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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1921. " &f)e BLUE MOON Tale of the Flatooods By DAVID ANDERSON W. W .W.W. W WWW w W w.w.w.w V.V.V.V.V. (Copyright by the Bobbs-Merrlll Company) He chuckled all the way to the door. A small crowd waited outside. No body knows how news leaks out In a small town. Not a man but knew how much the pearl had brought. One of the crowd, a lanky, one-eyed fisher man, sidled up to the Pearlhunter. “Y’u got It, didn’t y’u?" The Pearlhunter was too slow, and the little Jew answered for him. “Course he got it. What chance a pore devil pearl buyer got mit d'e whole town against 'lm I” That statement, or one like It, was what the crowd had been waiting for. The tension was over. The finding and selling of the famous gem, the most valuable pearl ever “h’isted" along the Wabash, was now history—Flatwoods history. The one-eyed fisherman chucked his hat up In the air and yelled—a lusty cheer, In which the crowd Joined. One would have thought that each man there had sold a Blue Moon—or found one. The Pearlhunter felt a good deal as the crowd seemed to feel —a loosening of the tension. For that matter, the fat little buyer seemed to feel some tiling of the same relief. Caught up In the crowd, both buyer and seller were swept across the rond and Into the ex pectant door of the Mud Hen. The Pearlhunter had Just twenty-five dollars and twenty-seven cents in his pocket. He had counted it that morn ing while waiting for Louie Solomon to come. It was the last cent after pay ing his mother's funeral expenses. He threw a pocket-worn twenty-dollar bill on the bar and motioned to the crowd. “Make It good whisky,” he said. “No ‘squirrel’ goes this round.” He couldn’t have made a better speech for the occasion. The crowd cheered. The little Jew said some- “Make It Good Whisky,” He Said. thing, hut It couldn’t be heard. The bartender set out a long row of glasses. The river men grew suddenly quiet with the gurgle of the filling. I Each man picked up a glass and stood waiting until every other man was served. The crowd was too occu pied to notice it, but the Pearlhunter’s knees were fairly shaking under him; his face set and pale. Hu was about to do the hardest thing he had ever tackled in his life, even harder than mentioning money to the Wild Rose. He picked up his glass; set It down — pushed It back. “Water for mine!” To a man, the crowd whirled and stared. Louie Solomon swore. “Vot iss!” he said. “You make it foolishness?” “No,” was the slow answer. “I’m off this for keeps.” “H—1!” growled the one-eyed fisher man. "Since’t when did y’u quit?” "Yesterday—about sundown.” He raised his glass and clinked with Louie Solomon —the aristocratic bour bon against the Flatwoods spring—and drank the celebration of his great day in a glass of water. The others were too busy Just then, or cared too little, to press the point, or take the trouble to wonder Just what and what all he meant by "yesterday —ahuut sundown." Louie Solomon set his glass down with a bang. “Himmei I Dot don’dt shtruck bot tom yet It vas all soaked up In mine throat a-ready. Fill ’em up ag’in, all hands roundt Undt dis one iss on Louie. “Where iss mine friendt vot trim from me twenty-t’ree dollar?” Louie asked, feeling his vest pocket, as he had done probably a score of times since crossing the street. “Oh. he went up the Yellow branch this afternoop. io look ut some fiinbeF options,” the hnrtender answered. “Tell ’lm mebbe he come by d’e camp t’night undt glff me chance to git It hack my twenty-t’ree dollar.” “I'll tell him when he in.” The bartender wiped off the bar. The Pearlhunter was already out on the sidewalk, where the Jew soon Joined him, and they walked together down to the white skiff. The three rowers were still in their places, glum as their em ployer was voluble. t It was well toward evening when they pulled up to the landing at which the houseboat lay. Louie gave careful directions where to build the fire, and followed the Pearlhunter up through the underbrush beyond the strip of open shore, and to the cabin, tapping, every few steps, the pocket where the pearl lay. He went straight to the spring. “You should eat supper mlt me, hain'dt it?” he said, the dripping gourd poised in his hand. “Sure. But I'm not much on that — friend —of yours. I think I'll leave be fore he comes." The Pearlhunter had for some time been debating with himself whether or not to wurn Solomon of the danger ous character of the man that was com ing. The one consideration that kept him from speaking was the fact that he had no proof —certain knowledge, but no proof. He decided not to speak —yet. “You no like him?” The Jew laughed easily, hung the gourd back on the stick and stood looking out over the landscape spreading away under the genial sunshine. **Yot you do now?” The question caught the Pearlhunter unawares. He, too, was gazing out over the landscape, but absorbed in things of which the placid little Jew had not the remotest Inkling. “I hardly know,” he answered slow ly, as If feeling for each word. “Thought maybe Pd go to school.” “School 1” The Jew ridiculed the word with his hands. “I know a-ready men could be professors, undt dey got not’lng. I go by school not more as two weeks for mine life, undt look at me.” The Pearlhunter did look at him — hard-faced, red-nosed, yellowish teeth, a potty protuberance swung to the front of his waistline. It looked like two weeks wasted. “Why you don’t buy timber? You can shoot It dis waterfall into a flume undt run a mill yet.” The Pearlhunter made no answer. The little Jew talked on. "You can buy It d'e Flatwoods a ready yet, if you handle right your money." He walked back around the end of the cabin. The Pearlhunter followed. "Veil, you come Tong ven you get ready, haln’dt It?” He went on down the slope, through the bushes toward his skiff; the Pearl hunter turned in at the eabim door. Alone at last, he did the very thing that nine men out of ten would have done; took the draft out of his pocket and fingered it over —the concrete and tangible evidence of a great day won. He had seen it born at midnight; had seen It drive in through the gates of dawn —and now it was forever his. He spelled out the magic words; Five thousand, a wavy line, no hundredths, dollars. He said each bold figure over to himself. Slowly a face grew alive among the words and figures; a face framed in yellow hair; eyes that laughed. They had laughed for him. he had made them laugh. The draft would make them laugh again. And tomorrow site should send for that sur geon. The sound of groaning came to at the cabin door from the bushes down the hill. The face was gone from the draft. He thrust it back in his pocket and stepped out into the yard. His first thought was that the little Jew, none too sure-footed among the rocks, had stumbled and hurt himself. The groan came again. He sprang into the bushes. The Jew had hurt himself. A look so wild and terrible the Pearlhunter had never seen upon the face of a man. He had fallen upon his back, with one arm cramped under him. The other arm was free, but he seemed unable to rise. With his free hand he was clawing desperately at his bosom, and the fingers of the hand were mussed with blood. The Pearlhunter leaped down the hill and bent over him. It was then he saw what the bloody hand was clawing at —the handle of a knife, hilt deep in his breast. The Pearlhunter raised him, and the other hand came free. It clutched a hit of cloth of nam ing red —a red mask. The Jew opened his eyes, recognized the man bearing him up. “Dot tindier buyer," he gasped out of his flooded chest. ‘He choke me —I “He Choke Me—l Tear Off de Maak^-“ tear off d’e mnsk —he shtlck me.” The stricken Jew dropped the mask and heat the pocket of his vest. “Himmel I D’e pearl! D’e Blue Moon 1” His eyes grew vacant; flared up again. “Mine Gott! Rachel! Rachel!” llis mouth quivered open so wide that his beard rumpled upon his breast, and the blood welled out over his chin. Ills eyes bulged; the smeared lingers censed clawing at the knife; he gasped twice; and dropped hack —dead. The Pearlhunter picked up the bit of scarleb cloth that had fallen from the dead man’s hand. It Is surprising how fast a man can think when he has to. The mystery of the arm thrust In at the cabin door across the moonlight cleared. The finding of a red mask be side the body would Identify the mur derer to any man ii) the Wabash coun try; the finding of another, upon a search of the cabin, would be deemed sufficient proof that the tenant of the cabin wns the murderer. But why had the bandit planned to lay the theft of the Jewel on-him? It was not his way. He took his toll at the pistol’s point and galloped away. Why had he changed his methods now? He had laid his plans well, though they hadn’t worked out quite as he ex pected. The killing of Louie Solomon had been an accident, forced on him by the fact that the little Jew, In his struggles, had chanced to claw the mask off and had recognized' him. Oth erwise he would have merely choked him Into unconsciousness, taken the pearl and left the mask behind to com plete the tangle he was weaving around another man. He had probably Intended taking the pearl some time that night, leaving his mask behind, and afterward, when the hue and cry was raised, suggest a search of the cabin. His chance had come sooner than he had expected. Of course, he could not have foreseen that the man he wished to fix the crime upon would be the first to find the body. It was not lost on the Pearlhunter that he had undoubtedly crowded the murderer dose, else why had he left the knife? But why all these elaborate plans against him? Was it some an cient grudge he bore his blood? Did he wish somebody to die in his place to deceive an outraged world into thinking the Red Mask was settled for good and all, and so give him a chance to start over again? Was it because he was not yet ready to leave the Flat woods? It was probably for all these reasons. But with the last, there flashed across the young man’s mind that scene at the fence. It stung him like a lash. t Even though the evidence secreted In the cabin was now In ashes, by that dead body was the most dangerous place in the world for him J®st then. Hardly five seconds had passed since the last gasp of Louie Solomon, so fast does a man think under such a stress, when the Pearlhunter threw- the mask' down by the body and turned to steal back up the hill. “Up with ’em!” He whirled; stared; slowly raised his hands. It’s one thing to face odds; quite another to face certain death. Behind the three black muzzles poking out through the bushes glowered the truculent, bearded faces of Louie Solo mon's three rowers. Grim as the three Fates, they stalked toward him. Two of them kept him covered, while the third plucked the revolver from his pocket and dropped it into his own. After that he bent over the body of his master; touched his face; lifted a hand; laid It across his breast. He picked up the red mask and snarled around at the others. The others growled; swore; and the Pearl hunter fancied the revolvers pointed at him a little straighter, a little more vindictively. It was not the first time these three had faced the Ired Mask. He had long been their particular nightmare. It was the first time they hnd seen him with his mask off, and with empty hands. The one kneeling by the body seemed to be the leader. He felt care fully inside the pocket where the pearl had been pinned; searched the other pockets; felt carefully over the cloth ing. He rose after the fruitless search and faced the Pearlhunter. “Where iss it?" The Pearlhunter shook his head. With a snarled word of Yiddish, doubtless a curse, and a flourish of his clenched hand that came uncom fortably close to the young man’s face, the Jew began to search him: pockets; hems; waist-band; socks; even Ills hatband, ears and hair. Of course the search again proved fruit less. The Jew drew his revolvef, cocked it, and thrust it into the Peurl hunter’3 face. “Where iss It?" The bearded lips were drawn so tense that the yellow teeth w r ere bare. The Pearlhunter knew the yellow teeth meant exactly what they seemed to mean. Louie Solomon's three guardsmen had a reputation along the Wabash. The reward for the Red Mask was the same whether dead or alive. Still, his death would not bring them any nearer finding the pearl. He pinned his hope there, and shook his head. “I'm not the Red Mask. I didn’t kill Louie Solomon. And I don’t know where the Blue Moon Is.” The answer was not convincing. Nothing he could have said Just then would have been. Whether the Jew believed it, or any part of it his face gnre no sign. He backed away two step® and leveled his revolver full at the Penrihunter’s breast, like a man about to pistol another and deliberate ly planning to make a clean Job of it The Instant came when the Pearl hunter believed the grimy finger was about to press the trigger and he was almost in the act of diving beneath the muzzle when the Jew motioned to THE WINDER NEWS MRS. ALICE GRESHAM DODD, mother of first American sol dier killed in France, who gives en tire credit for recovery of her health to tiio well-known medicine, Tanlae. ~ . , . - • The following remarkable statement was made recently by Mrs. Alice Gres ham Dodd, the mother of Corporal Jus. B. Gresham, who was the first American soldier killed in France. The statement was made at the Gres ham Memorial Home, which was pre sented to her by the patriotic people of Indiana as an evidence of their, ap preciation of the services rendered to his country by her son. The shock of her son's death resulted in a serious breakdown in Mrs. Dodd's health, but every one will learn with interest and pleasure that she Is now in splendid health again. Mrs. Dodd gives the entire credit for her recovery to the celebrated medicine, Tanlac. She said. “After my dear boy’s death I had a general breakdown in health. At first it was just indiges tion. M.v food would upset me and I had to diet myself very carefully. 1 also had rheumatism with sefere pains in my shoulders, back and arms and at times I would suffer greatly, and m.v joints would become swollen and stiff. I was hardly able to do but very little about the house and at times could not even cook a meal. I became very nervous and restless and at night would lie awake for hours. “A friend of mine advised me to try Tanlac. 1 am glad 1 did, for it proved to be the best nusliciue I have ever taken. It soon gave me a splendid appetite and relieved me entirely of indigestion. My rheumatism also dis appeared and 1 am now able to do my house-work with the greatest ease. My nerves are steady and strong. 1 sleep well at night and my health is better than in years. I shall always be grate ful for what Tanlac has (lone for me." Tanlac is sold in every town by one good druggist. Mansions tor the Soul. Make yonr-telves nests of pleasant houghts. bright fancies. satisfied nemorles. noble histories, faithful say tigs. treasure houses of c rec,o,, s an d •estful thoughts which care cannot dls rurb. nor pain make gloomy, oar pov trtv fake away from us —houses built without hands, for our souls to live n.—John Ruskln. one of the others and said something In Yiddish. The man spoken to darted away through the bushes toward the boat landing. The Pearlhunter breathed again. The man soon reappeared, carrying a piece of rope. One at a time, he took the Penrihunter’s hnnds, drew them behind his hack, and bound them securely together. Even then, so great was their dread of the man he was supposed to he, that one of them constantly held a gtm on him. With the knife still sticking In the dead man’s bnPast, they carried him down to the boat, driving the Pearl hunter before them. There they load ed them in, the dead and the living, and rowed back up the river to the village—the second time that dny; the same trip; the same boat; the same five men. Then, a great day opening; the greatest trade ever made among pearl fishers along the Wabash In prospect; now, the day nearly done; the pearl lost; one of tlie men dead; another likely soon to be! What a difference In the crowd that met them at the wharf! Aguln driv ing their prisoner before them, the three grim henchmen carried the dead man up the hill to a small plot of open ground west of the Mud Hen and laid hhn down upon the grass.. For the second time that day the village emptied Its houses to meet them. Women came this time —old women with wared fnces; girls with blooming cheeks; and chfld£en. Hard men that had drunk To the Pearlhunt er barely two hours ago came out of the Mud Hen utfff’ stood staring at him in sullen silence. Men from the stores and shops came running. Men that had neither stores nor shops strag gled In from every quarter of the vil lage and Jostled about In the ever growing, ominously muttering circle. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, two of the henchmen caught the Pearlhunter and held h’m while the third tied the red mask over Ids eyes. Bound as he was, he had flung them loose In an in stant and raked the mask off against his shoulder. But that one brief rno (Continued next week.) Important Meeting at The Baptist Church Thursday afternoon, March 31st at three o'clock, the representatives of the churches nn tlihe Mulberry and Appa laehcc associations will gather at the First Baptist church here for a con ference. Lunch will be served at l o’clock and at 8 o’cock. Revs. E. 11. Jennings, pas tor of Prince Avenue church, Ath ens, and Rev. J. -I*. (’ampin'll, of the First Baptist church, of Gainesville, will speak on imjiortant phases of the work. A large crowd is expected and all the church workers of this section are cordially invited to be present. Tallassee Dots Mr. and Mrs. Walter Haynie were tlie guests of Mr. and Mrs. Burt Ideas Sun day. Misses Mellie and Bell Haynie spent Saturday night with Mrs. Sallic Pot ter. Miss Mazelle Hartley spent Saturday night with Miss Idzzie Wallace. Misses Bird and Prudie Bell Sikes were guests of Misses Minnie and Mae bell Draper Saturday afternoon. Miss Bird Sikes was the guest of Miss Thelma Daniel Thursday night. Mrs. Annie Wallace and and Mrs. H. G. Hartley and children were the guests of Mr. ami Mrs. Jim Sikes Sunday. The party that was given by Misses Essie and Lillian Slmford Saturday night was highly enjoyed by all present Mr. B. V. Alema and Mr. E. M Ful ler were guests of Misses Lais Nichol son and Annie Hunter Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Can Nicholson were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Burt Lieas Sunday afternoon. Mr. Judsin Caruth was the guest of Miss Pird Sikes Sunday afternoon. Mr. G.ady Smith was the guest of Miss Buruice Daniel Sunday Afternoon. Mr. .1. C. Sikes was the guest ot Mr. J. T. Danes Sunday morning. Mrs. 11. L. Sikes was the guest if Mrs. H. G. Hartley Saturday afternoon. The school at Bunker Hill lius i!9 pupils on the roll. How’s This? We offer One Hundred i")otlarx Reward for any case o. Catarrh that cannot be cured by Hall’s Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEV & CO., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable in nil business transactions and financially able to carry jut any obligations made by his firm. NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE, Toledo, O. Hall’s Oo’arrh Cure is taaen Internally, acting directly upon the blood and mu cous surfaces of tlw system. Testimonials Pent free. Price 75 cents per bottle. Sold by all Druggists. Take Hairs Farr'lv Pills for constipation. A Tonic For Women “I was hardly able to drag, I was so weakened,” writes Mrs. W. F. Ray, of Easley, S. C. ‘‘The doctortreated me for about two months, still I didn’t get any better. I had a large fam ily and felt I surely must do something to enable me to take care of my little ones. J had beard of The Woman’s Tonic “I decided to try it,” con tinues Mrs. Ray ... “I took eight bottles in all ... I re gained my strength and have had no more trouble with wo manly weakness. I have ten children and am able to do ail my housework and a lot out doors ... I can sure recom mend CarduL” Take Cardui today. It may be just what yofl need. At all druggists. Etl Capital City Dry Cleaning ■ and Dyeing ■ The Graceful is again the Fashion, and the Capital City is making new again the Wrappy Coat South’s Winter W T raps by careful Dry Cleaning and Perfect Dyeing. We dye your old wraps the new Spring '- colors; and by simply taking out the inner lining you can make the Winter model a light. Spring style. This is real economy. **Parcel Post Your Package—Look to Us for Results Capital City Dry Cleaning Dye Works . ATLANTA, GA. t SUBSCRIPTION: SI.SO A YEAR Classified Ads. sl.sr> buys ft genuine Aluminum Tea Kettle at WOODRUFFS. 0-Quart Aluminum Kettles, guaran teed, only $1.85 at Woodruffs. Come, to Woodruff Hardware Cos. for all kinds of Aluminum ware at spe cially attractive prices. Double Boilers, Preserving Kettles, Stewers in Aluminumware at rock bot tom prices. See our goods and prices before buying aluminumware. —Wood- ruff Hardware Company. Claims Adjusted Promptly ATHENS COLLECTING AGENCY Athens, Georgia 102 Shackelford Building—-Phone 121)7 Send us your claims today. Collected for reasonable commissions. We cover Northeast Georgia. For Rough or dressed oldfleld lum ber see Allen Guffin. 30-tf. WANTED —Men or women to take orders among friends and neighbors for the genuine guaranteed hosiery, full ine for men, women and children. Elim inates darning. We pay 75c an hour spare time or -$.‘15.00 a week for full time. Experience unnecessary. Write International Stocking Mills, Norris town, Pa. Plant the best seed fresh frootn the farm in bulk at Woodruffs. Choice TimoUiy Hay at $40.00 per ton. —Emory Smith at L. L. Moore s barn. Fresh garden seed in the bulk at Woodruffs. No. 13 Imitation Oliver Plow Points, 25 cents each at Woodruff Hdw. Cos. Compare our hay prices with others. Emory Smith at L. L. Moore’s Barn, tf Get an aluminum percolator ut Wood ruffs for $l.OO, Only a tew left at this price. Choice Timothy Hay, one bale o* a ton at $2.00 per hundred pounds. Emory Smith at L. L. Moore’s barn. Stable Manure for sale. "W ill de liver inside city limits. —L. L- Moore. Allen Guffin can supply you with rough or dressed lumber ut attractive prices. ' 30tf ' > 25c gets a No. I.H Imitation piivcr plow point at WOODRUFFS. COTTON SEED FOR SALE. two bushels Fuller's Improved Poullnot Cotton B*ed for sale at $l.OO per bush el.—G. W. Fuller, It. F. D., Winder, Ga. 4t There is MORE POWER in THAT GOOD GULF GASOLINE and SU PREME AUTO OIL. Genuine Syracuse and Vulcan points guaranteed to last one third longer at WOODRUFF HARDWARE CO. HAY FOR SALE. I will have in a very short time a car of choice Timothy Hay. See me before buying. Cheap for cash.—L. P. Floy, Phone 348. A New Shoe Shop. Good work at low prices. For Half Soles, 65,c 75c, SI.OO. Your patronage will be appre ciated. Shop over Hegars & Sons store. —Lowe Bullock. 2t pd. FORD PARTS—Get them direct from the Weeks-lloffman factory; guaran teed; you sure money—Woodruff Hard ware Cos. GET THE BEST Ford parts guaran teed—save money ut Woodruc Hard ware Cos., Near the Cuspldc mitory. A Kansas student wbo appears to )e related to our old friend, Mrs. Blanderby, was describing the sunken jardeo on the school campus. “In the place where they had tulips,” he said, •they’ve now got a row ot salivas with loine spltoomas In the center.”—Bos ton Transcript