i DALLAS POST. DALLAS, PA. FRIDAY, _JUNE 28, 1035. a y y a wT — cm" 5 THE STORY CHAPTER : 1.—Prudence Schuyler es from New York to Prosperity Farm, inherited from her uncle, to make a new life for herself and her er, David, whose health has been ah I—Ths. second day on her farm’ Prue adventures into the loft: after eggs. She slips on the ‘and falls to. the. ground—would een badly hurt had not stropg arms been there to catch her. arms are those of Rodney Gerard, ri ch young man, Who lives at High ges on ths neighboring farm. There at once a mutual attraction between eo two. Rod decides to stay at his home throughout the fall and winter, “looking after the timber.” But Pru- ‘dence decides to maintain a cool at- titude toward him. She suspects mén since her sister's husband ran away with her brother's wife. CHAPTER IIL—Len Calloway, a rival of Rod Gerard, tries to buy the ‘timber off Prue's land, but she dis- es his conceited attitude and con- cts with Rod to dispose of the trees. Rh the evening Prue is expecting David Sl New York she is visited by Mrs. Walter Gerard and her thirteen-year- ola daughter, Jean. They are hateful, curious persons and leave Prue rankled. CHAPTER IV.—A few days later Prudence comes in contact with them ain when she accompanies Rod to is place. A clown comes, advertising » circus in a nearby town. Prue prom- ses to accompany Rod and Jean to the ~ oircus. ; CHAPTER V.—They go to the cir- 5, and while they are watching the ~! arade, Chicot, an old clown, is ac- ~ cidentally killed. He was the grand- father of Milly Gooch, one of the cir- cus riders. Rod became friendly with Milly “when she and her parents spent ‘a year on Prosperity Farm. Now her he available laborers in the district ‘so that they cannot be hired to cut ‘the timber for Rodney Gerard. ~~ CHAPTER VILI—Milly Gooch broke her engagement to Calloway; he be- ieves Rod was the cause and has since een Rod's enemy. After the accident to Chicot, Rod calls on Milly to see f he can be of any help. Prue hardens herself still more against Rod when she sees in the newspaper a flashlight ¥ Picture of him with Milly. CHAPTER VIL—Rodney 1s forced to ‘go to New York for timber cutters. David goes with him and helps select men from among the Rescue Mission hangers-on. After their: departure for New York, the ne’er-do-well Walter @erard arrives, evidently wishing to ‘borrow money from his half-brother, ‘Rod. \ CHAPTER VIIL.—Walter Gerard be- ‘comes a daily, unwelcome, caller at Prue’s home, where his daughter, Jean, is staying during Rod's absence. Rod nds Prue roses from the city by “airplane. To keep the knowledge of the workers’ arrival from Calloway, rudence enters her timber tract with ~ Calloway on the pretense of bargain- ing with him on the lumbering. He gecnfines. “her in a cabin. { CHAPTER IX ds Sudden. ntoutrolishle panic shook ‘Prudence. In the tense silence she stared up into Calloway’ inscrutable face. : “Thought you'd double-cross me, idn’t you? There are Sever] trails to this cabin.” At his harsh voice her mind and courage sprang to arms. \ . “My cabin, isn’t it? I had no dea it was so—so luxurious.” ~ She forced her eyes to move Howls, as if appraisingly from the antlers over the fireplace to the water bucket on the bench by the door, on to the ‘wood pile near the hearth with an 8x leaning, again it.. That ax—she oked away quickly. Calloway must not suspect that it had seemed like eeting an unexpected friend. ~ “Rather nice. I came here the other day with Jim Armstrong, but we didn’t come in.” She was talking against time. Sure- ly Jean must have reached the red brick house by. this time. Must have told someone where she was. “Better sit down,” Calloway sug- gested with sickening suavity. He ~ pushed forward a wooden chair. Thank you. I prefer to stand here. ” Prudence caught hold of the ‘great shelf of rock, which served as a mantel, with a grip which turned her nails white. “Suit yourself. When you beat it, 5 1 figured that any path you'd take would lead here. I took a short cut and started the fire. There were red coals; someone's been using the place. Sorry I can’t provide a lamp. It’s get- ting dark outside.” If Prudence had distrusted the man ‘back on the trail, she hated him now, ~ hated his mocking smile to which the ~ flickering light gave a Satanic twist. She took a step forward. ~ “Then we had better start home at once. I'm wet and c-cold.” In one move he was between her “and the door. - “Hold on! Why the rush? You've ~~ been fooling me, haven't you? Been trying to make me believe that I was to cut your timber, while all the time you had your tongue in your cheek. What's the game? I was ready to play fair, Ty ve no quarrel with you. I'm a “Just man. But: ‘you've tricked me. Now yowll pay for it. I'll keep you “here till you sign a contract for me to © parents are dead. Calloway-intimidates. By Emile Loring . CAL : 1 trained on you. tell you my game, as you call it. HILLTOPS. LEAR , W.N.U. SERVICE ~ cut ror Fou His cool, restrained ferocity stopped Prue's heart for an instant. She seat- ed herself in the one chair, carefully spread her skirts to the blaze, and looked up at him. > “ “You think you will keep me here, you mean. Wake up! You are in the Twentieth ceutury. You have for- gotten that three persons already know with whom I came into the woods. I'll Rod- ney Gerard is bringing in a crew. 1 preferred that you shouldn't see them arrive. And you didn’t. Basy, wasn’t it?” : He seized her “shoulders. With all -her strength she shook off his hands and retreated to the fireplace. “Don’t touch. me again! dare!” The words shivered into a whisper. The icy cold of the brook was stealing through her bones. Calloway folded his arms and scowled. “He is a little mad,” she thought, as she had thought once before. ait “Dare! That's a joke. Who can stop me? Your foxy partner is busy with his gang, isn’t he? I take off my hat to you,. you put your fake friendli- ness across. I believed you. I asked you to marry me! You've been laugh- ing at me! Now it’s my turn: You're here and here you stay. You needn’t shiver. bum, I'm not a lady-snatcher like Rod Gerard. I'm a just man! I'm entitled to be boss of this eounty and no one's going to block me. Get that. I won't stand for interference.” Prudence regarded Calloway in- credulously, The man was molding his life to an obsession. “Why are you staring at me? Don’t you understand? You'll spend the night here, and then I guess—” “Say, lissen! You've got another guess comin’, Buddy.” “A man swayed in the entrance. His hunted eyes, set in dark rings, glared from his cadaverous face, as vicious a face as ever scowled behind bars. From clawlike fingers a revolver dan- gled, : Prudence pressed her hand hard | against her lips to keep back a cry. The convict? Perhaps he had taken the emerald and diamonds last night. Perhaps she had been horribly unjust to Walter Gerard. Calloway sprang Don’t for him. He leveled the gun. It clicked. : “Hands up! Lay off! Get me? If either you or the jane yip, I'll put a bullet through each of you, an’ I wouldn't stop to choose which first, either. I ain’t like you, you big noise. I am a bum.” He watched Calloway’s retreat through half-elosed lids. The glint between them was murderous. Pru- dence said as flippantly as if her heart were not shaking her body with its “elamor oi “This is getting to be one of those parties, isn’t it?” “Say, you're a cool one, sister. I guess you can have the cabin after all, Buddy. There’ll be folks here after this skirt you kidnaped.” “I haven't kid—" “Keep your mouth down!” Calloway sat with a ‘suddenness which rocked the chair. The man in possession of the revolver scowled at Prudence. “Here you! Scatter that fire! Quick! Think I want the whole pack after you shut! Sit following that smoke? That'll do. Drop the stick! Stand up by the chim- ney! Gimme those pearls!” One instant of paralyzing fright, and then an inner strength sprang to Prue’s rescue. x; “ “Pearls!” Her laugh was a master- plece of its kind. “Pearls! realize that my wax beads could fool anybody.” The man edged nearer. His revol- ver covered Calloway, whose eyes looked like those of a trapped fox. “Wax beads! Oh yeah? Think I don’t know the real thing when I see it? What do you s’pose I was doin’ a stretech— Get going, sister. Take’em off, quick, or I'll do it, an’ I won’t be too easy, neither. Lissen, get a move on!” Was this nightmare, Prudence won- dered, as her unsteady hand fumbled with the diamond and platinum clasp at the back of her neck. It must be. What had seemed an amusing plan to divert Len Calloway couldn’t develop into a possible tragedy, could it? - The man grabbed the pearls from her fingers, weighed them in his left hand. His leer was horrible. “Wax beads! Oh, yeah! I guess they’ll get me three squares a day for a year of two.” Was that a faint call? Prudence caught her throat to stifle an ex- clamation. The man with the revolver stiffened. He thrust the pearls into his dirty shirt. His eyes went dead. “Lissen, you two. Someone’s com- ing. T'm gettin’ out. T’ll keep this gat If either of you tip ’em off T's~ haon here TIl ghoot vou You are safe enough. I'm no I didn’t: I on the trail. rn know.” } - He backed to the door. With a quick SWOoOop/ Prudence flung brush on the coals. Smoke would give a clue to the rescuers. It caught fire and roared up chimney. “Why you—" Dazed by her daring, the fugitive hesitated. In that instant Calloway sprang and caught him about ie id Both of Youl” the shoulders. The revolver clattered to the floor. Prue seized it. “Don’t waste your strength, Callo- way.” Why couldn’t she keep her voice steady? “I’ve got him covered. I'm not a crack shot, but I think I can drop him at this distance.” Calloway turned ang took a step for- ward, “Stay where you ‘are! Hands up! Both of you! If you move, the next s-scene in this Sergen thriller will be cut by the censor.” Gun in one hand, one hand clutch- ing the back of the chair, Prudence covered the two men. She disciplined a wild impulse to shout with laughter. paying Milly Goocli’s bills? Have you— Hi—there—you !” He lunged for the man in’ front, Caught him about the waist. Fum- bling for holds, the two strained and panted. The fugitive was smaller, but fear of a return to prison-gave him superhuman strength. He twisted and twined about Calloway’s legs until both went down with a crash. With the agility of a cat and the cry of an en- raged animal, the victor was on his feet, whirled, and grabbed the gun from Gerard's hand. Crouching, he backed toward the fireplace. His eyes were flames. He aimed the revolver steadily. “Beat it, you two guys—and beat it quick! TI Jeep the® pearls—and the i Bir)” v Prudence rotrested to the wood pile. She had thought her mind geared to surprises, but this quick turn stopped her heart. She couldn’t back away further; the wood pile was like a wall behind her. Hadn't David said that nine times out of ten when one was backed against an insurmountable wall, a gate would open behind if you put up the fight of your life? Perhaps there was a gate in this wall—perhaps. A gate! Cautiously, breathlessly, she groped behind her. The conviet’s clawlike fingers tight- ened on the revolver. He scowled hid- eously at Gerard. “Hey, you! Cut out that cig. stuff! Beat it, or I'll fire and—" With all her force Prudence brought the dull side of the ax down on his arm. His sentence shattered into pro- fanity. His gun clattered to the floor, Gerard seized it, thrust it against His ~back as he whirled on Prue. - “Hey! Cut that out!” “Beat it, or I'll fire!” Gerard’s words, if not his voice, were a perfect imita- tion as he prodded the cursing, sham- bling man toward the door. Calloway thundered “You're not let- ting him get away, Rod? Don’t you know he’s the escaped prisoner they're hunting 77 “He won’t make his get-away with you at his heels. It's your job to de- liver him to the sheriff after you've frisked Miss Schuyler’s pearls off him. Get busy, Len.” How could Rodney be so cool, so smiling, Prudence wondered frantically. ‘“He don’t need get busy. Here they are.” The captive pulled the ‘lovely, lustrous string from under his ragged, dirty shirt. Prudence snatched it from the floor and clutched it tight against - her breast. “Come across with those jewels!” Gerard poked a reminder. “Lissen, don’t get fresh with the gat. I've coughed up the pearls, ain’t I—an’ I don’t know nothin’ about no. jewels.” “Let him go! Let him go! care about the jewels. Please let him go.” The break in Prue’s voice mad- dened her. The muscles of Gerard's jaw tight. ened. “On your way!” He held out the revolver, “Take it, Len. Don’t let this bird stop till you have him safe behind bars.” I don’t Calloway gripped the gun. He said through clenched teeth: “You're taking chances. How do you know I won’t shoot you?” Rodney Gerard regarded him through | narrowed lids and smiled. “Because you're such Len. Drop that ax, Prue, need it again.” “Get going!” partially expended in the jab he gave the man at the other end of the re- volver. The door swung on its hinges. a just man, | you won't |. Calloway’s fury was | 7 Calloway’s face! His mouth ne open as if surprise had permanently dislocated his jaw. The other-—she shivered—never ~'had she seen such eyes. Trapped. Desperate. Murder- ous. She had not known that anything human could look like that. David had known, though. Dave! Where was he? If only— The cabin door! Opening! Slowly! Soundlessly! Something sinister in its caution, Had the escaped convict a pal? Her blood chilled. Who had come? “Give me that gun!” Rodney Gerard had the povolver in his hand before Prudence realized who had dashed into the cabin. With a re- lieved sigh Calloway dropped his hands. : “Put ’em up again!” “Don’t be a darn fool, Gerard. T—" “Put em up! There's blood on your i “forehead, Prue. Who hurt you?” Prue’s brain felt curiously light. Her yoice seemed to trickle from a great empty space behind her eyes. “Hurt me! No one. Believe it or not, I was about to add a colorful fact to the state of Maine war against crime, when you crashed in. They're an intriguing pair, aren ’t they? Read- ing from left to right, you have first a just man!” “Steady, Prue. Don’t shiver like that. I'll get your pearls.” “While you're getting those, you might make that man return the jewels he stole from my safe last night.” “Lissen, what does the jane mean, jewels? Do you-think if I had any- thing I could turn inte money I'd be hangin’ round here? Say, she’s crazy.” Was the man acting amazement, or hadn't he taken the emerald? “Crazy or not, you'll come along with us. Get going!” Gerard the revolver a suggestive hitch. ‘“Fol- low him, Calloway. Keep your hands up, both of you. Prue, come on.” She nodded. Len Calloway looked as if he were burning up, his face had a purplish tinge. He spoke between clenched teeth. “I'll get going all right. But watch out, Gerard. I’m not through with you. Miss Schuyler’s all for you, isn’t she? Have .you .told her that you've been Through the opening came the crack: ling of twigs ‘under stumbling, heavy feet, rough voices. The sounds dwin- dled into forest silence. : “Is it s-safe to go now?” With un- steady fingers Prue tried to clasp the pearls about her throat. “In just a minute. Let me do thaf. Bend your head, Gorgeous.” The husk in Gerard’s voice, his fin- gers against the back of her neck set Prue shivering again. “What's the matter?” He looked down at her skirt. “Your clothes are soaked. Your lips are blue. How did you get so wet? That's a mean bruise, What happened?” “Lost © my way. Fell into the b-brook”. $ He pulled off his coat. “Put your arms in. Don’t argue, Do as you're told. It’s not a perfect thirty-six, but it will help keep you warm.” “How did you know where I was?’ “Jean got anxious about you. Turned back and met us, That child has a brain. She knew you shouldn't have gone with Calloway. Why, why did you do it?’ 3 “Jim wished he could be out of the way when the g-gang arrived. I tried to help, and now you c-crab—" “I'm not crabbing. Don’t you know that I almost lost my mind when Jean told me where you'd gone? Don’t you know that I went through h—I getting to you? Don’t you know that it’s tor- ture for me to see you shiver and have my hands: tied by that infernal promise I made? If I were to touch you—" The caressing break in his voice, the faint tremor of his lips sent the blood “burning to Prue's hair. “Oh, come on! Let's get out of here!” He pulled a flashlight from his coat pocket. “Let’s hurry! “Go on.” He followed as she entered the trail. Every swish of her wet skirts about her knees sent a million little icy shiv- Hurry! I'm frozen!” tion swept her, “You're freezing! Take your coat. 1 don’t need it, r-really I don’t.” “Stop talking. Go on! If you don’t, I will carry you, and you are not a fairy, girl.” He was cold, but of course he wouldn't acknowledge it. Had he heard what Calloway had said about Milly and money—OQoch, how cold her legs and feet were—like sticks of ice! There! She had put the right one for- ward. Now the left—right—left— right—Had Rodiey paid the circus girls bills? Left—right—"Keep on feet !”—left—right—march time—the words were like a merry-go-round. She couldn’t stop them, The clearing at last. Copper-red light on the trees. A fire? No, the sunset! A sky of rainbow splendor. The color warmed her, all except her feet. Right—Ileft— they had frozen— Someone caught her bled. arms. “How warm—how heavenly—Left— | right—Please—p-lease — Jim — Jim— stop those words going round and round—" Someone smothered something be- | tween his teeth. Someone pulled off i the coat, bundled her into something as she stum- Someone picked her up in his |" woolly and soft, something that smelled of tobacco, lifted her into a car. She was warmer. Those horrid | | words had stopped whirling. Why { should she have thought for an instant that she was with Jim Armstrong? She looked at the man at the wheel. a pearl thief, then ‘a—just man—such’ gave ers coasting along her veins. Gerard. faced her down the trail. The hand that touched her was like ice. Contri- “Thank. goodness, you have put on your coat! It would be you—the man- of-the-moment,” she said unsteadily." He looked straight down into her eyes. Straight and deep. “But all the time you thought I was Jim.” Prudence closed her lids tight. That pesky, “Left!” “Right!” started in her head again. She had better keep them open. Rodney Gerard needn’t growl at her. Suppose she were to re- mind him of Milly Gooch and—lucky she had found that out in time! Gerard drew the robe closer about her. “Warmer Gorgeous?” If he spoke to her again in that un- steady voice, she would cry her heart out on his shoulder, then where would she be? 2 “Warmer—but—a roaring fire and a cup of hot tea will seem like heaven. ‘Jim will—" “Jim! Jim! You think of him every minute. Why don’t you marry him?” Prudence shut her eyes. She had been about to say that Jim would think him lost. He had handed her a weapon of defense. ‘She rushed to her own destruction. “IT "have ‘had that idea myself—in fact it is quite settled.” air long after they were spoken, to vibrate like a violin string which had been roughly struck. What a lie! What an outrageous lie! She had stripped off honor and truth in a de- termination to protect herself from fu- ture heartache. What would Jim Arm- He® mustn't After what seemed hours of time and miles of road, she begged in strong say if he knew? know. what she recognized as absurd anti climax, you to anyone—even David. 1 just flung it at you.” “Don’t worry. good news. You are hoarse. chilly 2” are almost home! brick house!” dine at High Ledges CAs LT - “Don’t Try to Be Funny. Drink It.” pe wanted to tell you of our experiences —but if you've taken cold—” “I never take cold. As soon as I get off these wet clothes I'll be all right.” How could she face Jim Arm- strong, she wondered. He lifted her out of the roadster and pulled off the robe. “You're shiv- ering. There isn't a light in the house. Where is Jane Mack?” “Having t-tea with Mrs, S#Si, prob- ably.” “You’re shivering again. I'm going in with you!” Come on! “No! No! Go home! I don’t need anyone.” “Sez you! Come on!” He laid a compelling arm about her shoulders and drew her along the path. The knob of the front door turned under his hand. He followed her into the living room which was faintly lighted by blinking coals on the hearth. “Sit in that wing chair. Don’t try to talk.” He flung pine cones from the big copper kettle beside the fireplace on the embers. They blazed. Carefully he laid birch kindling; when that caught he piled on large logs and lighted the lamp. Prudence protested hoarsely ;: “Please don’t do anything more. I can take care of myself.” ‘ ‘Got a heater in the house? Is your room warm?” “My own room upstairs? Only when I have a fire in the stove.” “Then I'll get your dry clothes, you can’t stay in those wet things, and you are not going up to that cold room to change. Stick out your foot.” He dropped to one knee azd unlaced the boot she automatically held out. For an instant she was dumb from sur- prise, but only for an instant. “Rodney Gerard, don’t dare go to my room,” “Did you say ‘dare’? I'm going un- der the Trading with the Enemy act. It’s being used this year.” He carefully removed the other boot, hearth, and crossed the room. garded him as he returned. crepe pajamas hung over one green over the other, known what to bring? “Here you are! wet things and into these.” - He drew a chair in front of the Get out of those | The words seemed to twang in the “Please don’t mention what I told We—we don’t want it known—at ‘present, I— I—well, you made me angry and—and I shan’t broadeast the Stil] “I'm warmer, but thank heaven, we There’s the red , “David and I had planned for you to tonight—he placed the pair side by side on the Huddled in the wing chair, she re- | Green | arm, her | flannel house coat striped in blue and | How had he | | | | i I fire and Tald thé garments over It8 back. Prudence regarded him with a superior smile, as superior as a smile could be with chattering teeth be- hind it. “Just naturally helpful, aren't you? x 1 haven't the slightest intention of x ch-changing.” I'll stay here until M-Macky gets back.” “You have another guess coming to you. You'll change to dry clothes while I'm in the kitchen making a cup of hot tea. Now get this, If you haven’t when I come back, I'll peel off those wet things myself.” He paused on the threshold. “Make it snappy. It doesn't take.long to boil water.” Prudence wrinkled her nose at his back. The act of defiance precipi- rl tated a body-wrenching sneeze. Let i fi him try to make her change. Just let him try. She glanced furtively at the pas jamas and coat over the chair. They : alls looked blissfully warm, and she was = . { frozen. Why not put them on? Why SEE freeze for the pleasure of, -