fo Do 07 NN ONT or 7 Lal Copyright by The Bobbs-Merrill Co, BT RL JS ed Tale of the Flatwoods JONENR I i i i IRE CHAPTER Xlll—Continued. ; wn] Te “How picturesquely that cabin nes- tles there In the pocket of the hills.” “A man named Belden, and his sis- ter, lives there,” the girl sald, following the direction of his upraised arm. “They're Kentucky mountain folks that Jist moved In—they say the sister's quite pretty." The preacher seemed to be studying the place, with its wild wealth®of na- ture about it, his eyes straying at length from the cabin to its tumbled setting of cliffs and down along the opposite bluffs, mantled with half. sprung leaves, abloom with haw and dogwood and wild apple, until, as he twisted arbund In the saddle, the whole beautiful panorama of the nar row valley had passed In review be- fore him back te the winding road by which they had entered. As the girl followed ‘his roving eyes, a black dead limb at the top of Eagle Oak, towering high above the quicken- ing foliage, came into view. She raised her arm and pointed up and away to the lofty landmark, “That's where the big gray eagle's be'n comin’ every summer— white men first come t' the Flatwoods, I guess. Look—jist over the top that scrub poplar, stickin’ up that white cloud.” “I see it!" the claimed, the simple gesture of point ing out to the distant vealing the native grace still have been his but for the stooped oO upon him. “It stands out against the fluffy whiteness plain as a flagstaff.” “Nobody in the Flatwoods think of harmin’—" * She stopped, for the straightened jerked his had his saddle and toward the woodsman in hand cabin low. The others followed the motion of his hand and sat staring. Loge Belden's sister had appeared from behind the cabin and was running toward them, ECT RC TOR OORT AS JH JRC JUTE TREE TIEC JAA a finger toward them, dropped her hand to the revolver at her belt and looked around at the woodsman, He caught the challenge in her eye, grinned and nodded, With a quickness and skill that showed her mastery of the weapon, she plucked the revolver from its hol- ster, raised It and fired. The first bul- let cut a twig close to a walnut, the second brought one down. Every horse there had been trained to stand under gun-fire.” Rex merely pointed his ears sharply forward and stood to his tracks, but, even with such a firm saddle under him, the preacher flinched so at the first shot that he almost lost hig balance, The second brought an effusive exclama- tion from him, ' The slow eyes of the woodsman livened, “Good I" other girl that.” With a little wisp of a smile in her eyes she glanced around at him, and turned to the preacher, “Now, Mr. Hopkins, he cried. “Ther ain't an- in the Flatwoods can do you can try The preacher almost set up a breeze six-gun out of its holster, He committed the blunder of cock- a bit of over. the apparent stolid acting that did not backing Graylock in escape the preacher pole the revolver for ward and pulled the trigger. was nothing to indicate that the bul let even came near the target, threw bis head back and exploded his raucous laugh. Rex had firm under the shot; he shied at the The preacher brought the back alongside of Brownlie and stood called the front of the yard, den appeared In the open threw up his hand and door, called to the three riders. tated ; Belden stood aside: she gor; Belden closed it. Jack was watching the He saw his quick grip on rein; saw him stiffen In and glance uneasily about, “Astonishing! Quite extraordinary! escaped him as the tense brief drama closed, “Mercy I” Texie exclaimed, knowed she was—crazy.” “She ain't,” the woodsman tered. preacher, the toe “1 never threw up his head blarey_laugh, for a Bough, moment. “Not bad philosophy, that,” and exploded they —act."” That the preacher was acting, woodsman fully believed, ing was just a shade overdone—a cir- cumstance that could cer,” She Said. larly after the chance clues that had first set his suspicions geing. Why he was acting and what part, the woods- man was not missing any chances te find out, The three riders sat for some time looking toward the cabin in the pock- et, Texie and the preacher discussing the astonishing drama that had flared up for its tense moment in the elbow ofsthe hills, : But the drama evidently had but one act, gnd that act was closed. It seemed to the woodsman, as he covert- ly watched the preacher, lolling with overdone awkwardnéss in his saddle, that he showed just a shade of relief that it was closed, The sun, a red warrior on the home ward Frail, had journeyed far down the paling fastnesses of the sky; had ducked behind a huge cloud bank piled like a breastworks across the west. FPrefently, finding a loop-hole in the turreted cumuli, he glared back at the pursuing shadows: Munched a shaft that fell spent and quivering upon Eagle run and shivered into glittering splinters upon the riffle, Glum at the missped shaft, the red warrior took his eye from the loop- hole; drew farther back behind the massed fortifications; unstrung his bow. The pursuing shadows stole down the bluffs; dulled the water; dimmed the woods; waked the breeze and shook the wild apple twigs till the white blossoms snowed the grass ~-gymbol of the hopes of men, that bloom, promise fruit, die. The girl noticed the shadows, Her eyes left the cabin; glanced up and down the opposite bluff, where, under the brow of the wooded escarpment, objects were already beginning to dim. The girl's roving glance stopped at a black walnut tree ten or fifteen yards; away, where some frost-blasted walnuts of the season before still elung to =» hilghted limb, She swept i agninst the oppesite bluff, but appar- ently did not even fan a walnut. He | fixed | his spectacles tighter on his nose. and settled seriously to the task; held the weapon in both hands, and almed a long time-—result the same, Then the girl threw up her revolver and fired again. The bullet cut a nick In the rotted outer hull of a walnut, and she turned to the woodsman, “Now, Jack, it's your turn.” “Aw, I couldn't hit one of ‘em ™ “Come on,” she coaxed, “I ain't seen y'u shoot none since-—let's see—'way b'fore corn plantin'” He looked a! her curiously, and shifted in his saddle. The preacher had half turned and watched him nar- rowly, Suddenly the revolver leaped from the woodsman's side and darted about over the blighted limb. Three shots rang out; three walnuts flew into frag- ments and crumbled down upon the leaves, The preacher had straightened In the saddle and sat watching the won derful marksmanship with an eye that suddenly kindled to flint and flame; but as the third walnut shattered to dust and crumbs, the stoop came back to his shoulders, the air of tired studi: ousness to his face, The girl turned to the woodsman, her fine eyes alive, “You coulda’ got three more!” The light In the brown eyes kindled a response In the gray; a slow smile crawled across his bold features, “It's ag'in the law o woods t' be caught with an empty gun,” he sald, with a seriousness that set her won dering, as he felt for the powder flask and bullets In his pouch. In the dusk of the evening, as they rode back to the village, tHe girl stopped her horse In front of the old cabin, deserted and gloomy, (hat Bh squatted uguinst the side-hill a few OOO Ae POOR ACTS EC SoA JET THC JEL JID yards back from the Kagle Hollow road—the uncanny hovel that the woodsman had gazed down upon from the top of the bluff that morning while watching the swallows dart in and out of its ruined chimney. . “That place is enough to give one the-—creeps,” was the preacher's com- ment as he rélned In Rex beside Brownlie. The girl turned in her saddle and sat for some time looking the place over-—the gate now long unused, {ts hinges black with rust; the rank weeds and sprouts growing close up to the sagging door; the single small front window now yellow with clay that the rains had washed from be tween the logs; the rude clapboards of the roof warped, loosened, dis placed-~the crumbling remnants of what had once been a home, now des- olate and forsaken under its somber canopy of trees “It’s the cab in of dead Henry Spen cer,” she sald, "where he murdered his wife and Infant daughter with 'Is ax one bitter cold night when 'e was drunk, and then wandered out and froze t' death in the snow “I've heard the story—from ah—brother *T"his is the “But not all the story—— He around at zically. “No, not all"- her words half & que «tion { he—comes back.” your place.” ”" glanced her she spoke “they The preacher's teeth gleamed white | through his heavily bearded lips; his Jarred the silence of “Why, Miss Texle, this Is the Nine | teenth century, not the Fourteenth™ “Yes,"—in red embarrassment “but that's what they say.” that same half-cyni | came 80 easily to his face, as he gath ered up the reins With mountain | warning fresh In woodsman gland as they rode been constantly tering the hollow uncanny cabin again under them that for instant shook even is iron composure—a face at the win | dow was peering at them through the i clay-smudged pane, | The face ducked out of sight, and, I without much a flick of the { bridle rein as If he had seen ! nothing at wood | He glanced at parently he had not seer | he had he gave al expression that the girl's still his mind, on he first 80, something doing since As he did happ ened to A sight en the his the eyes, RO as precisely all--the an rode but ap- » Ir Of ih no sign, CHAPTER XIV The Scrape of a Match, | While grooming Graylock in his stall | that evening Jack Warhope thought of | fhe face that had appeared for Its i startling instant at the smudged win { dow of Henry Spencer's unballowed cabin. As a matter of fact, he had | been thinking of It ever since riding | out of the jaws of the hollow He bung wp the curry comb and | stepped to the barn The sun | glared red through a slit in the cloud { bank, and still cleared the trees on the distant foothills by a yard-—enough for | the purpose he contemplated A moment later he was climbing the | rough path that led to the uplands, Pausing, to search critically the woods { In every direction, he then stole away | toward the ill-reputed cabin of the dead woodchopper. The sun Just edged the when he came opposite Down in the bottom of the hollow the shadows lay heavy, but the light still touched the uncanny hovel squatted against the hillside, Stealing through the bushes and brambles, he crept up to the place un- der cover of the falfen oak, with its festoons of wild cucumber vines. Near dODT. treetops between the logs, leaving a narrow within, The cabin was empty, Hugging the wall closely, he crept around to the sagging door; softly pushed It open, His eyes lifted at what de saw=-an old box on end near what had once been the fireplace, an empty whisky bottle on the box, with a lamp standing beside it ready to light; a blanket ready to hang over the smudged window, The dusty floor was «wovered with tracks—man tracks-——one man's, Step- ping so as carefully to set his feet in the tracks, he entered the cabin and closed the door, (TO BE CONTINUED.) Macawe. Macaws, a kind of parrot, native to South Amefes, can break with their beaks nuts which resist attacks with f hammer, Iceland Producing Wool, Wool Is an Importan: agricultural export of Ieeland, much of It being woven Into blankets In America. United States navy saobmarines now carry small seaplunes for scouting work. Gay and Neutral Tones i in Fashion Green, Yellow, Red, Orange, Plain Colors on List for Spring. Everywhere he radlance of spring Is. reflected In gay and neutral tones with white always predominating, says a fashion correspondant In the Port. land “Oregonian. Greens, especially In Soft moss and almond tones, CaITY thé honors, with soft yellow a close second. Then there are the red and orange tints so numerous that there Is a eplor for every ome and a new one it will be, too. Plain colors, es- pecially In pastel tints combined with white, are very chic just as bright colorg were a xeason ago, but there is & new note expressed In Palm Beach today, Roan stripes and plaids combine many colors In the one fabric and thereby offer a wide range for the designer's Imaginative art, to say nothing of the possibilities for the wearer to establish her own in- dividuality through necessaries, The Chinese Influence js with us for another season. Thig Is evidenced by the coloring “love apple red,” to tally, different from tile red, and the soft greens, might well bh~ described as Chinese green. Dis ti etly Chinese designs are yyed patterning wear. Many her selection of nog lacquer or empl for disclose cretonnes parasols these i aed andl} REA 0. had Street Costume Red and White, With Underfrock or Chinese handle and ferrule silks most absolutel; Irresistible in closely spaced, all-over The fabric itself is usual prints, Printed spring are their small, 1880 motifs suggestive color. Daring floral designs ‘ge and small, and detached rogistering - black and whi siriking contrasts and are undeniably chie. All to ' te, has been sald as to color for minute the that discount one Corded Materials Ate Again Given Approval The twills of other seasons are be ing replaced by wool rep, and ribbed in all fabrics. In combina- tion with silk and artificial silk a surface is effected which adds rich- pess to the simple untrimmed frock of today. Such a tendency toward corded ma- terials recalls the ottoman of ou gown, The skill and technique of the textile designer and manufacturer today has made it possible to revive these rich materials vith all the suppleness that fashion demands, in the world of cottons, organdie has given way to her unstarched sis ter, batiste, Soft ecru tones in batiste tensively skirt fashion a dance frock for the youthful, and a rosette of ribbon flow- ers in pastel tones with streamers of color dropping to the hem emphasizes the low waistline where skirt and bodice join. All-over embroideries on a volle and crepe background are prominent and there 1s a feeling of the colonial spirit in the patterning, althowgh in many instances the spirit of 1880 Is evi denced, as In printed silks, New Sport Fabric Looks Like Heavy Silk Crash The new sport fabric, popular be- cduse of its texture as well as (he shades In which it is produced, be. tongs rightfully to the eponge family, ¥t looks a bit like heavy, rough, fin ished silk crash, and may be pure silk or combined with artificial silk. Such Little Misses’ F rock of Pale Blue Chiffon Most dainty is this little dress of | and tiny rosebuds, White Is present It is sponsored by Paris Ameri well inhood, the slik popularity of white, everywhere, well as our who Interpret American wom: Ag to realm of silks ¥ be fashioned i 3 § or as Gesigners, spirit an the "iy of in t may fabric, newest is alpaca. morning frock. observed Such carried sho sl ler to hem. waistline wag ad- at De glide thereby eliminat belt, The mod was suggested In a A Peter Pan of this fabric a long, tight frock recently unbroken line from The fullness at the } ris arm, r of a usted three Jd: under th Shorter Skirt Faversd Paris al * nts 321 v0 BRITS are noliceadiy that uw Colhe reports but tuken shorter, ave not very appar men bh While is quite wn long th of their type ¢ leng ularly those barely any other right Inches of a ntinues ither as past wrap © new yersion part of a the coming are the last umes and are won AM: ide © nohair in blue, of soft gray red, th have f fine white pique buttons the of ord in sitractive fn donna | green and of Cl { derfully | shades of mwa i nese ey little round collars o th rend white pearl just above several Inches The long sleeves finished with cuffs of pique and | there is a short circular cape that | fastens onto the sleeves with flat but i fons, A cape similar in style Ig a feature of the Charming In its | straight lines, it is developed in heavy | white tussor with conventional motifs | embroidered in myrtle green silk. The dress is. beltless and fastens with loops and self-covered buttons ind fasten wi “He } tunic oR knees, allowing knickers to be seen i are costume. | a fabric has many uses and when imade Into the new straightline blouse adds a smart touch to au plalted chiffon skirt. A scarf of this fabric forms part of the blouse, for scarfs have gained =o in Importance that one | scarcely designs a frock without in cluding this bit of throw carelessly about the throat. A monogram on one end of the throw may be the only note of ornament and it Is Bsually black There Is something about these soft solid tones that invariably calls for a note of black, however small. In woolens, for they can never he overlooked, regardless of season, flan. nels, kadhas and creelins mark the world of sports. One-color effects fol. low the trend but very discreet color mixtures are prominent, Novelty Fabrics Used for Coats and Capes Novelty fabrics are employed in the developmedt of youthful coats and capes modeled with flaring Hoes in side tie and button styles, Striped, checked and solid colored fabrics are utilized in velours, In ma- terials of the polaire and tweed type, in brushed weaves, and a variety of novelty fabrics, Colored stitchings, leather appliques, fancy buttons, are among the trim: ming notes. Contrasting borders are frequently utilized, and checked fab. ries that appear at the hem line set on In triangular godets of self or con. trasting materials. Leather trimmings are prominent among all the models displayed. A group of sport conte are presented in shadow plaids that come in pastel of ferings, Hats to match epch oat, are featured with i i | | | ALL WOMEN WHO WORK Should Know how this Worker was Made Strong and Well by Lydia E. 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It contains the iron they need for pure hiood, bodily energy, and firm, solid flesh, At this season every child will benefit by taking it. At your druggist’s, in liquid a tablet form. Free Trial Tablets 3 To. yourself the bealth-building value of Gude's Pepto-Mangan, write today for aentwas Trin] Paap of Tablets. Send address to a RB reenbath Cor's3 Warren St. X. X. Gude’s Pepto-Mangan Tonic and Blood Enricher back without question in the RMA, I HUNT'S BALVE nal treatment of HB. BCT RINGWORM TETTER or fehing skin diseases The at stn, or direey from HINBEROORNS +r ) 1 feet! VIIA TTR COMPOUND COUGHS. COLDS BRONCHITIS oo ’ I (ol WN