By ROBERT AMES BENNET WNU Service Copyright by Robert Ames Bennet THT CHAPTER 1 The Chechahcos. — — Garth knelt upon the planks of the small floating wharf to fasten a pltch- smeared patch on the bottom of his upturneé Dbirchbark canoe. In the midst of his work he paused to listen. A faraway drone was just audible above the ting and hum of insects. He turned to peer at the southerly sky above the vast‘flood of the Mackenzie. The drone became more distinct, A plane was coming downriver towards the emergency refueling sta- tion at the old abandoned trading post, Yet the regular schedule of the line did not call for the northbound Bel- lanca for several days. In all proba- bility, the Commercial Alrways had rent out Its emergency plane from Fort McMurray, Alberta. Though his thoughts lingered on the approaching plane, his eyes and hands returned to the patching of the canoe. The craft must be made ready for the weeks of upriver paddling. There would be none too much time for the thousand-mile trip out before the win- ter freeze-up. As he finished the patch the loud drone of the motor swelled Into a staccato roar. He turned to watch the white monoplane swoop down and take the water like a squattering duck. The pilot started to taxi shoreward. Garth again set about patching the small leak. A sudden silence told that the motor had been stilled. Across the hush came a curt order: “Ho, Jack, fend off and snub her.” Garth leisurely twisted around to eye the incoming craft. She was a beautiful medium-sized plane with a HHH i A LL Leh Le The Girl Drew Her Hand Away as if He Had Smirched It cabin behind the semli-enclosed cock- pitt. Between her headway and the river current, she was driving towards the upstream side of the wharf at a speed that promised to smash the pon- toons, Yet neither of the two helmeted per- sons in the cockpit made a move to climb down In readiness to ward off the shock. Nor did either work the controls to veer the craft clear, Both were hastily putting on headnets and gloves to protect themselves from the outbuzzing swarms of mosquitoes and bulldog flies. They seemed to take for granted that the worker on the wharf would rush to give them service. In the North ablebodied men are supposed to walt upon themselves. More, the pilot's tone had been that of a master commanding an inferior. Garth stayed motionless, waiting for the crackup with cool curiosity, At that the smaller person cried out in a sharp, almost shrill voice: “Quick, you gawping dummy I" The fact that one of the palr was a woman made a vast difference. Garth caught the end of the mooring line flung by the pilot, and snatched up a long plkepole. Its outthrust point met the tip of the nearer pontoon. Bent low, Garth put all of his weight and strength into his angling shove with the pole, The momentum of the ingliding plane forced him back one step after another. Then his mocensing found a holding grip against the up- turned edge of a plank. Instead of driving In against the wharf at the blunt angle with which it had approached, the head of the plane Alded by a slight swerve In the current, he was able to walk the plane to the outer end of the nearer pontoon logs. As the aircraft £ i : 5 gk § i swung around and lay nosing the current, Neither the man or the wom- an made a movement until Garth drove his canoe ashore and lifted It atop the stony bank. As he climbed to the front of the old post store, above the base of the wharf, he saw the pllot at last swing down to haul on the line. Inside the big log cabin he crossed to one of the rear rooms and put a light hand on the forehead of the snoring man in the nearest bunk. “Turn out, Tobin. Visitors.” The grizzle-bearded station tender roused up to blink and peer. “Vis'tors? You're pot stringin’ me, Mr. Garth?" “No. Rover plane” Tobin slipped on his moccasins and hobbled out into the storeroom. The pllot had moored bis plane head and tail to the lower side of the landing stage. He was handing his woman companion down from the cockpit. Both had replaced their leather flying helmets with hats and mosquito nets. They went In under the overhanging wing to tha screened door of the cabin. It opened to the outthrust of a portly man In city clothes. Assisted by the pilot, he managed to get down upon the wharf by means of steps lowered from inside the cabin. After hurriedly putting on a headnet and gloves, he started inshore between his two com- panlons,. He limped as If slightly crippled. But the lameness might have been due to cramp from long sitting. Garth spoke to the supply tender: “I'm only a stray prospector, Tobln. Understand 7 “Aye, sir,” grunted Tobin. Without a word of greeting, he hobbled back a few steps as the pliot and his passen- gers stepped in over the rough thres hold. The portly man mounted cigar case. an produced a long amber-stemmed cigarette holder. This was promptly filled by the pilot, who paused only tO slap a mosquito on his clean-shaven cheek before striking a match. Out went Garth's hand In a swift clutch that caught the flaming match in his calioused palm. The pilot, who was as tall as Garth and heavier built, turned to stare down at him with cold anger, “You insolent roughneck! of here” Garth opened a gold The young wom- Clear out Toben did the an- crazy loon—-lighting Can't you read the sign? ‘No smoking.’ Bounce him, lad." The pilot thrust a hand inside his leather jacket. "Try It. I'll drill both of you." “How frightful" sald Garth, “Yon must imagine this Is a Wild West show, Please don't shoot until the lady can get outside. Shots are even more apt than matches to explode all this gasoline.” The portly man snapped shut cigar case, “That's so! You have no cause to be ruffled, Vivian, The fellow seems to have acted on a well-intentioned impulse.” The pilot's hand came out empty from inside the jacket. “Why couldn't the fool have spoken a warning? Garth had sized up the man, He expected neither an apology for the abuse nor thanks for saving the visitors from possible annihilation. With an indifferent smile, he shifted the gaze of his gray eyes to examine the woman member of the party. A first glance had led him to think her older than the pilot. Under her rouge and powder her face was thin and drawn. Its lines might have be longed to & woman in the mid-thirties, Her blue eyes looked more than bored and cynical. Their tiredness matched the lined face. Her body was thin al most to boniness. Yet, upon examination, Garth saw she could mot be even In the mid. twenties, Traces of girlish freshness still lingered in her painted face, un- der the blemishes of dissipation and disillusionment. smiled. swering: “Huh, matches in here, his As she faced away from him, the pilot spoke to Tobin: “Get busy. Truck down sixty gallons of gas and five of oll—and be quick about it. While your helper Is refuel- ing the plane, you'll cook us the best meal you can throw together” Down came Tobin's shaggy eye brows. “Who d'you think you're bossin'? Shove along to a tradin’ post for yer grub an' gas. This here cache is the comp’'ny's emergency deepo.” The portly visitor took a bilifold from his coat and drew out a paper. “Take a look at this order, my man. It authorizes me to requisition any of the Alrways' stations for whatever sup- plies I wish.” Tobin read the order, and thrust It back, with no lessening of his dour ness, “So you're Burton Ramliil, are you? Looks like a straight order. All the same, you'll sign the book before you'll get a drop.” He turned about to open an olly account book on one of the stacks of gasoline cases. Mr. Ramill drew a fountain pen from hls vest pocket with plump white fingers, and limpel forward to write. “There's your receipt,” sald the pilot. “Now have this dumb helper of yours rush out our gas, and get your pans on the fire. We want service,” “Yuh?! Well, you're welcome to want it till doomsday. That comp'ny order calls for supplies. Don't say pothin' about cookin’ por service” Mr. Ramill interposed: “All right, man. I see you're stiff from rheuma- tism. I will pay this young fellow lo refuel the plane.” Garth turned his cool gaze upon the pilot, “Why not give this bird of yours the chance to earn a little more pay?” “Because Mr, Huxby has flown my plane all the way from Chicago, with only short stop-overs. Also, he Is my partner, not a mechanic” “Well, he's not the only party pres ent who's not a kKiwl"” Garth pulled a small poke from Inside his buckskin shirt, hefted it as If considering, and put it back. “Nor do I need your pay.” Huxby's supercilious eyes glistened with sudden keen interest that? You're from the fields? “Xo “Bat your gold sack? “Gold? Garth muttered. He drew out opened it to shake a few small nodules of metal into his palm. Both Huxby and Mr. Ramill stepped close to peer at the grayish slivery bits, The older man looked puzzled. ‘he younger took a nodule into his own palm, eyed new gold indifferent manner, “Galena. I'm a mining engineer. You're out of luck, not making a gold strike, silver been so low.” Garth looked disappointed. bad, isn't It?" He picked out a nodule that had been rubbed to a rather bright polish. The girl was leaning with her left hand on one of the lower plies of gaso- line cases, A ring with a large blue diamond banded the “engagement” fin- ger. Garta thrust the nodule up close beside the ring. “Yes,” be sald, “I always did think gold looked prettier than galena-—even white gold.” The girl drew her hand away as If he had smirched it. “My ring is not gold. You pretend to be a prospector, yet do you know platinum from gold!” “Platinum? Garth questioned. “But your friend here calls it galena.” Mr. Ramill interposed: “Permit me, Lilith.~Young man, I am largely In terested in metalliferous mines. If you have located a lode of galena, the jead might pay for development of the prospect.” “That depends,” put “Where's the place?” “Three weeks—paddie and portage,” Garth answered. “Slow travel. But by airplane?” “The bird distance can't interest you. Neither lead nor silver would “Too in Huxby. pay for airplane freighting. Nor would packing, 1 lost ten pounds of this— galena, Canoe upset, running one of the rapids” As Garth spoke he put up a hand to cover a yawn. “If you don't mind, To- bin, I'll roll In. It's a long travois to Great Slave,” The portly investor In mines caught the eye of his engineer partner. He spoke to Garth: “You are going out- side?” “Perhaps.” “Well, a day or so should make no difference to you. Is there a lake or pond near your prospect?” “One about four miles long; half as wide.” Huxby repeated his question: could be reached how soon by alr? The fish were no longer nibbling: they were hooked, Garth had only to haul in on his line, 3ut he took his time about it. He paused to sider. Not all fish prove to be sirable catches, Neither Mr. Ramil] not Huxby looked like a crook. They ance of reputable business men. the other hand, neither Huxby broke in on of the chances: have It" “Two to three hours,” Garth replied “I don’t know the speed plane.” “Fastest type of cabin cruiser. Call it six hours to go and return, and the same to Inspect your prospect. t's possible there may be a trace of gold in your ore. I'll test it while you get your sleep.” The girl spoke to shail take a nap hours of flying, dance off the kill a horse.” In the act of handing a nodule Huxby, Garth paused to stare at girl, So that was tobacco, paint, and all the "It gon. de had the appear- On looked easy. Garth's welghing “Well, Jack, let's of your Mr. myself, with Ramil: *1 Dad. Ten no chance Scotch, is {to enough to fo the the answer—liquor rest of the She stiffened and stared back at him haughtily. He dre 1 Huxbs's cupped palm and the rear room to stretch oul on ppd the nodule Pi into crossed into of the bunks, - * + . . # . A tug at his shoul from his six-hour sleep croaked in b 2 er ro Tobi & ear: ised Garth n's hoarse volce “Roll out, sir. Sun's up. The pair keen to be sawing, Looks ‘mm are thelr test of y«¢ of like ur nugget livened ‘em up. Grub’s on” Garth his buckskins and moccasins and stepped Into the sto Miss Ramill the front door. She paused to ren her headnet. Huxby and Mr. were already puilting down a sourdough pulled on re was coming g in at Te Ramili hearty hread Garth crowded end of the bacon, and oatmeal porridge. past them and Tobin to the little shelf table (TO BE CONTINUED) Jefferson's Rules Rules compiled by Thomas Jefferson included: Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself, Never spend your money before you have it. Never buy what you do not want because it Is cheap; It will be dear to you. Pride costs ns more than hunger, thirst and cold. We never re pent of having eaten too little. Noth ing is troublesome that we do willing ly. How much pain Is suffered in evils which have never happened. Take things always by the smooth handle. When angry, count ten before you speak ; If very angry, a hundred. Amazing Juggling Trick The most amazing juggling perform. ance ever presented on a stage was the German juggler, Paul Cinguevalll, This feat, which required eight years to per- fect, consisted of balancing two balls on the top of a cue, which in turn was balanced on another movable ball in a drinking glass that he held in his mouth. ~—Collier’s Weekly. ——— [BRISBANE THIS WEEK Wilson for Earlier War? Prayer Plus Planes New Disease Danger Ethiopian Victory? Prof. A. M. Arnett of North Carolina university says it was not Wilson that kept this out of war for a while, but the coun- try that kept Wil- son out of war longer than he would have stayed out. Professor Arnett says he will prove, in a book, that Wil- son wanted war In 1916, and was kept out of it by three men--Champ Clark, Congressman Flood and Claude Kiteh- in, Democratic floor leader of the house. Arthur Brisbane How deep should we have sunk In our depression if Woodrow Wilson had carried out his alleged plan and started the war one year ahead of time, in 19167 How would nlways places)? millions of Americans been killed (they were honored with front row How many tens of billions would have been added to the publie debt and the repudiated debts of Eu- ope? pet many have The archbishop of Canterbury, head of the official Church of England, has invited all European Christian commau- nicants to join In prayer for with resolutions outlawing all peace, war. While the archbishop takes that de sirable step the British government works rapidly on B00 alrplress of the fizhting kind. Nothing like alr planes back prayer for to up eloquent peace Uncle Sam hag on his hands the f of dis and its job o the spread ntry preventing ease throughout the cot mportation from abroad. Doctor Curran, In charge of insects for the American Museum of History, New York it ' h net y invaded hy malaria hrot Natural may be to north warns oht ir B ir ew Jersey by a OCC ezn Soutt The p work- anopheles nresent { been do malaria has He en hites a not wn eins ¢ sends cheerful master at the [talians n white Tedd, hat urder. ask Ed Jtmlis ie ("hristian iianh was viet ist In their are the only Christ They the therefore not the Italians Italia t hr AY whic would had Rome amuse they time for amusement calls the General Delazmateh denateh “customary nae curacy.” Ethinpian Alfred KE. Smith, booked for a big political talk in Wash. ington, DD. C. and invited by Mrs Roosevelt to stop at the White House during his stay In de. clines the invitation, explaining that he will have ton big a crowd with him Politicians do not think that the only reason, They expect Governor Smith to “ent loose™ and say things about the administration that would not come gracefully from a White House guest, Former Governor Washington Mr. and Mre Triplett of Jenkins, Ky. who have just received from heavy. en thelr third set of triplets, say: “We are just tickled to death. but imagine our surprise.” Besides nine triplets, the happy couple have one sot of twins, all eleven living and all fortunate. The baby born In a family that wants ba- bies is the fortunate child want children, the wise thing Is not to have them—for the children’s sake. i Hitler knows what he wants, tells | the rest of the world, and thus far the world has let him help himself, He wanted an end of the Versailles and consented. | force as strong as | will proceed to bulld It. Ile demands will fight for them If he can’t get them peaceably. Austria will pay Uncle Sam on ae count of debt thirty million schillings, payment in American paper dollars, At the current rate of exchange Uncle Sam will get S560, Our paper dollars are convenient for Europeans, for they know, aldou we do not, that our dollar Ils worth Ou cents, Thomas W. Lamont a J. Plerpont Morgan & company partner, gives five hundred thousand dollars to establish a "chalr of political economy” at Har futerest will be used. Well invested, it should pay the chosen professor a fair salary. Si TERI POT HOLDER SET By GRANDMOTHER CLARK ¥ Hitle Sunbonnet having some important secrets, They both work in the (itehen and are talking over thelr day's experience, They are the little pot holder girls, a cute and novel holder to have in your kitchen. The two dresses are the pot holders and when hanging up snap Into place under the bonnet. Finished size 1] by 14 inches. This stamped and tinted plece of material, No. 1002, will be mailed for 15 cents. This Is to be made up and worked In simple outline stitch, Address Home Craft Co., Dept. A, Nineteenth and St. Louls Ave, St Louis, Mo. Inclose a stamped ad- dressed envelope for reply when writing for any information. These seem two to be Girls * ® Still Coughing? No matter how many medicines you have tried for your cough, chest cold or bronchial irritation, you can Be brewing sad may you cannot afford to take a with anything less than Creomul- sion, which right to the seat of the trouble to aid nature to Soothe and oy the Infidel MEM ranes as the germ- phlegm is loosened andb expelled. Even if other remedies have failed, don't be discouraged, money if you are not satisfied with results from the very first bottle, Get Creomulsion right now. (Adv) Sound Mind the mind the more the actions of efficiency. Nervous, Weak Woman Soon All Right spells from Cora San- “1 was all t my time bed. After The likely It sounder is to direct the body with “1 had regular shaking nervy gers ousness,” writes Mrs. { Po pom ower 1g , of Paragoul 1-0OWn and cran we shaking quit I felt worlds tsughter who un and she rene does mot benefit YOU, { women testify Cardal i a FLORESTON SH connection with Parker's Hair Balsam Makes the hair soft and Buffy, 60 cents by mail or st gists, Hiscox Chemical Works, Patchogue, N.Y. to Suffer the most pleasant way to take it. Each waft iy approximately equal toa fal adult dose of liquid milk of magnesia. Chewed thoroughly, then swallowed, correct acidity in the mouth and the plete elimination of the waste matters that gas, headaches, bloated feelings
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers