-, “AFRAID OF ME? SYNOPSIS —On the isolated Meager ranch, on the southern border, Deborah Meredith, trained nurse, is in attendance on Mrs Menger, whore husband has re- cently been killed. Immediately after the death, Boh Meager, Mrs Meager's stepson, arrives and takes possession, He insults Deborah and she resolves to leave, but there seems no possi- bility of her getting away. Mea- ger gloats over Deborah's plight, He tells her he has sent for a Justice the peace, who will marry them tomorrow, Horrl- fled, the girl secures a revolver. The justice, Cornelius Garrity, scoundrel and bosom friend of Meager., arrives with a party, among them the “Frisco Kid" notorious desperado. Despite Deborah's protests, the justice performs the marriage caremony She escapes and reaches her room There she stuns Meager with the revolver and rushes to the stables, hoping to secure a horse and escape There she meets the "Frisco Kid.” Some- how he inspires her with confi- dence and she explains the situa- tion. The “Kid” tells her his el Kel . that he f Meager. They ride ther into the desert Pres. realizes that Kelleen is “Frisco Kid." of ig no {1 off togs ently she the CHAPTER Vi—Continued. soe fe d you know?" viciously, “How « tioned, she 11 Ad SUS] | the country I'm working In." “Your trade?" “Sure: you never here for my health, did you? supposed you about it some time, now for me to say that It has taught much about this desert ever I've rode 1, and south me as Indian knew, nort i i of the strange places I stumbled Into it it east, west, ago—was this Devil's gulch I'm head ing for now light we'll “yo place?” have this game blocked.” m1 believe no one else “Sure, someone outfit. knew of it. but I have some reason to believe Bob may. It has been in Known thi ai does, but not this den was “A eves’ den?” “Likely You country it has been the headquarters for cattle ~yes, do not know this rustlers and smugglers for years, cen- turies, for I know In some is as bad today it Mexico Is Just over yonder” 1 Les IA Ge all re- spects it as ever and with was, he one an expressive gesture nid ing a ha nd ¢ bo g t this desert stretches on try. the only oasis alon sides the line; every 3 side moun ns and wild cour is I don't how Know the eagerly He came and ne the story young man, ered I ' tnt ini Pprospe ng. these hundreds of Water, Eruss, everything, bunch of Was no one in even a consid®rable “There and stealing. He years, found go enough to Indians never troubled him much, but rustlers did, both Yank and Mexican They had a regular trail through hills to the It is sionally; I rode out Meager once, and it is like & road “Yes, I've seen it.” Kelleen rupted, “running through There's another * trail wild cattle, the country ti even alone for en, +1 the cattle were not lived here 1d somewhere, and r IO flaveolo } y . ageveiop this 1 perty. i i those east, used vet occa there with Tom inter. Glorietta canyon, down Box creek.” “Thousands upon thousands of stolen cattle were driven along there and south, and oftentimes they tried to pick up some of the Meager stock in passing. For years they were fight- ing alinost all the time. Then soldiers came patroled the border, and broke the trade up very largely.” “You have a pretty clear idéa of the situation, young lady!” the man sald, quietly. Tom Meager ran this ranch straight and fought for his rights like a man. Everybody along the border knew that, and respected the old man. But this cub of his 1s another proposi- tion. The whole border brood contains nothing worse than Bob Meager. He is low-down menn, and has been a thief, and an associate of thieves, all his life. It doesn't make any differ. ence how 1 know all this——I do know it. There was a bitterness to Kel- leen’s voice which startled the girl. “You hate him?” He laughed lightly. “Oh, no; I cannot afford to do that, but you have got me started, and 1 mish as well finish up. I reckon you know the fellow fairly well yourself, I get him from another angle, It is not clear in my mind yet exactly how he got possession of this property, Of course, I know he is old Tom's son, and the natural heir, but I met the father once or twice, and cannot be lHeve he ever put the ranch unresery- a edly into Bob's hands, giving bis " widow nothing. I'd like to wee that will, for I'll bet all I'm worth it's phony. Garrity drew It, as I under- stand, and still holds it. The Instru- ment Is duly recorded, but the orig- inal remains safely in possession of the judge” “Is that regular?” “Perhaps so; not being a lawyer, I can only guess at the regularity, Of course it will have to be produced in court for final settlement of the estate ; but I don't think they anticipate any also and ¢ Coovright by A.C. McClurg & Co. serious questioning as to the validity of the document.” “Could It be contested?” “The widow could claim her dower rights.” “But Mrs. Meager would not dare. She Is an invalid, and in deadly fear of her stepson.” “And you will?” “Not a word, Mr. Meager's death was very sudden, an accldent.” have heard of no other e) “Yes, his horse came home without him. There was an inquest, the evi dence going to show that his stumbled and threw was crushed in, a Jagged wound which night have been made by a sharp rock. I suspected nothing else at the time.” since then?" In " “Naturally not, and I can put “Nothing 1 word confessed hesitatingly, "without “You testif “No: I was brought out from Nogales." “Then 1 not called prob abhiy you man nese My n fixed this pose, Mayhe along, ar whole mi circumstan a] mayhe they di n't I ain't so sure m) i Tom M: Anvhow, iy known will Ole 1rer died death everything f : “0 and Boh ol to take no i yi f » $2, at hand session his father's body was cold. By he had the WHR over harged half the old men on Since then what places, have all the old gone does “I am sure I do not know." “Well, 1 can from quaintance their These ime ported are no Mexican cowboys, That Juan Sanchez has a price on his head: the Indian, Pedro, Is known as a cattle thief, and I doubt If there Is a greaser in the bunch who hasn't a record some. where below the line, guess, my ac associates, fellows reckon, Now we've got to throw them off the trail” He grasped her bridle rein, the two horses moving forward at a walk, cire- ling to the left of the stone marker, A hundred feet beyond, the faint sound of horses’ hoofs gave evidence that they passed along a narrow ridge of rock, to see more clearly. “You have memory things are here?’ he asked, “No; only that the springs are over the left yonder,” . “Then listen; there is an outer opening of rock which swerves here to the right, and runs almost directly for two hundred yards. Follow that carefully; go just as far as pos gible, and then walt there for me There Is no danger, to rocks. Keep to the center so the horse will leave no Imprint.” “And what are you going to do? “Ride straight ahead down the trail; they circle back through a gully, and meet you out yonder, Den't afrald ; Just I'il come, although It require half an or more to make the trip safely; I've cover every trace after | once strike into the desert.” She no of how to the . be walt, may hour out watched him ride away vanish- his horse's the ing quickly Into the gloom, hoofs making no sound in soft own mount along the narrow ridge, watchful that he did not from the narrow path of rock this very plainly rocy stray the ended she drew silent desolation. Her mind tray 1 I, het e had forced onward by night, rh She no time ah ought; sl been continu- clreumstances driven But had occurred so fow nory like a flood control, blindly ch thie we past Hrs er her In mer the now all seemed more a than ar reall of Hie before horrible It dre wis +» even possible rensor ry would not It was true—all of it wa id Tom Meager; enegade sog ontrol at their the fig iar thor happening And ) Now of se face she never | for the return man, whe The whole situath ¥ Keer sie. vet she could realits She wi le awake friend He betray her, that about er faith te trae iy Ehew, was In won b nor est conception tually was, I Meager and Garrity meant nothing cept perhaps as thus explaining befriend her as willingness to She had li-defined agninst only the night them dark, soon him in 4 shape but she liked his volce, been, she felt confidence In him, lieved firmly that he deavoring honestly to serve her in this besides cattle-raising; that's only a hinff. It is either gun-running, or whis- ky, or both, [I heard whispers in No- gales" “That here?” “Well, no; only Incidentally good Lord, I never talked so much In my life before. What is that ahead? A pile of stones? Then we are at Silver springs, and business is about to be gin" was what brought you up CHAPTER VII Covering the Trail Deborah could perceive nothing, ex. cept the dimly visible heap of stones which Kelleen pointed-out. All around stretched the black vold of the desert, silent and full of mystery. The girl had remamed almost unconscious of this intense barrenness as they had talked together, but now suddenly awakened to a sense of the desolate surroundings. She was alone with this man, fleeing for her life into unknown danger. However this realization shocked her, their arrival at the spot sought for only served to arouse her male companion to more energetic ac- thon. As the horses came to a stop, he turned In the saddle, peering back through the veil of darkness toward the Meager ranch. “Everything seems all right so far” he commented quietly. “They are still drunk and asleep back there, I It seemed a long while, so long as to almost frighten her, before she be- came aware of his approach. Indeed, he was actually beside her on foot before she recopmized his presence, approaching silently from the oppo- site direction from that anticipated, Her startled gaze had scarcely distin. guished his dim outline, when he horse's rein, . “There, that Is over with,” he sald genlally. “Now I'll lead you for the next five hundred yards. After that we'll do some real riding” Where their course led she could fot clearly determine from the saddle, but they moved forward slowly. After some hundred yards had been trav. ersed, the path led upward once again, the horse's hoofs now sinking into deep sand, Then a horse whinnied just in front of them, and the next in- stant she could make out the danker shadow, Kelleen released his grip, with a Jittle laugh of relief, “Lonely, old fellow? Well, I won't leave you again, Now we've got a straightaway ride for It, Miss Mere dith. I'll lead off, and you follow, You'll have to keep up pretty close to see me In the dark, and there will be no noise to guide you In this sand.” “But-if I should lose you?" she asked, staring gbout, half frightened by the thought, “No danger; the horse you're on won't get lost. But If you miss me call out; there's no one to hear In this desert. Ready now? He sw her walting “Yes “Then ride fuxt, and afraid: it's level as a floor” The girl rode low In the saddle, her head bent forward to protect her eyes from the shower of grit hurled against her by the ceaseless wind, She was conscious now of her extreme wearl- hess: she could only cling grimly to her aching in every muscle, blindly following his lead. She knew the horse under her was panting for we'll don’t be sent, Kelleen never once drew rein, or, to her knowledge, even glanced back to assure himself of her presence, There were moments when she felt she must actually ery out, her nerves falling her, but she crushed the desire back, and rode on, dulled with fatigue Her and thought centered on the figure of the man riding steadily in front, eves its contour, in the back, snddle, his left His disciplined the cow. thrown his the rein lightly. of the trained, man, rather than hoy, and she could but mark how eas iy hody followed of the but without grasping seat wns that his the slightest under him glancing back i iui anim Suddenly, he pointed Into the grim, gray “Tey or he aske dred She you see anything nder i “Just ahead Over vo thered-n hun yards?” he pointe but cot uld stared where ! hoth thelr nothing except horses, per the drear cele same expanse of sand “No: what “One of nature I'm heading ten yards ix » place for and never k turned i faced “Made It through Why, the She was staring af tier 1ieht hor ira ann er straight matter? 100. what's nim thro parted, For the nd he yOu gues night with #2 good view inn } in ast A window, and hear ou hy name” true en rer heard of me hesitated It was “You—You Are the Frisco Kid!” that we are-—we shall have to come to a mutual understanding. What am I in your estimation? A robber and rot—Bob Meager?” “Oh, no; 1 heard all about you be fore he ever came back. That was months ago: there were soldiers through here searching for you, a ma- jor and twenty cavalrymen® “What major?” “His name was Reynolds.” Kelleen chuckled and leaned sud denly forward, placing his hand squarely on hers where it rested on the saddle pommel, Somehow she made no effort to withdraw her fingers from the contact, and their eyes met, “| believe in you and am your friend.” : (TO BE CONTINUED.) ——— Perish the Thoug “My heart is all yours.” “Have you ever loved before?” asked the girl, “Now, dearie, would I offer you a sec. ond-hand heart?'—Loulsville Courier Journal Evening Mantles Gorgeous Affairs Velvet, Brocaded and Plain, of Metal Brocade and Metal Lace. i | brief as gorgeous affairs, brilliant In color and splendid in materials, seem- serves a fashion writer in the New York Tribune. They are of velvet, brocaded and plain, of metal brocade and metal lace. la resume, we may say to lance. Metal lace is a rival to metal form of the wrap. The collariess wrap wear, has not met with much suc Every woman realizes that noth- for the face by a high collar. This Is one of the reasons why wraps with the standing collar have met with such great success, The idea of a puff taken in a bias way over a roll—a bourrelet, as the call it—is the simplest and most general form. There are some collars of far, skunk or sable, but fancy collar Is of material worked In some Ingenious way, often the Insertion of flowers or of strips of fur or perhaps of velvet in- is of a delicate nature such as lace or chiffon. A charming idea used by one de softly taken around a bourrelet. In and prettier than the hard J Black Satin Coat With Colored Em. broideries, Enlivening Collar and in. side of Broad Sleeves. of season, plaitpd collar the material Intro duced last which must, how. ever, be acknowledged as the pioneer of present styles. Another youthful idea is the ribbon wrap. This Is of various widths of crimson velvet ribbon, the widest, at the hem, being about nine inches These are stitched upon a voile ninon background of the same shade, with one-half inch of distance be tween each ribbon. The wrap is three quarters length, the narrowest widths of ribbon, about one inch, being al the point where the wrap reaches the col lar, to which it is gathered quite fuil This collar is formed of alternating i | i { A oy aaa i badd et Prominent among summer fashion creations at the Paris races was a light suit featuring crepe embroidered on coat and skirt, with very wide sieeves and a very tight skirt. A long black plaited sash was worn on the left side. A tight turban matches the suit for Midsummer Wear Halr nets promise They youthful, and con wit) popular are so shades crepe If yau buy a reflects Jigt when light the it always you're in a position try where th through and glance This only judge its real becoming- @ Can come is the way you can DORs, Bright white the have shoes to match, It bright green, | hats are all the with In better, and of cou rage fact. the bri dresses, Hit aw suier it is well to r<e you can't and delightful rose are oO : ard aaa { blige and yellow h : eige Hose and 'Kerchiefs Are of Scotch Plaid the most startling of showing of silk Sports vivid more Quite stockings plaids. They are u often than of wool, and the pro the displays of the shops, they will fairly .usual at country bef the season closes, The plaids worn may be quite Scotch, but the fad for wearing them comes from France. Seemingly the French woman has not grown tired of them. Plaid materials are used for various sorts of small gports hats. For summer days there are frocks of Indian cottons display- ing very large and very loud plalds in the brightest hues Quite new are large handkerchiefs on the bandanna order printed with large Scotch or are those from nence they have received in re clubs in sports clothes Floor Wax A good floor wax is made as fol- One pint turpentine, ounces aqua ammonia, one pint water, The beeswax and turpentine are mable. As the beeswax dissolves the Then the ammonia and water should be added gradunlly and stirring should is obtained. to the floor by being placed In a the floor should be polistmed, prefer ably with a weighted floor brush, Frocks of Taffeta in Fashion Picture Grandmother wore a black taffeta dress, to church, granddaughter wears a black taffeta frock to dances. in the two words “dress” and “frock” les all the difference between the dignified, conservative appearance of one and the appealing, piquant charm of the other. Utterly charming are these new dance frocks of taffeta, and youthful enough for the youngest of debutumtes. Frocks of black taffeta are shown for girls of tweive or even lf pt the prettiest fashions of the moment is that of wearing an apron of embroidered white organdie over a slip of black taffeta. Another taffeta model, of which there are several dig. ferent variations, is a tight-waisted, fullskirted frock which resches al- shaped flat collar of white organdie. But the chief claim to attention which this gown Pussessys is a wide border on the skirt made of flowers and leaves of organdie appliqued to the silk with running stitches of silver Equally lovely Is a dress of black taffeta, fashioned ‘on quaint and charming lines. The skirt with Its double flource, the shape of the deep collar and the embroidery done In bright colored silks distinguish this model as one of the latest and most attractive gowns of the summer. In millinery, too, there is a rather pronounced feeling for black taffeta. It is used to cover the crown and upper part of the brim of a leghorn hat, the back of which is tolded over and @ught down with a large pearl headed pin. Battons Are Made of Ribbon One Inch Wide There Is no smarter trimming for the dressy afternoon frock than but. tons made of ribbon. The buttons are made of onednch ribbon, each button requiring five Inches, which is gath- ered at top and bottom about a wooden bail. At the top the gathering string is pulled #0 that the ribboa does not entirely close about the ball bat leaves a small opening where a twisted bit of gold ribbon makes an orma-* mental finigh, However, a more unique finish is achieved dy gilding the ball or painting It in many colors, These buttons may be used on girdle, skirt and sash ends or on coats and blouses wherever a button or an Jsroa. ment is needed.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers