(Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sous) Synopsis.—J. Montague Smith, and Trust company, Verda Richlander, heiress, is disappear. ditch company, which is in leader engaged to accused of dishonesty marry by straits. Smith demurs because Smith Miss impers off company’s land. aid. saves CHAPTER VIiI.—Continued. _— He was thinking woman with on his own account. again of the young know why I turned Williams down when he spoke to me the other day?” Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his faults, like other men, but they were not those of indirection. “I reckon I do know, son,” with large tolerance. “You're a ‘lame duck’ of some sort. But that's our lookout. Bartley is ready to that you are not a crooked crook, what- Besides, there's yesterday—" incidents,” the lame duck reminded him quickly. And then: say ‘No, Colonel Baldwin; straight out, and stick to it. say It because I want to weigh up a things—the things I can’t talk about to you or to Williams. If, in the end, I is only fair to you to say that, right in the middle of the scrap, I may fall to pieces on you." Baldwin push his ad or seemed to desired tained. was too shrewd to try to when there was, that the vantage be, a chance was as good it was a end And purely thrust out his hand to the young fel dow who was trying to be as as he dared to be, “Nobody in the Timanyonl is going to pry into you an inch farther than you care to let 'e and if you get into trouble by helping us, you can on at least one backer who will stand by you until the cows come Now, then, hunt up your we'll drive over to Hillcrest to eat. I had my coun home. coat, orders from better than to go home without the the won't be the first time that ing clothes have figured at crest table—not by a long shot” And because he did not know how to frame a refusal that would refuse, Smith got his coat and went. Given his choice the two, Smith would cheerfully have faced another hand-to-hand battle with the claim jumpers in preference to even so mild #8 the dinner at owed. it was real. «did not Hill between Hillcrest wish to be entertained. On sardonic. He cherished a small hope that at the soft from his job. out to open the gates. Down gallop, the rider, Corona Hooted and spurred and riding a man's saddle, Smith let the gray car go on Its way up the drive without him, “So you weakened, did you? I'm disappointed In you,” was Miss Bald- win's greeting. “You've made me lose my bet with colonel-daddy. I sald you wouldn't come.” “I had no business to come,” he an- swered morosely, “But your father wouldn't let me off.” “Of course he wouldn't ; daddy never fets anybody off, unless they owe him money. Where are your evening clothes?” Smith let the lever of moroseness slip back to the grinning notch. “They are about two thousand miles away, and probably in some second-hand shop by this time. What makes you think I ever wore a dress suit?” He had closed the gates and was walking begide her horse up the driveway. “Oh, I just guessed it,” she returned lightly, “and If you'll hold your breath, Tl guess again.” “Don't,” he laughed. At the steps a negro stableboy was waiting to take Miss Baldwin's horse, Smith knew how to help a woman down from a side-saddle; but the two- gtirruped rig stomped him, The young laughed as she of saddle to stand “The women don't ride your part of the country? “Not yet.” “I'm sorry for scoffed And then: “Come on in and meet swung out beside him. that way in ' she queried. them,” she nam- always nor disposed to be hysterically grate- A large, ten calm-eyed, sensible or a dozen years matron, younger alr of refinement which every interior detall with an reflected in her house. The dinner with was of family the great mahogany table shortened to make it convenient for four. There were cut glass and silver and snowy napery. Out of the past a thousand reaching up to drag Smith back into the net of the When the table-talk be- general, he found himself joining and always upon the lighter side found himself drawn more and more to the calm-eyed, well-bred ma- tron who had given a piquant Corona otherwise commonplace world nothing of the was strictly a tentacles were came Jaldwin fighter drawn She saw of battles her for her, and xnew Corona's without daughter was not im that amused an 2ssion Corona would not Smith got what he had earned, good pressed down, shaken to- sther and running over, a few min utes after Mrs, measure, Baldwin AB wren? able Sin" pany. He never knew just what start- ed it, unless it was his careful plac ing of a chair for the young woman and his deferential--and perfectly natural—pause, standing, until she was seated. “Do, for pity's sake, sit down!” she broke out, half petulantly. And when he had obeyed: “Well, you've spoiled it all, good and hard.” Smith was unable to Imagine where in he had offended. “Really?” be sald. done?” “It Isn't what you've done; it's what you are,” she retobted. “You have committed the unpardonable sin by turning ont to be just one of the ninety-nine, after all. If you knew women the least little bit in the world, you would know that we are always looking for the hundredth man.” Under his smile, Smith was begin- ning to understand what this aston- ishingly frank young woman meant. She had seen his relapse, and was calmly deriding him for it, “You may pile It on as thickly as you please,” he sald, the good-natured smile twisting itself into the construc. tion-camp grin. Then, with malice aforethought : “Is it one of the require. ments that your centennial man should behave himself like a boor at a din. ner table, and talk shop and eat with his knife?" “What have I “You know that isn’t what I meant. Manners don't make the man. It's keenest pleasure in talking about. 1 out to a construction camp. you ever did a day's hard work in your life before you came to It was growing dark by this time, had turned the lights on in the the windows of which opened one room an's chair was so placed that he could still her face. She smiling rather more amicably when she sald: “You mustn't take it hard, It isn't you, personally, you know; I've met it before, RPO was too t's the boarding nice pleasant young gentlemen, as immacu lately as thelr pocketbooks would allow, up in all the latest little and tea-table shop They were all men, I suppose, but I'm afraid a good many of them had never found it out—will find it I'ver environment ; don't that the going downhill.” school ; dressed courtesies talk never out been calling it I like to admit }yv this time the sardonic humor was “Go on,” he sald. “This Is my night “I've aps, too much were inde sald enough; But when youn mamma, you ret per wa about in the 1 them. neighboring little automo! a part of ago in a small He Over town in his and gave me fully an hour of his v able time. He made me one evening town was one of from natty BOome perfectly rious!” “Poor you!" was thankful that and his four weeky' laughed Smith; the heard “But why fury in his case in particular?” camp st were guarding his identity “Just because, I suppose, ber he told me he was a bank cashier and that he He quite hopeless, of Without being concelted, you thick I remem- danced, was Course, call what would that crust nothing short of an earthquake K break you ould see the was so would ever Ag “But the earthquakes do come, once he said, “Let's get (it not trying to tell ! object to decent clothes and good man- per se, are you?” nt her, are ners The colonel was coming out, and he had stopped in the doorway to light wom an got up and fluffed her hair with the her fingers—a little Smith remembered, night of the far-away nds of gesture which recalling it the lawn “Daddy wants you, and I'll have to said; “but I'll answer your question before I go. Types are it's only the hun she always hopeless; you couldn't go on whipping claim Smith. Don't think so? Good night. Daddy isn't going to let you get away short of a night's lodging, I know.” Two cigars for Smith and four pipes for the colonel further along, the tall Missourian rose out of the tomed chair which he had drawn up to face the guest's and rapped the ashes from the bowl of the corncob into the palm of his hand. “lI think you've got it all now, Smith, every last crook and turn of it, and I reckon you're tired enough to run away to bed” Smith took a turn up and down the you his hands behind him. Truly, the case of Timanyoni ditch was desperate; even more desperate than he had sup- posed. Figuring as the level-headed foot pole. the Then the laughing gibes of surging through his veins. It would be worth something to be able to work the miracle the colonel had spoken of ; and afterward . . . Colonel Dexter Baldwin was still tapping his palm absently with the pipe when Smith came back and said abruptly : “I have decided, colonel, I'll start in with you tomorrow morning, and we'll pull this mired scheme of yours out of the mud, or I'll break a leg trying to. But you mustn't forget what I told you out at the camp. Right in the middle of things I may go rotten on you and drop out.” CHAPTER VIII The Sick Project. Brewster had grown into clty-charter of the gold mines in the Gloria district, and the transformation of the sur rounding park grasslands Into cult vated ranches. A summer hotel on the shore of Lake Topaz-—reached only by from Brewster--had added people with well-lined real-estate filled whose corners in promoters all the odd House block, the Ho- following Smith's first Hillcrest, a rather caustic wus in progress between dinner at the man on the front windows unofficial assistants. Crawford Stan- ton, he of the window name, was a man of many personalities, To of and in were the sharp jaw iron hardness in the smoothly suggestions pleasant reminder of Eastern business methods and alertness in the promoter's jut Lanterby, tilting the “confidential” chalr at desk-end, knew another of Mr. Stanton manner, uneasily in the side will. do you sit there and as a hired “Good heaven! man of Williams’ them And do you all t pened the day before yesterday: hobo off the ap how push this say porting it?" The tilting henchman in the such explanations hard-faced chair made a8 he could. “Boogerfield and his two partners ‘ve hidin’ they was and tell off.” “What you know low Smith? Who is he did he 1 somewhere; I allow been out plumb ashamed to come in how they'd let one man run ‘em do about this fel and where come from? Lanterhy told all and had known in com- two of st 1 the dav and one eed vesterday three hours after » in from the Eas Again “Dougherty, the bank roll 1 Lanterby tried the enough, and pro: ared of Maxwell “Maxwell is an thick-hea exploded the faultfinder railroad outfit, he's se from ster down, is lined up on the other But go Jerk Dougherty and find of the fight on Shaw right now.” want him d-faced man who looked as down ga the 1 hroken mhbler g-hold tilted upon rand a few minutes on his passed for which was Well 7 incomer had ited by Ls “1 shadowed the colonel, as you told said the young man. “He up to Red Butte to see if he couldn't the old-timers on his He was trying to sell stock. His about out of Kinzie's me to." went rope in some of ditch project. treasury company is clerk in some one-horse money tells bank, “Did the colonel a raise in Red Butte?” “Nary,” sald the spy nonchalantly. one best bet: but I got a man I know " with a sharp stick The “That's better. colonel came “Yesterday afternoon. His wife and to the dam.” The plot which Eastern capi. talists have made to steal the ir rigation ditch from the original owners is unfolded in the next installment. John Smith acts with decision. . (TO BE CONTINUED.) Beginning Early. “Father, aren't little girls silly?” “Do you think so, son? Mother and I were thinking you might like to have a little sister.” “Thanks, father; but don't trouble can do to keep away from those girls at school. I don’t mind their giving me presents, but I do hate to have them tag after me going home from school.” An Explanation. Charlotte had been taught to say the grace before each meal. One day she was invited to a little friend's for din per. When the father and mother of Charlotte were sented for dinner, Brad- dock, a three-year-old brother, bowed big head and said: “Amen, God, Char lotte's gone” SALARY INCREASE BILL VETOED Gov. Brumbaugh Kills Measure to Raise Legislators $270,000 a Year. HITS QUALITY OF SERVICE Says Members Should Be Willing to Perform Legislative Service at a Sacrifice to Themselves— some Other Vetoes. Harrisburg tire in Governor Brum- the bill to increase the from $1 500 to r the Gov ding emplovea of its ounty pros i that or any of any « school plovees by wnship or enlis who i deemed to not be »d from the Tw or be draft have left and may mn om during his war ehall be done by a Half of the salary, not ex- ceeding $2,000, shall be paid to depend. place emoved therely eo The work titute sub fie Governor also announced ap proval of the bill reapprobriating $165,000 of unexpended National Guard appropriations to the improvement of Fe permanent camp ground at Mount Gretna Favors Fine Salary Boost. House bill to fix the salaries of Com: mon Pleas Court phia at $4,000 says: a year, the Governor Announces Approval of Bills. Governor Brumbaugh announced ap proval of the following bills panies to accept drafts and issue let. ters of credit be defined in State pharmaceutical ard publication of the profession Authorizing boroughs, with assent of electors duly obtained at an elec ton pi of pel purposes, POTEET OER PENNSYLVANIA BRIEFS — PORERE ERRRRERERE TRE Rife Bethlehem Steal ribed $4,456,000 five days in Emplo yes of the Corporation subs to Aberty loan in tingtown's new knitting ill has he tingtown’'e new knitting mill has b gun operations with Mark ap of were Thomas Ford and son before the officer peared LINE Company M, at sthiie} and ted into the sem ng dem ng a gefect steps are under way ounty Cou rt ie of the $60,000 hwine, Mech hanicsl Railway Mail C qhtown a Tasoit one quarter immeq: offered gection elphia should be ighway Department for mpany, of Wayne, balance of $400 in the Trus nd, has voted to invest it in the 1 through Scouts who are cultivating w on Anthwyn Farms, t ms of the bushel of seed potatoes, and William D. Smeilley, chairman of the borough Public Safety has appealed to residents or assistance in discovering the thieves Miss Margaret Garnett colored, taken Hollidaysburg High School honors Berks county farmers have davoted A great acreage to beans Hereford township, Berks, has pur chased a $1,400 stone crusher Friends, closing their meeting at Miliville, Columbia county, condemned war, but voted to aid in the present as farmers and urged the sus pension of liguor raising and tobacco growing County Agriculturist Charles 8 Adams was unable to secure tenants for 30 vacant farms in Berks county, L.oan, the Wayne Troop of Boy Scouts $34 - ISON ¥ a gardens are th vict theft of a Committee ¢ has firat CTiRis vated Berks County Red Cross Chapte: sented 300 Bibles to the members of Companies A and I, National Guards, of Reading After being refused a drink of coffee at the home of Daniel Wonsitler, near from a burning chicken stable, the fire showing evidence of incendarism Under the name of the Blue Moun. tain Electric Company, a merger of the Blue Mountain Electric, Mt. Aetna and Marion, of Berks county: Union Elec. trie, of Lebanon county, was effected,
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