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it srnis starts tub story
Jo, a young ranchman, employed
'- at the, Top Hill ranch of a Mr. King
,' ten In a western state, takes a busl
AB9 trip to Chicago, There he meets
-aba dance a young girl who calls her
ttf "Marta." They fall In lovo with
.each other, but Marta refuses to
,Wary him. She confesses herself to
Tw a thief and suddenly disappears
.after leaving a note for him that
he is going to try to "make good."
Jo returns to the ranch -where he is
tact by another empjoyo named Kurt
v Wtwhom ho confides' his experiences
vhile away. Kurt advises him against
any further thought of the girl, but
tTb is confident she. will again come
to him. Kurt, who is acting sheriff
C the county, learns- from llcnder,
the jailer, that a young' woman from
Chicago has becu arrested for steal
ing and is in the jail. Her name is
liarta Sills.
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
fmOOIt little brat!" he thought.
"What chance docs her kind havo?
I suppose I ought to give Tier one. There
is one person in the world -nho might
be able to reform her, and I'd put her
in that person's charge if it weren't for
wrecking Jo's life."
Alb through the afternoon while
transacting the business that had
brought him to town, his heart nnd
his head were having a wrestling
match, the former being nt the disad
vantage of being underworked.
"I'll go up and take a look at her,"
he suddenly decided. "Ma be I can
tell from Jo'b description whether she
is his Marta or not."
On his way to the jail he was ac
costed by a big, jovial man.
"Don't know where I can got nn
extra helper,; do you, Kurt? Simpson,
my right hand, has gone back to
Canada to enlist."
"How providential!" thought Kurt.
"Why, jes; Mr. Wcstcott," he re
plied: "We're well up with our work,
and I could spare Jo Gary for a few
weeks." "Jo Gary ! May heaven bless you !
When can I get him?"
"Going out home now ?"
"yes; on my way."
"Stop at the ranch and take him
along with you. Tell him I said to go.
ItJil'be all right with Kingdon."
JVcitcott renewed his blessings upon
Kurt and drove on.
At the jail Kurt looked in ou the
latest arrival. She was bitting at a
table in Bender's back office, her head
bowed in her hands. There was some
thing appealing in the drooping of her
shoulders and in her shabby attire.
"Now Jo is disposed of, bhe shall
have her chance, anyway," he de
cided. ,
Without speaking to the girl, be
soht Bender and they held a brief
consultation.
"Aren't wo going to stop at all,
Mr, Sheriff Man?"
?A' Knft. tilaintive note in the voice
made Kurt Walters turn the brake of
airold, rickety automoiwc ana mm. iu
the dust-white road, as ne cast, u sunni
ly scrutinizing glance upon the atom
oi a girl who sat beside him. She
c'i;""
E I 1 -I - J
H was a delected, dusty little ngure,
M droonine under the jolt of the jerking
car and the bright rays of hills-land
sunshine. She was joung in 3 ears;
young, too, in looks, as Kurt saw when
She raised her ejes, which Kurt saw
"were soft and almond-shaped; but old,
he assumed, in much that she should
not have been.
She had found it a long, bard ride
? across the plains, and the end of her
endurance had been prelaceu Dy irequcni
sighs, changes of position and softly
muffled exclamations. eJl seemingly un
noted by the man b&tde her, whose
deep-set eyes had remained nxcu on ma
open-space ahead, his slim, brown hauds
gripping the wheel, his lean, sinewy
hnrfv .hendinr slkhtly forward.
Bis tenseness relaxed; a startled, re
morseful look came into his ejes as
he saw two tears courbing down her
cheeks. They were unmistakably real
tears though, as he was well a are,
they came from physical causes alone.
Mil ihv nenetrated the armor of un-
Concern with which he had girded bim-
' se .
'What for?" he asked curtly.
, Vhat for!" she echoed her mouth
quivering into pathetic droops. "For
11 rest, of course. You may be used to
this kind of locomotion, but I'm not
Tery well upholstered, nnd I'm shaken
to bits. Fact is, I'm just all pegged
A' nt. old man. Have a heart, and
top for repairs. What's jour rush,
anyway? I can't get loose hereabouts,
and I haven't anywhere to go, an how.
Didn't mind getting 'took' nt all, at all.
"How many more miles is it to the
R end of jour trail? This is a trail, isn t
it?"
"A great many miles," ho replied,
"and it was on your account more than
any other that I was hurrying to get
to the "
"Jail," she answered supinely, as he
hesitated.
"No," he said grimly. "I was going
Co" take you home for tonight, any
way." "Hornet Oh, how you startle me! I
didn't know there was any of those
home-stuff places left except in the
movies. I never was much stuck on
home, so rou needn't be afraid to call
!"" it Mail' for fear of hurting my feelings."
"You can't work on my sjmpathy
' that way," he said coldly.
"Dear me!" she replied with a silly,
little, giggle. "Iugave up trying to
work tbo sympathy racket long ago.
Every one's too smart nowadays. Hon-
'- . tk. X'.ra no longings for home. I feel
"try -for any one who's tied down to
-' e'.i "Why don't you kick over the
tmM nnd come off your trail and see
w)4lt4'on the other side of your hills?
I'd'kste to take root here. Say, Mr.
flUaflTirnn. you look a good sort, even
ifyMf have played jou were deaf and
Mfclxor the whole of this awful ride.
Lety sidetrack the trail and go home
. JMfe eyes remained rigid and relent
L' ktiAthrrn was a slight twitchinc of
., ,- .--- ..-,,- T..
K j Hi strongest leawre, ine wiue, mooue
MMtil. I
He looted at bis watch.
4M i .fL n fit Mtn..,M tt
H -n--jja can wmi ur :' imumco,
;.'! In. a matter or. lact voice.,
p 'Tlease, may I get out and stretch?"
tfc asked pleadingly.
TmibS ience xor consent, sne
cthaafd out of the car.
"Jtiw7lMUHut a drink?" bo asked,
'5 'if -'
'
''V.
v fife
Top Hill
os he poured somo water from nn im
provised Thermos bottle into a travel
ing cup.
"Thanks for those first kind words,"
she exclaimed, taking the cup' from him
and drinking eagerly.
"Why didn't you say you were
thirsty?" ho asked in a resentful tone,
without looking nt her. Ho had, in
fact, studiously refrained from looking
at her throughout the journey.
"I'm not used to asking for any
thing," she answered with a chuckle.
"I take what conies my way. 'Taking'
is jour job, too, isn't it?"
"To hell with my job!" he broke out
fiercely. "I'd never lmc takcu it If I
knew it meant this."
"It's our own fault," she retorted.
"It wouldn't hac been 'this' if you
hadn't been so grouchy. Wo could
have had n chummy little gabfest, if
jou hadn't been bunging holes in the
landscape with your lamps all the
nay.
lie made no response nut organ 10
examine the workings of his car.
"Etocs the count furnish it to you?"
ho asked. "It doesn't seem as if you'd
pk-k out nuj thing like this. AV'as it
Made iu America'? Tunny outfit for
a cowboy country, anyway."
"(Set in, he commnnded curtly.
"We must be irway."
"Oh, please, not jet," she implored.
"It's so awful hot, nnd I won't have
all this outdoors for a long time, I sup
pose. I sie there's a tidy little bit of
shade jomler. Let's go there and rest
awhile. I'll be. good; honest, 1 will,
nod -alien X get rested, you can hit a
fustvr gait to cen up. I get tired just
the banie as honest folks do. Conic,
now, won't jou?"
In a llavh she had taken advantage
of this ousis of shade that, beckoned
enticingly to the passeiby.
He followed rcluctuutlj.
"This is heacii let loose." she said,
lolling luxuriously against the trunk of
a tree. "You're the only nice sheriff
man that cer run 111c in."
He sut down ueur her nud looked
glooinilj ahead.
"Cheer up!" she urged, after a short
silence. "It may not be so bad. Anj
one would think you were the prisoner
instead of poor little nic."
"I wish I Were," he baid shortly.
She looked at him curiously.
Ishv whnt's eatine you, anjwaj?
If jou hute your job so, what did jou
take it for?"
"It was forced ou me. 1 in only
swoin iu us ntting sheriff for the coun-
tj until the sheriff returns.
"How long jou been 'it'?"
"Two weeks. You're mj second
arrest."
"Who was the first?"
"So Long Sam."
She sat upright.
"Arc ou the man who caught So
Long Sam? lerj- one has been nfraid
to tackle him. I'd nccr have thought
it of u'"
"Whj?" he aiked curiously, not
proof against the masculine enjojment
of hearing himself anal zed in spite of
his reluctance to talk to her. "Do I
seem buch a weakling I couldn't take
one man?" j
"No; jou look like jou'd take a
red-bot stovo if jou wnnted to; but
they said Suy; is jour maiden name
'Kurt'? No! It can't he."
"Why not?"
"Because thej tailed the man who
took So Long Sam 'Kiud Kurt.' You
hacn't been oerkiud to me till just
lately. Whirling me oer sands in thnt
awful foreshortened car."
"It must be better," he said drjly.
"than the kind jou've been used to."
"You mean the jail jitney. Do you
know, thc neer jet put me in one.
Always ronveed me other wnys.
Weren't so had to me. either. I guess
ma be jour heart H in the right place
or jou wouldn't hae let me rest and
given me the drink, eea if jou did wait
till the eleventh hour. Can't you look
pleasant like jou were going to sit for
a picture to give to youi best girl
instead of posing for Must before the
battle, mother"' You look so sorry
sou came "
"I am," he slid nugrilv. "I guess
'Kind Kurt' is a blanket- blank fool
as some neoije saj . I've been a lot
Kinder to jou than jou know.' When
I heard of your case and Binder pointed
jou out to me and said lied got you
locked up I thought you were one of
the many joung city girls who go wrong
because they havo no thaute to know
better. The kind bred in slums, ignor
ant, ill -fed the kind who never had
n fair show. So I resohed that jou
should have one. Bender wanted jou
out of town with the surety thnt you
would never come back.
"I felt sorry for jou. T offered to
take you off his hands nnd bung you
out here among the hills, where the
best woman in the world would teach
you to want to be honest. Do jou
suppose I'd have done it if I'd known
the kind you arc a bright, smart brat
who is bad because he wants to be
and boasts of it? There 'is no hope for
jour kind."
It was the longest speech the acting
sheriff had ever made. He had been
scarcely conscious that he was talking,
but was simplj voicing what had been
in his thoughts for the last half hour.
"How old is this "best woman iu the
world'?" asked the girl, seemingly un
concerned in his summing up of her
case. "Is she jour bweetheart or your
wife? If she is either one, you'd better
take me back to Bender or spill ine out
on the plains here. She won't be real
DOROTHY DARNIT Burglars Don't Scare Dorothy!
I AIN T AFRAID
OF ANYTHING
Arvi I vAMS?
K J
1 . jbtASX Jmtn.fi'.. i. ...a.v , ..... '.-,(V'?ja:'':.j.. .. ..,1, M r ' iln tl A 1
EVEtote? FPBETCJ (LEDGOSB-SIE
Trail
glad to try to reform a young, good
looking girl like me. I am good-looking,
honest, if I was slicked up a lit
tle." v
llo looked away, an angry frown on
his lean, strong face. She gazed at
him curiously for a moment and then
laid a slim, brown hand on bis arm.
"Listen here, Kurt," she said. "You
were right In what you thought about
me never having had a fair show.
Uvcrj thing, every one, including my
self, seems to huvc been against me. I
was born with 'taking ways.' I
couldn't seem to live them down. Lately
things have been going wrong awfuily
fast. I've been sick, and no one acted
as if I were human up to a short time
ngo. I didn't know that wns why you
took mo from Bender's jail. Honest,
I'm not so bad as I talk."
Ho looked at her skeptically. Her
eyes, now turned from him, were soft,
feminine and without guilt. He
wouldu t let himself bo hoodwinked.
"No; there's no excuse for you," he
declared emphatically. lou are edu
cated. You could havo earned nn honest
living. You didn't have to steal."
"No," she said slowly and thought
fully. "I didn't have to."
"Then why do jou? Bender told me
you had a lifelong record of pilfering."
"Lifelong! Kind Kurt, I am
joung only twentj."
"He said you'd been given a chance
over and over again, but that jou were
hopeless. I think ou nrc."
"I think so, too," sho acknowledged,
with a little giggle that brought back
his scowl. "You've got a white ele
phant ou your hands, Kurt. What are
jou going to do with me?"
"There b only one thing I can do,
now," he said glumly. "Carry out a
bad bargain. I'll sec it through."
Oh, Mr. Britliug!" she murmured
sotto voce.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Traveling libraries cvl-
dentlj don't hit this trail. What is it
the trail to, anjway? Your house?"
"To Top Hill Tavern."
"Gee! That sounds good. A tavctn!
I hopo it's tiptop us well as tophill.
How did jou come to build a hotel way
off here? Summer boarders? WiU
there be dances?"
"Top Hill Tavern," he said coldly,
"is the name of a ranch not mine.
The owners live there."
"And does she, 'the best woman iu
the world,' live there?"
"We must sturt now," be said, rising
abruptly and leading the way to the car.
"I should think," remarked the girl
tasuall after his fourth ineffectual
iflort to sturt the engine, "that if she
owns a ranch, she might buy a better
buzz -wagon than this."
lie made no replj, but renewed his
futile attempts at starting, muttering
words softly the while.
"Don't be sore, Kurt. I can't help
it because jour old ark won't budge.
I didn't steal anj thing off it. Wouldn't
it 'be fierce if you were marooned on
the trail with a thief who has a life
long record '."
He came around the car and stood
beside her. His face was flushed. His
ejes, of the deep-set bomber kind that
grow larger nnd come to the surface
only when strongly moved, burned, with
the light of auger.
"Did uny jno ever try whipping you,
I wonder?"
"Sure," she said cheerfully. "I was
buught up on whippings by a step
mother. But do jou feel that way to
ward me? Y'ou look like a man who
1 light strike a woman under lertain
povocation, perhaps; but not like one
who would hit a little girl like me. If
ou won't look bo cross, I'll tell you
why jour 'mobile won't move."
lit. made no reply, but turned to the
l.iake.
"Sav, 'bo," she continued tanta
llzingly, "while you ore n lookin,' just
cast our lamps into the gasoline tank.
Tnat man who rilled it didn't put a
widow 'n mite in."
Unbelievingly he followed this lead.
"Not a drop, damn it"'
"The last straw with you, isn't it?
I in not to blame, though. If jou
think I stole jour gasoline, just search
me. How far are wc from your tip
top tavern?"
"Twenty miles. I suppose you
(ouldu't walk it," he said doubtfully.
"Me? In these?" she exclaimed,
thrusting forth a foot illy and most
inadequately shod. "But jou can
vwilk on."
"No," he refused. "Y'ou don't put
one over ou me in thnt waj."
"You know I couldn't walk back to
town."
"Some one might come along in a
car."
"Wouldn't jou trust me if I gave
jou mj word to wait for ou?"
"The word of "
"A thief," she finished. "All right.
I'm in no hurry. What are you going
to do?"
"We'll wait here until some one
comes along." .
, "Then let's go back to the trees
while we wait," she proposed, climbing
out of the car and taking a small hox
from the seat.
"Didn t Mender have one tiny good
word for me? " she asked as they sat
down in the welcome shade.
"He said stealing was the only of-
fenso jou d been up for, and he
guessed jou couldn't help it. What was
jour little game in making, him think
jou were stupid?"
YOU BE.T
YOO'RE NOT
I WAS ONLY
AFRAID ONCE
,IN MY LIFE
By BELLE K. MANIATES
Author of "Amarllly of Clothes-Line
Alley," "Mildew Manse," etc.
"Did he say I was? Horrid thing
I'm glad I put one over on him and
luted this," nnd she held up tbo box.
"What is it?" he demanded sternly.
"His supper. A peroxided wife
brought it to him just before he pre
sented mo to jou. It'll come in hnndy
now, or won't you partake of stolen
goods?"
"I'll pay him for it the next time
I see him."
"Shucks, Kurt I You got such a bad
bargain when jou drew me, you ought
to havo something thrown in. It's
all done up iu n nice napkin looks
as If it would taste good. Oh, what
a feast! Pork sandwiches, deviled
eggs, dills, a keep-hot bottte of coffee,
layer cake nnd pie. Bender knew
how to pick a partner. What shall wc
drink out of?"
He produced a drinking cup, poured
some coffee in it' and handed it to
her.
"Thank you," sho said. "Shall we
make It n loving cup, Kurt?"
He ignored her question and plunged
greedily into a pork sandwich. He
had had so much business in town thnt
day he had taken no time to cat
The girl partook of Bender's pilfered
luncheon sparingly and without zest.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked
presently, his temper disappearing as
his appetite was appeased.
"Nof it's a long time since I've been
hungry."
"What did jou steal this food for
then?"
"I don't know. Yes, I do. It -was
because that Bender woman gave mc
such a once-over, and decided T was
the scum of the earth. Is that the
way your topside tavern woman will
look at me?"
"No," he replied earnestly. "She's
made a woman out of worse than
jou."
"Thanks!" she said, folding the nap
kin neatly. "I thought you had my
number for tke worst ever. It's won
derful what food will do for a man.
Hope she will let me stay at the top
of tho hill while I get an appetite.
The doctor Said I didn't need medicine
just the right kind of food, rest and
good air. I wouldn't have got them,
maybe, but for you, and I suppose I
haven't been very grateful."
Her tone was low and wistful. A
look she hadn't seen before a kindly,
sjmpathetic look leaped to his eyes
and softened the harshness of his fea
tures. "Have you been sick, real sick?"
he asked.
"Y'cs; clean played out, the doctor
said."
"Then I am glad I brought you. We
will make jou well physically, any.
way."
"And majbe the other will follow?"
"It will, if you will try to do right.
Will you?"
"Sure. I've always tried most al
ways. I can't be very bad up at the
top of a hill, unless I get lonesome.
You'd bdter tell that 'best woman'
to double-lock things. It's with steal
ing the same as with drinking if
anything jou crave is lying around
handy, good-by to good resolutions."
"I'll see to that. I'm a sheriff, re
member." "Look, sheriff!"
With a mocking smile, she held up a
watch.
"I took that off you slick as any
thing when jou passed the coffee. It
was like tuking candy from a baby."
Anger at her nerve and chagrin that
he had been so neatly tricked kept him
bilcnt.
"It's not altogether a habit," she
continued in inoik npologj ; "it's a
gift."
Jo got her number wrong," he
thought. "She was just plajing him
with her sad, nice, little-girl manner.
hor his sake. III see that they don t
meet. I wonder just why she is pla
ing this role with me?"
"You might give me credit for re
turning our ticker," she said in abused
tone.
"I never knew but one other person,"
he said coolly, "that affected me as un-
pleavantl us jou do."
"Who was that?" she asked inter
estedly.
"A cow-puncher Centipede I'etcr."
"Some name ! Why don't you ask me
my name, Kurt? Don't look so con
temptuous. I am going to tell jou,
because it doesn't sound like me. It's
Penelope."
"Oh!" he exclaimed, with somcthiug
like n groan in his voice.
"Nobody can help her name," she
complained. "Don't jou like it? I
kind of thought it would suit jou, be
cause It doesn't sound like me. Sort
of suggests respectability, don't jou
think?"
"It was my mother's name," he re
plied tensely, as he walked a few paces
away.
Night that comes so fleetly in this
country dropped like a veil.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW)
The Echo's Reply
"Father, can I go to the circus to
night?" asked the farmer's son.
Pathcr No. Tain't more'n a month
since jer went t' the top o' the hill to
see the eclipse of the moon. 'Pears to
me yew're getting dissipated and reck
less." Dallas News.
WHEN
WAS THAT?
I L- . I
DAILY NOVELETTE
THE CONFUSING JACKS
By Dorothy M. Tracy
m
OCTOR GRATSON came on duty
tired and wan looking. The house
doctor at the hospital had been called
on during the night to perform an
operation on an emergency caso and
thus it camo about that Robert Grayson
was not his jovial self. Coming sud
denly to the turn in tho corridor he
spied Ruth Turner, the sweetest nurse,
so tho doctor thought, but sorrow filled
his heart as he saw one of tho young
surgeons, Dr. John Stewart, or Doctor
"Jack" as he was popularly called, cn
gaged with Miss Turner is serious con
versation When the coupfcs saw Doctor
Grayson approaching conversation im
mediately censed. Doctor Robert felt
assured Doctor "Jack" was whisper
ing love tales to Ruth.
Some weeks inter Doctor Grayson
was filling out n record of a .patient's
illness and In destroying a few jileces
of waste paper bis eye caught n note
thrown carelessly into the basket. It
read :
Dear Ruth Your sweet note came
this morning and its contents hnve mad'3
mo exceedingly happy. We will select
the ring tomorrow. Love, JACK.
This was evidence. Ruth was en
gaged to Doctor Stewart. "Well,"
thought Doctor Grayson, "my tcrm'of
service ends here next weejc, and I will
pass out of her life foroycr." He felt
the need of a rest and decide to go to
the country before establishing himself.
He selected the little town of Fcrnsou,
nnd registered at the Fcrnson Inn. He
bad been enjoying the beautiful view
from tpc broad piazza of the ipn and
listening to the "town topics," and
feeling generally much rested at the
end of his first week when suddenly he
began to wake up the fact that some ex
citement was astir. Presently an excited
man rushed up to him nnd said, ''Are
you the doctor?" He said, "Yes, viiat
can I do for you?" The man cont'uod,
"mere a n little fellow been run over
by an auto and has had his leg broken.
Doctor Harklns is making his calls on
the back road and sou are the onlv one
we can find. So hurry, doctor." Doctor
Grayson hurried to the little lad's home
and found a much-distracted mother.
When Doctor Robert made his er-
animation of the injured little fellow
he found bis leg to have a compound
iracturc, wntcn meant very careful
surgery.
After constant care with her son,
Mrs. Welton, who was a frail little
woman, welcomed the doctor with this
news one morning, "Well, doctor, my
cousin is coming out to make me a
visit, and bhe loves Ted so much and
has such wonderful tact with children
that the strain on me will be greatlv
lessened." "That is fine," snid the
doctor. "Now jou must try and escape
for a few days' complete r"st." When
the doctor called two days later he could
hear laughter and cheery voices, nnd oh
the voice, whose was it? Mrs. Welton
greeted the doctor and said. "Doctor.
vou must meet my cousin. Miss ,"
but sho proceeded no further, when
the doctor exclaimed "Ruth!" How
pleased Ted was when he exclaimed.
"Say, Ruth, you know my doctor?"
The weeks sped by and Robert Graj-son
made more calls at the Welton home
than were necessary, professionally,
when one day Ruth said. "Do you in
tend to settle in this delightful spot?"
"Yes," answered the doctor. "I have
made many friends and see splendid
prospects ahead, but what of you? Will
j-ou continue in your ptcsent course or
mnrrv?" "Me! marry, laughed Ruth.
"I shall have to wait until Prince
Charming asks me." "Ruth," said
Doctor Grajsou quietly, "may I ask
vou a rather impertinent question? '
"Certainly," snid Ruth. "Then." said
Robert, are vrfu not engaged to Doctor
Stewart?" "Certainly not." said Ruth.
"I am not interested in married men.
nnd Doctor Stewart was married about
a month ngo." "Now, Ruth." said
Robert, "I have a confession to make,
ind he told her the story of the note.
"Oh! you foolish of men. Thnt note
as from Jacqueline Bates, whom we
nlwavs call Jock, and the ring was for
a dear babv girl, whose mother went
to school with Jack and me.
Nothing more was said as Robert
took her in his arms, but two years
'ater the little baby daughter was named
.lacquclinc. ,
The next complete novelette Old
Shoes.
Thinks Birds Use Reason
Do birds reason? Watching them
closely in their activities in their bird
bith affords opportunity for the answer.
Witness the following:
A few nights ngo one bird after an
other tried the hard bread crusts we had
placed on the concrete ledge of their
bath in our back yard. Finding these
crumbs not to their liking, they pro
ceeded to drop them in the pool to soak
nnd then pick them out and ate with
gieat relish.
Another instance: A catbird captured
n juicj bug near the bird bath and laid
it carefully down by the pool. Holding
the bug captive with one foot, the bird
soaked the bread crumbs, then hungrily
devoured its meat sandwki.
This is no camouflage growing out of
fisherman's license. It's a statement of
fact. If any one doubts it, let him con
struct an inexpensive bird bath, lie
thereby will confirm this story, help out
our little friends, the birds, this hot
weather, and incidentally highly enter
tain himself while acquiring a new ap
preciation of birds. Elmer N. 1'owcll,
in the Kansas City Star.
Seats of the Mighty
There are two kinds of girls pretty
girls and those who stand in crowded
trains. Smart Set.
LAST NIGHT WHErJ
I WENT INTO THE
klTCH&N ALONE -
Zj r
- - Ttlffiliaiilll if 11 'ftLiimi... .. ....... !U k, . n i.fi.Ji. , . , . K! . .
Lady of the
Copyright. 1019, by tha Macaulay Co.
Copyright, 1010. by the Fubllo Iedier Co.
BUT she was in no wlso prepared for
what she saw when she got there.
Her extreme caution in approaching
and entering had beta entirely unneces
sary; and, after she was safely inside
and the door was closed, she may be
forgiven for laughter.
Belknap had discovered another one
of the mysteries of the Nest, for, over
against the great stone fireplace, within
a network of steel wires that extended
from beneath the granite shelf straight
out over him nnd down in front of,
and at cither side of him, he was as
securely caged and helpless as ever any
wild beast in a menagerie has been.
"Will you accept your liberty to
night, instead of waiting longer?"
"Yes."
"It is storming outside, and every
body at the house has retired. Will
you go earlier tljan 2 o'clock?"
"I will go now, if you like, if it is
true "that all the guests have gone to
their rooms," he replied.
Kathcrlne was thoughtful for a mo
ment, then she said:
"It is only fair that I should warn
you of somcthiug, Mr, Dcjknap. I am
convinced that Myqucst Is watched."
"As to that" ho snapped 41s fingers
"so am I. I will take care of that
part of it."
"Very good. She stepped to tho end
of the sllelf and released him.
As he stepped free she moved swiftly
across the room, nnd, as if by magic,
the door swung open while .she walked.
and he wms not able to see bow .she did
it. At the opposite side of tho room
she, stopped and faced him. ,
"Go, she said. "The way is open.
I 'have kept all of my promises to you ;
I expect that you are still man enough
to keep yours to me.
"I will," he snid. "May I "
"No. You may do nothing more.
Y'ou may not address me again; other
wise, I will relent. Go."
He went.
Kathcrino relapsed upon a chair as
soon as the doorway had closed after
him.
Belknap's Prepared Getaway
IT WAS exactly twelve minutes, ac
cording to Bingham Harvard's watch,
after Katherine entered the Nest, when
Conrad Belknap came out of ita
lic descended the first steps Bwlftly,
was lost sight of along tho winding
path among the boulders, could be seen
again in his descent of the second stairs,
and then to the nstonishment of those
who watched he started rapidly to
ward the house.
He encountered nobody. The house
had not been closed up, nor the lights
extinguished. He entered the music
room at one of the windows. 1
As directly as the needle of a com
pass points north, he went to the corner
behind the planoj and secured the
"scrubby old cane."
He lifted it, examined it attentively,
worked at the knob on top, found it
secure, tried the ferrule and iooscned it
us far as it would unscrew. Then he
tried the knob again, nnd opened it.
Ho turned white to the lips when
he discovered the object wrapped iu foil
and tissue inside. He extracted it. He
held it worshipfully in the hollow of
one hand nnd stnred at It. His other
hand moved as If to unwind the wrap
pings, and stopped. He put tho object
that was wrapped iu foil and tissue
into his pocket.
He went out of the music room like
n flash. It was wonderful how quickly
he could move when he wanted like
a cat, or any other predatory nultnal
naturally.
DREAMLAND AD VENTURES-ByDaddy
"THE GIRL IN THE TOWER"
(Peggy, Billy and Hollo, the mon
key, go to the icacue of a girl shut
vp 111 a toieer by her perfectly prim
and proper .lunt J'rue, icho has never
let her have any fun or play.)
The Escape
PEGGY was a bit doubtful over
Billy's wink when Penelope, the girl
in the tower, said she would go with
them because the fairies she had read
about were always perfectly prim' and
proper. Peggy thought that Billy's
wink was mischievous and she knew
there were times when Billy was far
from being perfectly prim and proper.
But she knew, too, that while Billy
liked jokes and a good time,, he was a
fine, splendid chap who could be trusted
to do what was fair and right, and she
felt that a taste of fun and play would
do Penelope good instead of harm. It
was awful to think of any one growing
up lo eighteen years of age without a
single frolic.
So Peggy, after 11 moment's thought,
made up her mind Ujat she would be
like the fairy Penelope thought her to
be, and try to give the captive the
glad hour of freedom for which she
begged.
Penelope glanced at her wrist watch.
"I have just an hour," she said,
"This is the time when Aunt True and
the entire castle household take a per
fectly prim and proper afternoon nap.
I must be back when she awakens."
"Then hasten," cried Billy, leading
her to tho dangling rope ladder. "I'll
Copyright. 1910, by the riell Syndicate, Inc.
c-
WHA.T WAS
i was afraid i
woulomt find
the chocolate cake
YOU AFRAID
ABOUT?
Night Wind
The two watehers lost sight of him
then, and could not follow. They
had thought that he would leave the
house by the way ho entered it but
Cranshaw. Belding, otherwise Conrad
Belknap, was far too wise for that
sort of thing.
"Wo have lost him," Tom Claqcy
said.
"Go around to the rear, Tom,"
Blng replied, and darted away without
imparting his own intention.
Harvard, as it happened, having so
often been in tho position of fugitive
himself, presaged Belknap's movements
by what he would have done himself
under like circumstances, and his ideas
were well assumed. He went to the
rose bower, from which he could watch
the side entrance.
Belknap ''appeared at last, moving
cautiously. He darted - among the
shrubbery, and kept himself amid the
deepest shadows; but .Harvard had seen
him lift his head and point, ns a hunt
ing dog points, in the direction of his
course.
Harvard caught sight of him again
as he went out upon the platform at
the boathousc.
Belknap secured a paddle and lifted
a canoe into the water. He got into
it and paddled out upon the lake, mak
ing his way directly toward the dam.
If it had been possible to approach the
Nest by that route, Harvard would have
thought that he was returning to the
chalet.
He was not. He paddled directly toj
the dam. at the opposite end from the
Nest, and Harvard, running like a have,
'followed ,nl6ng the shore of the lake.
But when Bing Harvard got near
enough to the dam he could see only an
empty canoe that was hugged against
it.
"What the dickens " he began to
ask himself, but before he completed
the self-asked question he had thrown
off his cont, vest and shoes and was
in the water. "
Ho swam quickly to the canoe where
it was hugged against the dam and
then he discovered that three big spikes
had been driven securely into a block
of wood which, In its turn, had been
ingeniously wedged into the masonry of
the dam itself; and that n hemp rope
no larger than a clothesline was knotted
around the spikes a knotted rope, to
facilitate descent, Bing had no doubt.
It was Belknap's prepared getaway,
made on the sly; but it was a daring
method. The fall from the top of the
dam to the jagged rocks below was
sixty feet, as Harvard well knew.
"By Jove." Bing muttered to him
self, "tho fellow deserves to get away!
And he will, if he reaches the bottom
in"
He stopped, fascinatel by What he
saw.
The block of wood into which the
spikes had been driven, that had been
wedged Into the masonry of the dam.
trembled; it was coming loose.
Harvard reached out for it fran
tically. He would have grasped and
held it if he could, and saved the
life of the man he had been pursu
ing. ' v
But he was not quick enough. ,
The block of wood came entirely
loose before he could seize upon it,
and disappeared across the top of the
dam. During an instant, which seemed
ah eternity, Harvard listened; but no
cry came up to him from the depths
bplow; only a dull thud, a subdued
crash, and silencer
They found Belknap half an hour
later. It was apparent that he had
been killed instantly. Ills neck was
broken, and there was a jagged wound
above bis right temple besides. While
"A fairy chariot"
go below and hold the ladder steady
while you and Fairy Peggy come
down." Again he winked at Peggy,
and before she could even frown at
his joking, he swung himself to the
ground.
Penelope looked at the ladder,' and
her face grew pale. It surely did
look frail and dizzy, and the ground
was far, far bejow.
"Do you think it is perfcctlj prim
and properj. Fairy reggy?" bhe whis
pered. "Don't be afraid," answered Peggy,
At that Penelope set her teeth firmly
together, shut her ejes tight, and swung
out upon the ladder. She was fright
ened, but brave, and went down step
by step until she 1 cached the solid
By Chas. McManus
ByVARlCK VANARDY
Author of "The Two-Faced Man't
"Alias tho Night Wind," etc. -'
unmindful of what was going on.
the guests at Myqucst slept peace
fully. "V
Within the larger garage, to which'
tho body of Belknap was carried, a
group of people was gathered. There
were several strangers there who went
outside, presently, at the request of
Caruthcrs, for they were the men who
had been assisting him. Rodney Rush
ton was there, and Tom Clancy, and
Julius. Roberta was there, clinging
close to Katherine, Senator Maxwll
ton was there, he having still been
deep in the discussion t genealogy
with Roberta when Katherine sum
moned her. Blng Harvard was there,
very silent and very still.
When Carruthers sent his men away,
he closed the door and turned to face
those who remained; but
As ho made tho turn he swept ona
hand across his face.
As if by 'magic the" hideous" scar that
had so, distorted and changed .his every
feature, was torn away, and he stood
revealed to all as Roderick Maxwilton.
Katherine, who .had been a long time
in consultation with Julius, vvas, in
a half measure, prepared for it ; never
theless sho started forward with a
quick cry of joy and threw Ijcr'arms
around her brother's, neck, to the ut
ter nrnazement of Blng.
It was tho senator (who, pjddly,
seemed Jiot surprised at all) who step
ped to Bing's side quickly and riUijred
the three words that explained tie sit
uation. "It is Roderick," be saW; then, after
n momeut, he added: "I knew yester
day, Bingham. He took me aside and
told Bio. Then, tonight, after dinner,
wc went together to his mother; nnd
Bingham she is as happy now as she
was on thnt day, jcars ago, when she
brought him into the world."
"Roberta," the senator went on,
"come here." Then: "Katherine, Ro
berta is a Maxwilton. She is a cousin,
many times removed. She is even
closer kin -to your wife, Tom," he
added, turning to Clancy. "They had
the same great-grandmother. She is,
I am proud to state, a Maxwilton."
"You bet sho is!" Roderick an
nounced, reaching out and clasping one
of her hands. "And she is going
to be a Maxwilton by name as well as
by nativity." ,
"This is not a moment nor a place
for rejoicing," Katherine announced,
"so, although it is late, I want you
all to come with me to the library.
I have something of interest to tell."
"One moment," said Roderick. "Be
fore wc leave the bilcnt member of
this party, I have something to tell.
He has been as bad as bad could bo,
but there was am explanation for it,
if not nn excuse. He is dead, now. In
his possession, when his clothing was
searched, wc found quite an assortment
of papers. Some of them related to'
the hiding places of certain engraved
plates which the United States Gov
ernment will now secure, and destroy.
Others referred to matters connected
with me, and are proof sufficient of
my innocence of certain acts with which
I was oucc charged, if, happily, it
were not the fact that i&-vc already
been ncquitted of it $5'my own de
partment. So I shall suggest that no
further reference be made to bis mis
deeds, and in making that proposal I
know that I will havehe approval of
my chief. He is dead Let him rest."
"And he died without knowing that
he, did not possess the Eye of Nadja,"
Katheriue exclaimed. "I am very glad
of that. Yes, I an glad of it."
And, until sheftold her story in the
library, they did not kuow what she
mcantt, ,
The End
earth. Peggy, scarcely less frightened,
followed, and then Rollo, tho monkey,
let tho rope ladder fall while he slid
down the rainwater pipe,
"Mj. that made me feel queer kiift
of thrilly all over," whispered Penelope.
"Do you think that perfectly prim and
proper?"
''Perfectly," answered Peggy, who
was already following Billy across the
lawn to the summer house.
"Alas, how are we going to escape
from the grounds?" cried Penelope..
"The gunrds at the gato never sleep,
and there is no other way to get out."
"Wc have a way," laughed Billy, and
he parted the curfain of leaves to show
the tunnel. like path along the bed of
the brook.
"Ob, I can't walk throueh there. .It
wouldn't bo perfectly prim and proper," ,
objected Penelope. Billy agreed with
ner. Jt was pretty hard for a boy to
walk through the cold water and ver
the pebbly bottom, much less a girl,
And ho couldjilt carry Penelope' the jyay
he had Peggy, for Penelope was eighteen
years old, and altogether too large.
Glancing around, Billy's eves chnnred
kipon a wheelbarrow, left at the edge of
me iawn Dy tne gardener, who was now
taking his afternoon nap in the hay
loft. "A fairy chariot!" exclaimed Billy,
whceljngvthe barrow to the entrance of
the tunnel. "Step in, fair ladies, and
I will vvhjsk you away to freedom,"
"Do you think it would be perfectly
prim and " Penelope started to ob-
ject, but Peggy gently pulled the girl
down beside her in the -barrow, and
Billy plunged into the tunnel.
.3V:. m7,- f001 so "irilly so
thrilly, whispered Penelope. "I won
der what is the matter with me?"
Peggy smiled wisely she felt thrilly
herself. It was so much fun riding
through the tunnel In a whcclbarrpw.
loncloiie was having fun and didn't
know It.
Hollo, the monkey, wa.s waiting at
the great stone wall. He had carried
the rope ladder ovor the trectbps, and
now It was hanging ready for them to
ascend. It took but a few minutes for
them to climb over and down to the
bank pf the rippling river. Here Billy
was puzzled again. He couldn't carry
Penelope, as he had carried Peaev?
What should he do? , '"
Away off In Blrdland sounded a
familiar voice: "Hee-haw! Heehaw!
I'm off for a lark. Prince Billy and
Princess Peggy, where are you?"
Billy save a glad 1shout "Balky
Sara I Balky Sam I Come here I""
Balky Sam heard, and in another
minute the army mule stood on the op.
poslte shore waving his big cars in
greeting to them,
JTomorroic will be old Auto Pm1. nJi
I'ojie IvughihrMt fir$f time.) J "m
' n 1. v
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