CENTRE HALL, PA.
CHAPTER XIX-—Continued.
wre] Gn
Smith did his various errands quick-
ly. When he reached the fourth-floor
suite again, Jibbey was out of the
bath: was sitting on the edge of the
bed wrapped in blankets, with
steaming pot of coffee sent up
Smith's hurry order beside him on a
ray.
“It's your turn at the tub,” hq bub-
bled cheerfully. “I didn’t have any
glad rags to put on, so I swiped some
of your bedclothes,
before you catch cold.”
be up in a
to
you
“Your trunk will
minutes, and I've told them
it here,” he “When
want to quit me, you'll find your rooms
five to the right in this
corridor: suite number four-sixtee
It was al
eme »d from his bathroom once more
clothed and in his right mind. In
the interval the reclaimed trunk had
been up, and Jibbey
clothed.
pipes and
bath.
few
send
sald.
doors same
ong half-hour before Smit!
i
rge
sent was
some tobacco and was
of total abstinence
good
posed by two days
“Just hangin’ around to say
himself in the sitting room. Then
returned the borrowed pipe to its place
on the mantel and said his small say
to the definite end.
happened to us two tonight, Monty
yappings and not lose any sleep about
that Lawrenceville business, I'm
enteen different kinds of a rotten
« there's no manner of doubt
and i J
while- I've
You
been
me #0,
been muc a
in
got
once
aaved
¢
the soil or
lot guess the
have
I had gone, and you Knev t
-er—would you
Monty?”
CHAPTER XX.
The Pace-Setter.
an early breakfast
the
hopir
vino}
ade
v fo Irlvo
ng anto arive
following
1g thereby
abandoned mi
id meeting both Miss Richlander
The
empty
and took his accustome! vl ot
* he had barely
Starbuck
o
1
¢
Hophra caf
went
Was
in
one
and e
practically
Jibbey.
when he
ace
of the alcove tables,
given his order when
peared and came to join
“You're looking a
this morning, John,” sald
owner quizzically, he
for the
h?”
ith’s answering gri had some-
thing of its former good-nature in it
y. Billy,” he sald. “To-
ap
lot better
the
held
“How's
whole
as up =a
finger walter.
grouc
“Today's the da
ter running in the ditches or
franchise. It's chasing around in
the back part of my mind that Stanton
his grandstand play today.
he
wi
our
will make
I'm not harboring any grouches on t
ge of the battle. They are a handi-
, anyway, and always.”
“That's good medicine talk.” sald the
or man, eving him keenly. And
. “You had us all guessing, yester-
the John.
» was acting as |i
ed
Oar
and day before,
coed.”
“I was locoed,” was the quiet ad
mission,
“What cured you?”
“It's too long a story to tell over the
breakfa What do you hear
from Williams?”
“All quiet during the night: but the
eather reports are gearing him up
sood bit this morning.”
“Storms on the range?”
“Yes
ast night, and there is flood water and
ift coming to beat the band.
st the same, Bartley says he is
ing to make good.”
aith nodded. “Bartley is all right;
the right man in the right place. Have
1 seen the colonel since he left the
offices last evening?”
“Yes. 1 drove him and Corona out
to the ranch In my new car.
«t table.
down
Wm
Yin
FIL
aked in and borrowed it.”
“1 suppose he told you about the
Intest move——our move—in the stock-
selling game?”
“No, he didn’t; but Stillings did. You
played it pretty fine, John; only I hope
fo gracious we won't have to redeem
those options. It would bu'st our little
inside crowd wide open to have to buy
in all that stock at par.”
Last Aight, again, he stood to win
out. But a man fell Into the river, and
Stanton lost out once more,”
Starbuck glanced up soberly, “You're
talking in riddles now, John. I don't
sabe.”
“It isn't necessary for you to sabe.
Results are what counts, Barring acel-
dents, you Timanyonl High Line
me with you for the next few critical
and, I may add, you never
needed me more pointedly.”
Starbuck's smile was fuce-wide,
“I hope 1 don't feel sorry,” he re-
marked. “Some day, when you
take an hour or so off, I'm going to
get you to show me around in your
little mu-zeeum of self-concelt, John.
Maybe I can learn how to gather me
up ’
matched the mine owner's
good-natured For unex-
plainable reason the world, his particu-
to its
could of
th
W
ii
Smith
smile, some
lost
think
and
seemed have
ignance. He
without
which ha
for the past few days had
world,
even
Stanton bitterness; e
d been we 18
ng
1
“You may laugh, Billy, but you'll
have to admit that I've been outfigur-
ing
the start,’
get
'* he retorted brazenly. “But
t's down to business. This
hold
{OMOrrow
he can't get some legal
nidnight
or work some scheme to make us
upon
y
Ose
“Qhow me,” sald the mine owner suc
inctly.
water
at
runt
hecome once
assets
f
a
liabilities,
High Line
al cousequence
Ri
you something
tell anybody,
Colonel Baldwin, I've been
g the Mmny's
o keep in touch.
d 1 before
m1
spendin comj
Mone
money
he
}
water t
fail,
minute
we ana long we could
}
the
1g possession of our dam
of an enabling act of the le
slature, or by purchase from the
per railroad, will be only a step.
®
Mi
pi
And
“Good Glory!” He Sighed.
we couldn't do a thing! We'd have
no legal rights, and no money to fight
with!”
Starbuck pushed his chalr away from
the table and drew a long breath.
“Good glory!” he sighed. “I wish to
goodness it was day after tomorrow !
Can you carry it any further, John?"
“Yes: a step or two. For a week
Stanton has been busy on the paper
railroad claim, and that Is what made
me buy a few cases of good rifles
and send them out to Willlams | I was
afraid Stanton might try force. He
won't do that if he can help it; he'll
go In with some legal show, if possible,
day,’ Billy. It was the only way to
block Stanton.
numbers any gang he could hire, and
more string that he can pull”
“The railroad right-of-way deal?”
“Yes: he has been holding that in
reserve—that, and one other thing."
“What was the other thing?’ Star.
buck was absently fishing for a sec-
ond lump of sugar In the sugar bowl
“Has it got anything to do with the
bunch of news that youn won't tell
us—-about yourself, John?"
we fairly, but a friend of mine stepped
“He ean't work the legal game,” said
Starbuck definitively. “I've. known
high to a hop-toad, and a squarer nan
“That is all right, but you're forget-
ting something. The paper raliroad is
“wor Was once—an interstate corpora.
tion, and so may ask for relief from
the federal courts, thus going over
Judge Warner's head. I'm not saying
judge at Red Butte, I've met him, and
honest man. But he is well along in
years, and has an exaggerated notion
of his own importance. Stanton, or
rather his figurehead rallroad people,
have asked him to intervene, and he
has taken the case under advisement.
That is where we stand this morning.”
Starbuck was nodding slowly. “I
see what you mean, now,” he sald. “If
Lorching jumps the wrong way for us,
vou're looking to see a United States
marshal walk up to Bartley Williams
some time today and tell him to quit,
That would put the final kibosh on us,
Smith was rising
“I'm not dead yet,
joined cheerfully.
this far without hammering out a few
expedients for our side. If I can man-
age to stay in the fight today and to-
in his place.
Billy,” he re-
A little new
from the hotel
Starbuck
office and was trying to
give note in a
{
fi
| you must tell them the truth, Verda.”
| Her smile was mildly scornful,
“Is that what the plain-faced little
ranch person would do?” she asked.
“1 don't know: yes, I guess it 18.”
“Doesn't she care any more for you
than that?”
Smith did not reply. He was stand-
ing where he could watch the comings
and goings of the elevators. Time was
precious and he was chafing at the de-
lay, but Miss Richlander was not yet
ready to let him go.
“Tell me honestly, Montague,” she
said; “is it anything more than a case
of propinquity with this Baldwin girl?
—on your part, I mean.”
“It isn't anythi
berly. “Corona
¥
"
8. he
jaldwin
returned
«111
Will
Bi)
never
I
that's Mr. Smith, over there.”
mith took the note and opened it,
he scarcely heard the clerk's ex-
that it had put in
evening before, and that
clerk had been afraid he
away without finding it.
verda Richlander, and
neither superscription nor
th read:
Lil
tion been
bex the
day
It
it
foun os $YLY
signatur
was
had
@
aah
§ At
| from
{ This is what Sm
“My little ruse has falled miserably.
Mr. found
j in spite the messenger
K's. messenger
of it, and he
this evening I know, be-
| returned
cause he brou
fme, OC
ome to me tomorrow
morning
ri IE AS
you
what can be done.”
cal
Jud;
ve an appoint:
Tell him 1
that he needn't
not there
£0 to
with hi
keep It,
walt
wail
ock.
for
inute.”
the mi
on
CHAPTER XXI.
The Colonel's “Defi”
Though It eigh } ‘
Smith sent his card to Miss Richiand-
or's rooms at once and then had him-
gelf lifted to the floor
for her. She came |
was only eight o'clock
y i
mezzanine
wait
| utes, a strikingly beautiful
in the freshness of
gown, red-lipped
conscious her re
splendent gifts of and figure.
Smith went quickly to meet her and
woman
ia
bright
right-eyed, and
»
=
¢
serenely of own
face
drew her aside Into the music
| Already the need for caution was be
sing to make itself felt.
‘1 have come,” he sald
“You got my note?”
“A few minutes ago
| leaving the breakfast table.”
“You will leave Brewster at
| while the way 1s’ still open?”
! He head, “I
that :
justice to
{ who
now
int
i Bint
briefly.
she asked.
Ww just as I was
ON CP
-
can't
shook his
th
Lae
in
have
common
trusted
needing me
must stay through
| possibly another.”
“Mr. Kinzie will not be likely to lo
| any time” she prefigured thoughtfully
and who
than
this one day, and
me,
more eve
renceville before this” with
| glance over her shoulder to make sure
| that there were
Then,
no eav esdroppers ‘
identify you as John Montague Smith
of Lawrenceville—the man who
wanted by Sheriff Macauley. My fa-
{ ther. in his letter, after telling me
that he will be detained in the moun-
tains several days longer, refers to Mr,
Kinzie's request and suggests—"
The fugitive was smiling grimly. “He
suggests that you might help Mr, Kin
zie out.”
“Not quite that,” she rejoined, “He
merely suggests that I am to be prudent,
and-to quote him exactly--‘not
ix
that it would make talk. .
“1 see,”
have a disagreeable duty ahead of you,
and I'd relieve you of the necessity
| by running away, if I could. But that
is impossible, as I have explained.”
She was silent for a moment; then
she sald: “When I told you a few
days ago that you were golng to need
my help, Montague, I didn’t foresee
anything like this. I shall breakfast
lwith the Stantons in a few minutes;
land after nine o'clock . . . If you
could contrive to keep out of the way
until 1 can get word to you; just so
they won't be able to bring us face to
face with each other"
{mith saw what she meant;
also, whereunto his wretched fate was
dragging him. it was the newest of
all the reincarnation”, the, one which
had begun with Jibbey's silent band-
clasp the night before, which prompted
him to say:
“If they should ask *° about me,
FOU Were
d go
you down’
gsed, 1
them
who coul and
was
{the lawyer was
BOON
i enough to go
»
i
reached your offices you had gone,
{the ranch girl was thers
her father.”
Was no
img for
“That
“their
onsense
gol
going after you
was
the daughter
purpose better.” she sald
'
1iee1
little
cclonel's
“There was
kKward contretemps, and
i Baldwin refused, rather rode
{ thought, to tell her fa
father
{ had gone.”
w hi re
hroke from the unwel-
“There
you ought to know,
at last”
“Does he know you are here?
“He does” ‘
“Why you tell me before?
That will « dreadfully.
Tucker will talk and tell all he knows ;
away
subject abruptly, saying:
.
didn’t
thin »
sey radi
compli £114 ning
ae gf ant héip it
“This is one time when he will not
tal Perhaps he will tell you why
when you see him."
Miss Richlander glanced at the face
of the small watch pinned her
shoulder,
on
“You must not stay here any longer,”
she protested. :
down any minute, and they
mustn't find us together. I am still
forgiving enough to want to help you,
but you must do your part and let me
know what is going on.”
William Starbuck's new car was
standing in front of Judge Warner's
{house in the southern suburb when
| Smith descended from the closed cab
he had taken at the Hophra
side entrance, The clock In
| the courthouse tower was striking the
{ quarter of nine. The elevated mesa
| upon which the suburb was built com-
| manded a broad view of the town and
| the outlying ranch lands, and in the
| distance beyond the river the Hillcrest
| cottonwoods outlined themselves
against a background
buttes,
Smith's gaze tok in the wide, sunlit
prospect,
“The Stantons may come
now,
i
| which
| House
of
him that in a few hours the wooded
buttes, the bare plains,
mountains, and the pictured city
| spreading maplike at his feet would
probably exist for him only as a mem-
ory. While he halted on the terrace,
Starbuck enme out of the house,
“The judge 1s at breakfast” the
owner announced. “You're to go In
and walt. What do you want me to
do next?’
:
{ (TO BE CONTINUED)’
Food Ad
American
sued
GOV
ninistrator H
ywople in nn len
today,
of the i
sf the nntio
tral
t oni
0 supply
power
population
The ns
sther cereals
ited King
ptimates
Un
sountries compa!
duction are
ta
drawn that in
bulated
| form
pid
for them
redud
t Bo
Ho
it ir
week per pe reon
Decrease in Food Animals.
of £
FON (KH) (Ni
We
¢
ns
with eur
Europe
must
the
which
rationing. but we voiuntar
int«
before
Higently assume
one in
direct and inescaj
responsibil
us as
has wible
We ms i ren
to the alle
0
Ee
our export of
« and in the
¥ circumstances
shipping situation these exports
of the
These are wheat, flour
pork and dairy products We have
f abundance wl
of these commodities
of our
must
foods
most concentrated
3
bhp
fi hee!
oth
er foods in great neh
can use instead
thou
the
and we can prevent Ww astes in a
and We guard
drainage of exports from the
States, that we retain a propes supply
for our own and must
adopt such measures wili amelio
rate, so far as may be, the price 1
tions of our less fortunate. Yen |
so drain the supplies from the country
to Europe as by the high prices that
would follow to force our people to
directions, must
country, we
nw
sili
ght
IIAP INININT ING. Wi NI APNTITN
CARE FOR YOUNG DUCKLINGS
Little Attention Needed Aside From
Drv Roosting Place and Right
Kind of Feed.
Young dueklings need little atten
Son If given n Ary roosting place and
the right kind of feed, according to
N. L. Harris, superintendent of the
Kansas State Agricultural college poul-
try farm.
“The less ducklings are handled the
This oper
nie forces”
of the com
most pro-
s¢ the
upon
Must Be Voluntary.
to food con
accomplish
of our
propor-
of
min-
every
the
the
wholesale and
f the country.
s in its essence the dally
royal road
matter
matter of
at
the 20,000,000 kitchens
nd substitution
on
DO ANM (KN)
inner tables
2.000 006 ifacturing
GO
ishments
of
Better Distribution.
ron time
which If honestly carried out by
such Individuals in the country, we be
effect the result which we
We are ashi
public eating piace and
sign a pledge card
directions, so far as
ances permit, and we are
various Instrumentalities to
We
leve will
must atiain ng every
home, evers
trades, to
many
to accept these
reumst
nizing
eculation
of the
engaged
are ask.
ing country are
not in the handling
of food to sign similar pledges that
they shall see to it, so far as they are
able, that these directions are followed
the men
actually
who
SNIPS NI NA SSNPS NANNY
! are plenty of green grass,
ine] freah water,
“Ax rile it not advisable to
| sot duck eggs in an incubator, They
| require more moisture and ventilation
| than hen eggs, The recent rage over
Indian Runner ducks has caused the
neglect of the meat-producing type.”
requirements
sand
a
is
ws ASAI,
Sunlight Kills Germs,
| No openings in your cow stables to
adit suclight? This is a great mis
| tke. Sunlight is death to many forms
0 a, RN