J . WW The Pearlhunter briefly explained what he had chanced to learn tho ove- II ntng before after escaping from the v-wfflH jnli" ,r -rSatSr U llfid you never noticed that ho , B comes down this wuy every night?" he i f-'-AU .concltuled. ''pLpLj S uUt ' understood It wns to sco H a W The I'enrlliunter winced. His Jaw H tightened. He was thinking of the tnlk H that hnd probably been bandied back H nnd forth over tho bar ot tho Mud H "He came to feed htH horso. Thero's H no girl down hero his mouth's At to H mention. He'll como tonight nny H minute now. Quick I Cut on thnt flat H Without a word, the sheriff bounded jH over the two Intervening stones to tho 'H lint rock. The I'enrlhunter wnlted Just jH long enough to sound tho woods, Tho IH noise of the fulls made It Impossible. jH With a searching look back up Hid bluff jH ns far us his eyes would carry In tliu jH gloom, he Joined tho sheriff, jH "Jump. I told you how." Ibbbbbbbbi A prod of tho six-shooter emphn- jH sized the command. Tho sheriff j Jumped. Thero was nothing elso to r do. lie wns still floundering nbout iH on tho Inner margin of tho pool be- jH hind tbu falls when tho I'carlhuntcr H lauded lightly beside him, almost up- jH on him. The pns.-Mgo was dark dark jJ ns the lusldo, of u pistol barrel. It jH was n very reassuring fact. It meant that there wits no cutidlo burning far- R tlier ahead In the envc. Ho was In I time. Making suro of thnt very Im- portnut fact, ho thrust tho revolver LW Into tho holster pocket nt his hip, H ( grasped the sheriff by tho collar nnd W ' hurried up the passage'. Hi Ily the same subtle In.stlnct (lint hnd Bj . served him tho night before, bo knew H when ho reached tho point nt which HJ tho passage widened Into tho cuve. IHH Thero ho loosed tho sheriff's collar nnd H' struck a match. The sheriff caught Hff Ids breath mid stnred. Tho horse, tho Hf. candle In tho cranny, tho saddle and B spurs, the feed all Just ns It had BJ been described to him. HJ "I never knew thero wns anything M- like this under Fallen Itock." "You're probably the third mnn that H . ever did know It. Pick your steps BJ ncross those silvers of shale there nnd' BJ ' get Into thnt pocket behind tho hay. BJ Hurry I We mustn't show much light. (BH- lie's duo nny minute." B The ono match served. So urgently B did tho I'enrlhunter consider tho need BV of haste thnt before It was gono they K' wuro crowded well back In tho pocket behind the liny. " ' ' H (To Be, Continued) |