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Show BLUEHOON copyright" esv1 the bS&bs-merrjll cxdhPAny SYNOPSIS. CIIAPTnn l.-Nevtr having known his .'atlier, and living with his mother on a houseboat on the Wabash river, "The Pearlhunter" tho only name he haa-learns haa-learns from her a part of the story of her sad life. The recital Is Interrupted by a fearful (It of coughing and he hurrlei ashore to leek a root that affords r el let. Returning with the root, he meets a young girl whom ha mentally christens the "Wild Roeo." fihe eludes htm before he can make her acquaintance, CHAPTER 1I.-A vacant cabla a the shore has attracted the attention nf the ailing woutan, and they Mn tat It Then- first meal la InUmrated fcy a stranger wke reseat tbelr prsassm. The youth drtvas the man trass their hM. III presence? ha strangely Jfrt4 the mother. That night the youth Itnda within with-in a musael the largest pearl that ha been found on the river, the "Bin Ifeoa." Returning exultant to 'the cabla, ha discovers dis-covers his mother dead, she having succumbed suc-cumbed while endeavoring to leave a message revealing the secret of hie par- CHAPTER III. -At the village of Fallen Rock, to which he takes the gem for safe keeping, the "Penrlhunter" meets the stranger who had disturbed hts mother In their cabin, nnd Insults him. They part as bitter enemies. CHAPTER IV. - In the village the "Pearlhunter" sees the girl who had attracted at-tracted his attention In the woods. She Is annoyed by the strancer, and the "Penrlhunter" rescues her from his unwelcome un-welcome attentions. He accompanies her to her home. CIIAPTfiR V. At the house he meets the father of his "Wild Rose," known to the locnllty as the "Wild Man," mentally Irresponsible as tho result of a wound received re-ceived from a man ft caring a red mask, n notorious desperado. The youth declares de-clares his Intention of devoting the money he Is to net for the pearl to paying pay-ing for a surgical operation which will restore the old man's reason. CHAPTER Vl.-In the cabin that nUht the "Pearlhunter" Is aroused rrom sleep by the stealthy visit of n man who conceals con-ceals a red mask In the wall and makas his escape. The "Pearlhunter," mystified, nnd suspecting; foul play, destroys It Next day loule Solomon, pearl buyor, purchases the gem for $3,000. CHAPTER VII. Solomon accompanies the youth to his cabin and within a few minutes of their parting the pearl buyer Is stabbed and robbed of the gem. The 'Tearlhunter" Is charged with the murder mur-der and robbery and Is Bavcd from lynching lynch-ing by the Intervention of the sheriff. The mob believes the "Pearlhunter" Is the "Red Mask." He Is confined In the village- lockup. CHAPTER VIII. Tho stranger offers to secure the release of the "Pearlhunter" If he will promise to leave the vicinity. The youth refuses. Made Uesperato by the stronger' threats of harming the girl, the young man prlea the bars from the window of hi cell and escapes. "ne" would have grumbled still farther, but the Pearlhunter urged him to go. WJtb a last whispered word, the sturdy eld fellow stole awny tn the gloom, half reluctant still, as thttifh fc felt he was disgracing hlnmelf not te stay and fight somebody. some-body. 3e Peafflranter strained his tan for sounds farther np the street, particularly par-ticularly for any land talk or erelta-Eaent erelta-Eaent back f the Mod Ben. It was the hoar Just after nightfall, wnen village streets are most likely to be deserted the hour when loungers go home to supper. Not a sound out of the ordinary rode the air. At tho moment, a door opened on the back porch of the sheriff's house. A square of light picked out tho rough boards. The' sheriff appeared with a flat basket In the hollow of his arm. A woman's hand pulled back the muslin mus-lin curtains at a side window and held a candle cloeo to the pane to light him across the jail yard. The Tearlhunter lounged down on th broken chair. A moment later a key, scraping unbelievably loud on the doll silence of the Jail, bunted Its way Into the lock. The heavy outer door whined back. A natch scraped; the sputtering flano was laid t the stub of a candle; aa ana held It through the bars of the Inner doer. "Oh, you're awake I It was so qulot In here I thought mebbe yn might bo asleep." "With the air of a man dog tired the Pearlhunter dragged himself up off tho ebalr, shambled out Into the hall nnd took the stub of candle from the sheriffs sher-iffs hand. The sheriff fumbled three or four dishes and n tin cup of black cotfc? out of the flat basket and held thcin close to tho liars. He stood well back, taking tak-ing quite evident pains to keep his revolver re-volver butt out of reach. IIo did not know there was a very dependable weapon already on the other shin of the bars. lie mode no move to unlock the door or to enter tho cell. None of this escaped the Pearlhunter. Pearlhunt-er. The chance to use his stove leg was as good as gone, or rather, It was not going to come. Once he considered the desperate move of drawing hlR revolver re-volver and forcing the sheriff to open the. doort Pot the sheriff was known to be n bravo mhn. lie might llRht, nnd If he did, one or the other of them would be killed. The Pearlhunter dismissed dis-missed the plan. "Th' woman didn't know there'd bo company tonight," the sheriff muttered ns he held the dlMies within reach of tho arm thrust through tho bnrx. "I'm nfenred you'll be skimped a little. Hut 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, until the door closed nnd the muslin curtains cur-tains fell back Into place nt the side window. Then be laid the stov leg by. Ills chance was gone. The revolver tucked tinder hi waistband nt the flank of his back nnd hidden by his blouse seemed to have a personality. Its friendly presence pres-ence helped his appetite, though, for that matter, It was nlrendy keen enough, ns he hnd eaten nothing since morning. He could have eaten three such suppers as the sheriff provided. Tho friendly revolver; tho thought of n grlzsled old river uinii, doubtless nt that moment rowing hard up the river, took somo of tho smart out of his cuts nnd bruises. Ills left eye was swelling shut, lie winked It limber nnd stood wondering whether to blow out the candle or leave It burn n while; finally blew It out, nnd went back to the west window. A sound caught his ear; steps coming com-ing down the river mud. lie listened. The (jteps turned In nt the Jnll'ynrd; came nronnd to the west window. A fnco appeared between tho bars. Knough light fell from the stars to reveal re-veal Its Identity the smtc, hniidonic face of the man ho least expected to kco there. The Penrlhunter came close to the window. The oilier' backed a step a way. - "Pleased to find you In," lie sneered. The Pearlhunter passed by the taunt In silence. It seemed to Irrllnte the other that his shot had missed. "Just thought I'd coll around nt your ah your boarding place this evening nnd talk over n little matter of business busi-ness n sort of proposition a uh bargain," he drawled. The man on the Inside of the bars made no nnswer. Ills face was as stolld'o's If he hadn't heard. Neither was the other much on talk, llu shot straight and talked tho same way. Halt petulantly he shifted to bis other foot; took bis thumbs out of his vest pockets. The easy smile left his face; the real man cntne out a wildcat, fanged nnd clawed. "I'll uncork this rotten old Jug," he growled, "If you'll bolt the Flatwoods and stop queerlc' my gnme." Ills lips snapped tight. Ills cards were on the table. The Penrlhunter pondered them In his deliberate way and cast up th sum total of their exact ex-act value. First. Thar would be n mob. Otherwise he would have trusted to that. The netting behind th Mud Hen hod ficzled. Second. II had no stomach for going Into court. Third. "Queerln' " his "game." What did he mean by his game? He couldn't have meant the Blue Moon, for he didn't know the Penrlhunter knew he , bad It. Ills game. That tense scene ut the fence the evening before flashed 1 up clear as the river bed under the I Jack light: n girl with a basket; frightened eyes; n yellow curl that rose and fell upon n startled bosom. "I'll stay where I am," he answered, crisp and cold. "The law put me In; the law can get me out." The other shrugged his shoulders, furious at the baffling coolness be encountered. en-countered. And yet he couldn't afford tn give np his plans, or spoil them by nny untimely show of his real feelings. feel-ings. The easy smile came back. "Those questions you were expecting expect-ing to ask I might nuswer them to boot." The Pearlhunter's fingers tightened on the bar. IIo breathed deep. Those questions I His life, through, they had haunted him. And the man before him knew the nnswer. Ills face set hurd. "Answer or not, as yon please," he said; "but I'll not bolt the Flatwoods. I was expectln' to ask about my father." fa-ther." The other whipped a curious look at him. "Your father I" he snarled. The scowl on his face becnnie It better than the smile. "As like you ns two peas; with the same lot of fool, Sir Galahad notions nbout the women angels nnd white lilies, nnd nil that rot. Ho crossed my path once too often, and for the last time, seven years ngo. He's In hell now, And your mother" Tho fist that stabbed out of the window win-dow fell almost short, landing with n snap Instead nf a crnsh, llko 0 lash that con reach only so.: far. It stunj; the i - ' his head ImcK. Ho staggered nnd threw up his hnnd to his face. His other hand Involuntarily Involun-tarily dropped toward his hip. Well for him Hint It stopped la-fore It got there. Tho Penrlhunter hnd snatched the revolver from under his blotiso nnd held It Just below the window ledge. Tho mnn on the outside backed away, his face stung to flame by the blow. He felt for his knife; seemed to remember where he hnd left It between be-tween the -ribs of n mnn. Anyhow, It would hnve been ns useless ns the re-voher. re-voher. Noise precluded the uso of the one; walls nnd bnrs the oilier. I "I'd kill yon," he retorted finally, his tones stendy, though stmlned, like the current that plnys ncross tho top of u whirlpool, "only I haven't time. There's n flock of yellow curls nnd n devilish trim pair of ankles wnltln' for me down the road." He had so framed the taunt as to reflect re-flect on the girl his very thought dishonored. dis-honored. Without another word be turned and walked nwny. Tho Pearlhunter seriously debated whether to shoot blm dead and trust to fate for tho rest. Tho revolver crawled up over tho window sill. He grasped one of the bars to steady his hnnd. A start of surprise enmo to his fnco. Tho revolver went back below the window sill. The bar was loose. It was nlmost unbcllcvnble, but It was so. for somo reason or other It had not been fixed very firmly In Its surer hole sockets. Ther was play--a heartening amount of It betwtn th upper and lowr auger holes. Ills blood missed a best; then leaped th higher. He Jammed th bar Into th lower socket. The bottom of the hole was soft. Tho rnln lmJ probably rotted It. lie Jammed the bar again and the wood gave. He put all hh strength to II Knch effort drove llu bar a little deep er; gave It n llttld more play at the top. If he could only drive It fur enough so that tho top would clear 1 He was working llko a wild man. Hearing down with all his strength, he rotated tho bar. The tremendous exertion opened tho cuts and scratches on hit neck and breast until they bled nfrcMi. Ho Jammed tho bar down again; boro upon It with nil his strength; rotated It again and again Less thnn hnlf an Inch still held nt the top. Ills exertions brought the sweat out upon lil fnco. Another effort; tremendous; tre-mendous; to the last ounce of his power. Ills blinds were like flro but the bar cleared. He could move It a tiny mllo to the side of the upper nuger hole. The clearance was ever so little but It cleared. Ilraclng his knee against the wall and grasping the casement case-ment with his left hand for Alicliorngo, he bent nnd worked nnd twisted the Imr outward, At Inst, by n flnnl supreme su-preme henvp, It cleared the upper log. There rcmnlned only to lift It out of I the lower nugpr hole. The Penrlhunter ''ropped bnck panting pant-ing and mopped the sweat from his faco with his sleeve. The effort had been tremendous. A minute to get his breath; another spent In listening; nnd he worked th loosened end n tlttlo freer; lifted out the bar; crawled outside; put It bnck Into place ngaln, feeling nbout with his fingers to mnke sure there were no senrs on the wood or hits of chips scraped loose, and stole nwny under the trees. It would probnbly be quite Impossible Impossi-ble for the city-bred to npprcclnte fully the feelings of the Penrlhunter nt finding find-ing the breath of the open woods once more upon his fnce. The trees wore like comrades In arms. The rough bark that covered their stout hearts actually felt friendly and good to his hands as he darted Ilk a shadow from one t the other on his way out of the Jail yard and up the side f the bluff. Well knowing there would be eya on his trail tn the morning, he dared net g directly to where his misgiving urged him. The sheriff he did not fear. To the sheriff he was still the notorious notori-ous Red Mask. To the mob that wns sure to gather be would bo the Ited Mnsk. Ills escape, with lock and bolt untouched, would mystify both mob nnd sheriff. They would nscrlbe It to the dread powers with which popular fancy hnd Invested his name. Hut In the rabble that would curse nnd clamor nbout the old Jail there would bo one, pair of eyes Hint the loosened bar would not escape; a pair of eyes that would find It ns sure ns the morning enrae, nnd rend ilia riddle et n glance. And they would be eyes cnptblc of finding a trail nnd following follow-ing It. Much as It went ngnlnst blm. therefore, he turned his steps enst In stead of west and plunged In ntnong the clumped underbrush thut grew along the top of the cliff. Crossing the river rond wns the problem. Choosing a placo where th grass cntne close to the trnck on each side, n short distance above where the path leaves It nt the turn, hu leaped across, nnd using considerable enro to hldo his trail, picked his wny down nlong the Inside of the brush-tangled fence row. That path! It led out of nn old world Into n new. Peering through tho hushes ho spared n hurried glnnce toward to-ward tho low place In the fenco whero the path crossed. Tho stars peopled tho plnco with memories. A girl with n basket; round, frank oyes; the sun-bonnet sun-bonnet caught by nn overhanging limb; tho curl thnt wouldn't behove they nil came tn life out of the sbndo'.vs. So ninny things bad happened hap-pened since bo walked thnt path with her that It m-cmed long, long ngo; nnd It wns only yesterday. Tho picture dissolved. A brcnlh between be-tween steps It bud held him, and h" was off pti.tho long, lanky Jog. Tho 1 ; -1, v traverse tho path ngaln,' but prudence " """TTM wnrncd blm to keep away. The sharp H est eyes In tho FIntwoods would bo M on that path nt sunrise. H If the night did hold tho menace ho M feared (lint In so many words had H threatened It would undoubtedly de- Jl velop In or near tho tbrce-gnbled jH rnbln. As he drew near the plnco his M mastery of woodcraft showed In bin H approach. Tho bushes were not nt- M towed to gtve up a sound. H A light shone through th front win- M dows of the mnln room of tho cabin. H He wondered at this. It mado him JM 1 uneasy, for tho evening was gone nnd M the ripe night com. Not many can- H dies were alight at that hour tn tho Klntwoods. Ho sank back under tho bushes nnd crawled nenrer. The mus- H tin curtnlns were drawn, but 110 jl shadows crossed them. The stillness jH within vaguely disquieted him. He M wns scnrchlng for a wny to crawl n IH llttlo nenrer, when the low tones of IM tho cello broke ncross tho silence; nnd M ho knew the girl was keeping her lone- jH ly vigil beside the stricken old mnn. jl Then came the voice from n throat H the gods bad kissed. Each tone found M n kindred sound In tho cello anil jH coaxed It forth to flutter out upon tho 1 listening night In n lustrous witchery H that somehow brought to tho fnncy of M the listener under the bushes n ptc- M turo of soft-winged swallows skim- H mlng over sun-kissed waters. H The figure of a man slid Into tho M randl glow that beat th night baek H for a space outside th window M trim; compact; Janaty th mnn ho M The Man He Had Expected to Find H Prowling There. H had expected to (hid prowling there. H Tho picture wns gone, llehud llttlo H enr for the music thnt followed. Tho H bund of tho listener at tho window M stole up ngnlnst the light nnd dragged M off his but. The man crouching In tho H bushes could uinkn out tho crisp locks H Hint cluug closo to the bared head. H Tho song ended. The Inst soft bar- H mony of the cello Inst Itself nmong H the listening trees. There came a muf- Vtu lied shuffling Inside the cnbln; a hugu jH shadow, ns of two figures bulked to- JH getber, crossed the curtnln of tho H window nt tho west side of the door. jH The Pearlhunter knew what wns hup- jH ponlng the girl leading the stricken aM man to his bed. Hut Ids eyes wero JH upon tho still figure outside the win- jH dow. jH One shadow camo back, n slim, jH trim shadow; there followed the jH creaking of a chnlr; a head, hung jH with loose hulr, rocked back nnd forth H across the curtnln and the mnn who jH crouched under the hushes knew tho JH girl wns nlpne with her thoughts. jH The mnn nt the window wm'ched H the shadow. It seemed to rouse him jH to recall fancies that the song hnd jH caused to wander fnr. Ho glanced H about; pulled himself together; mado jH n hnlf petulant step toward the door. jH The mnn In tho underbrush stlf- jH fencd; slowly rose, noiseless ns jH smoke. The mnn npproacblng tho H door seemed to hesitate; stopped. Tho H other bnnk down again In the bushon. jH The head of flowing hair rocked back iH and forth across the curtains. H It was a strained moment; a three- jB handed gnmo In the dark; an Intenso JH three-angled drama of life mayhap JLI of more than life, If the honor or a IH woman Is more thnn that. jB The man hesitating before tho door H had tho next piny. What held his H hand? The song? Perhaps his plans H wero not yet ripened to the full. He H made nnothcr step toward the door; H stopped; Jerked his shoulders up sav- jH ngely ; glared nbont ; brought his eyes JjH back to tho rocking shndow; sworo inafl softly; turned nnd stnlkcd silently iM nwny down tho pnth toward Fallen H Ilock, jH (To Bo Uontlnncxl) 1 m BBBBBB |