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V 1127. ■ >v ■ By£j£I ‘T^U - ’ -t* ~ m * OUM^ OUT- |ne«>5. h? V/v ^itr' [ONE ^I3>E o^-A-HcTOE. Hovt/r , C OT^tir r )5l»R *H£7_1 /40TTA MOVc_j Too f IN A4AIH tafcMagm* ” 6 Co ia'Pu'A' »NT; LAC<oF • Hias^iTA^iTV m ? / ^*25 |£ -H^i MT M I/AT 5 VV'Ron ^ I a l Tfli?ew -4|i3 AuNt .OUT- cS>U|-T£_ (j Kl I NTENTIO^ALlT) w >*4*< ;• V .+ * ■ Jyy AiipKael J. Phillips lustration* ly Homy J^y Loo Cogyridit MIcKmI V. PKillip* - Tiittimtl thru PuJ»liah«rs Autocut«r Service :^N L<^ THE LEADING CHARACTERS 1 Edison Forbes, a young resident of Scottdak trHh an inherent craving fm liquor, is held for the death of a nuntn who has been killed by h boot- .iNTRing truck. Circunutatniul envi- denee points to Forbes ard rath* er than toll the truth of thr episodti, which would clear him hot cast another friends into bad arrived. But it wasn’t like Pat to go without a word. She had left a mee- •sage. It should he here, if the motor- tramp had riot) destroyed tit. Hi* glance turned to the fireplace. There were ashes and blackened embers, a crumpled newspaper, and, yes, par tially under the black log, a little ball of white paper. He smoothed it out. It was in Patsy Jana. He must convince her that this time hig resolution was com plete and sincere, that he would never drink again. * The thought of her working in Long Portage made him writhe. All this Ettle world, as all their, former world of Scottdale, must consider him a drunken failure. He was surprised to note that this eventful day was but half spent. The s- triatj»»4Jlua«atea4in E&i*’* .***»* thorspghhredl Verliead wRen 'term in prison. The *53Sl8ppHBE pointed and well- govornor of the state, an old friend of Eddie’s father, believes him inno- oant and pardons him shortly after his arrival at the jail. Back in. Scott dale ho and Scoots Libbey, a worthless charact er, who haa smashed his machine into another car, killing its lone occupant, a woman. Forbes’ companion and libbey quit the scene hurridly, leaving the former alone to face a constable who reasons that Eddie, with the acent of whiskey about him, must be con aqme way with the accident, Accordingljft^Fart*s is arrested. Patsy Jane, Eddie’s pretty wife, a- grets that public sentiment runs too high against him. Accordingly they migrate up nofth to some land that haa been in t|he family for log cabin n, a neighbor, pays it and intimates that back taxes for t^f years. Battled in theiy Irish the Forbes a are somei shaped. “They have just told me in Long Portage,” he read, “that you passed through town yesterday, drunk. So I cannot stay any loger. There is so use. You would ruin both our lives. I know you can conquer this habit if you wish. Show that you care enough ab^ut me to do it. I am going to town to work.” He looked UP- The eyes of his late adversary, from a face that was a ranear, were fixed upon him. Ed die laughed grimly, drew a chair for ward and sat down, confronting the motor-tramp. The rifle was across his knees. “Found out who #wns the house?” he asked “Yes,” responded the man in a sub dued tone. “You do. Can I have some water?” couple to ’pAy. Sealman offers to give Eddie a job after he goes down to Long Portage, a nearby town, and learns about the taxes. The neoct day while walking about Emir property they discover a mys terious mound that contains outcrops dlmilar to salt. At the tax office Forbes learns that the back* taxes a- mount to over eight hundred dollars and that the certificates are held by lie has five to pay. A few days later he helps a booze truck out of the mud and » presented with a bottle of whiskey which he hides before walk ing over to interview Seahnan. Not finding him in, Eddie im bibes too freely of his liquor and mu a result Patsy warns him that the next occurrence pf & similar nature will result in her departure. Ssalman hears of the trip to the tax office and makes a generous offer for their place, but Eddie, scenting something in the air, declines. Seal- mpn cdfuses him work and several Then one day, Eddie’s wEakten and he accept a ride aboard another liquor truck. He dkinks heavily . Now Continue! CHAPTER XIII Patsy Declares Herself Eddie backed until he possessed him self of the rifle. It was loaded, he ^He straigh&ned the uncon- man, thrust the table aside, and permitted the other to slide to Em floor. Ho sat huddled against the legs by the fireplace. Rifle in 4, qtid with frequent glances at blood-stained figure, Eddie look- about the cabin. his belongings had not been Hie atdtcass, under one bad not been disturbed, sf Pstey Jane’s was to be the other bag before the usurper “After we’ve talked. Who sent you here?” “Nobody. ^Tcame along and found it—” “You knew I wa^ coming beck. Why did you try to drive. me out with a gun?” The man did not speak. “Well,” went on Eddie, “there’s a law against trespass. Guess I’ll turn you over to the sheriff.” The motor-tramp looked up. “Don’t do that, mister,” he pleaded. “HI go away from here ' v 'letf ■‘*‘7 , T' . «*af conbidered. Nothing parti cular could be gained by sending the fellow to the coupty jail. If he had been hired to hold the cabin against its rightful owner,, he was merely acting for some one else. He would not know that other’s motives. It was possible, too, that he was telling the truth; that he was a wanderer who had stayed in the cabin before. “All right,” agreed Eddie, I’ll let you go. But you must get out of this country and stay out. ’ First, clean up this place and put all my stuff back where you found it. If you try any funny-business—” His finger-nails clicked significantly on the stock of the rifle. The man rose unsteadly. He wash ed the blood from his face at the pump and took a long drink of water. He ran the rusty car out of the gar age, loaded it with hiv belongings and tied 1 them in place with pieces of wire and rope. Piece by piece, he restored Eddie’s furniture and bedding, after sweeping and scrubbing the floors and burning the litter in the fireplace. When he left, his rifle accompanied him. But Eddie had taken the pains to remove all his cartirdges. The victor washed hie own hurts. He was relieved to find that the scalp wound was not seriour?. He trembled with weakness as he cooked a nd ate the first satisfying meal in several day*. His strength flowed back after he had eaten. He prepared to set out for town. It was a long walk, if : h« could get no ride, but he bad to find road He had not walked far when he was overtaken by Milo Bull, fore man of the Davenant ranch. “Hop in,” incited Bull, stopping the car alongside. Eddie surveyed the lanky Bull with shrewd glances. He was freshly shaven, and a necktie knotted awkwardly under the collar of his flannel shirt. * “Mr. Davenant’s coming on the afternoon train, isn’t he?” querifed Eddie. “Yeah,” replied the foreman. “Got a telegram yesterday.” “Now, don’t you go hiring too many men down town,” commanded Eddie, smiling. “I’ll be over bright and early tomorrow.” “All right, Forbes; if there’s a job for anyone, you’ll have it” He look ed at Eddie quizzically: “Of course A it’s none of my business, but whose buzzsaw did you tangle with?” “Found a tramp in my cabin and a week on* so ago. She said he’d call for it. “She"is working in Mr. Kin- nane’s office,” he added, watching Eddie to see how the information would be received. “Thank you,” returned Eddie, non committally, and drew back to cover the charges. He drove two blocks up the street to the one-story frame building which eerved Lawyer Joeeph Kinnane as an office Mr. Kinnane was *in court, Patsy Jane was alone in the sunshiny main room when he entered. The color left her face and her hand flew to her throat when she aaw his disfigure ment “Eddie!” she breathed, “you’re hurt!” But she kept the tall pine railing between them and recoiled when he attempted to take her in his arms. “Not much,” he replied, with a rueful smile at the repulse. “A tramp had our house and didn’t want to leave. But I got him out finally.” She surveyed him anxiously. “Don’t you want to hear about it—where As* juxtJfy - lfimselfI and restless under her grave, unsmiling eyes. “Why, yes, Eddie.” So he &»Fd her everything. He • —. «; * t blamed himself fully and made no excuses, though his boyish, disarm ing smile pleaded for him “I know I’ve said this before,” he concluded, “but this time I mean it. I’m through Pat. Never again. I’m off the booze for life. There’s nothing in it from any standpoint “Besides, the stuff’s getting wors? and worse. It’s downrivht dangerous. But it won’t catch me. I’ll never take another drink. So you jUst quit here and come on back home. I’m sure of a job on the Davenant ranch tomor row.” ’ CHAPTER XIV. A New Job “Poor kid,” he rattled on, for her attitude nor her expression had not changed, “it must have been tough, that night alone in the house, not N Wrmour- YOU!” YOU CANT WIN IT WITH,ME. THAT’S BEEN PROVEN.” . ^■1 " ’ i \ wHaiir- fight. It must be made right away, if you’re to win.” " v “But, Pa^l” There Was hurt and bewilderment in his eyes and his tones. “I know it; I know all that. But the* fight is won. I’ve told you I’ll never touch another drop When the craving for the stuff comes you must be there to help me fight it.” She smiled sadly. “I’ve been with you before when the craving came and it didn’t make any difference,” she reminded him. “You’re mistaken, Eddie. The fight isn’t over. You can’t win it with crutches. You must win it alone.” “But I can’t win it without you!” “You can’t win it with me. That’s been proven.” It was a wretched hour that follow ed, painful for both of them. Eddie pleaded with all the power of a lova ble personality. It gftsw harder and harder to hold out against him, but somehow Patsy Jane did. “No,” she would say. “I don’t dare. If I give in now, Eddie, you’ll neve, oull. always.be a dru ard, if poisonous liquor doesn’t kill you before your time. Please don’t ask me.” He gave over at last, his free sul lenly clouded. “Well, when are you coming back?” he asked, more un- kindness in his tone than he had ever displayed toward her before. “When will this cure be complete?” “Oh, I don’t know—I don’t know,” she replied dreadily. “There hasn’ been a single month since our mar riage that you haven’t had liquor; that you havn’t been drunk.” Maybe six months or a year—” He echoed her words with angry incredulity. “Why don’t you get n divorce and be done with it?” h* de manded. “I think that’s yhat you’re aiming at.” He slammed the door violently as he went out But remorse overtook him before fee reached the car. He yrettt back to find Patsy bowed in tears over the typewriter. “I’m a beast, Pat,” he said, remorsefully. “I’m not worth crying over. It wasn’t true, that nasty thing I said. You’re right. It will have to be fought out. And I suppose I must do it alone. I can,see you sometimes?” She nodded a nd smiled through her tears. H., P. Davenant decided to go through with hb ambitious schem he didn’t want to leave,” explained Eddie. “I’d been away for a few ckQfeand when I came hack he’d taken possession.” < A short distance from town they saw two motor car* ahead of them in the road. One, bulging like a fat man carrying many packages, Eddie recognized as the property of the tramf). When their car came into view the other one, headed toward them, was started »nd the conference which had been going on was broken Up. The eastbound automobile, Ed die noted as it passed them, was oc cupied by Seahnan. ' He went first to Long Fine’s largest garage. His car was there, the at tendant told him readily, glancing curiously at his disfigured face the while. The misses had brought it in knowing where I was or what had becotpe of me!”. Concern and contri tion overspread his face/ “I’m a beast, Pat; a selfish beast But it’s the last time. Where you staying?” “With Mr. v and Mrs. Kinnane. They’re nice old people.” “Well, we’ll gorget aH this and start out on .the right foot. I’ll see Mr. Kinnane and explain—” “No.” The word stopped him m midsentence. “I can’t do it, Eddie. This hag net been an impulse I’ve thought it all out I don’t dare go on any longer. Drinking is a habit with you. It will become more of a habit as the years go on until you are just a sod.” She drew her breath sharply. “It wSH never he any easier to ftop than it ig now. You t fight on four hands, a terribly ng owof’hls ffcnnhUhdS for the eum- mer. The wages Davenant*- paid were albove the usual scale. But he demanded superior service. There was plowing and planting in the older fieldh; the breaking up of new tracts with a tractor; and, when the planting was done and before the need of cul- m tivating, the removal of great pine stumps. As Eddie worked his mind engaged in endless calculations. Even if he saved every cent, sold the car and their household belonging^ he could not, by several hundred dollars, raise enougfe money to pay the back taxes. But he had a vague idefe that money could be raised elsewhere. Perhaps the governor, or Davenant, would 1 ad vance it. Anyway, he would not wor ry until worry ’was necessary. He lived at the ranch and spent Sundays at hig own cabin. Ugually he left Davenantfe early, so that he might have many nours at home. It was his first impulse to geek Patsy in town every Sabbath, tat her plead ings and his own pride changed that. She had urk$d him to stay away, thus making it harder for both of them. So only occasionally he went to Long Portage for dinner with Pat sy at the Kinnane’s, returning to the wilderness in mid-afternoon. One Sunday in late May he was at the cabin unusually early. He was re placing a broken boaril in the floor w * ien k* h **$<£emhness arisfchrob- bin,* « ^ looked out/ Us loud e front of his door and went on toward Long Portage. Within half an hour there was another, and inside a simi lar lapee, another. “Must be a liquor ship is at the landing,” he thought, putting away his tools. “Guss I’ll go up and see what she looks linke.” Couriosity wa? not the only motive for going. He had not conquered the craving for liquor. At times the appetite swooped down like a tidal wave, utterly submerging him. Then he clung to one anchor: The thought of Patsy Jane. .4^ ■ “You’ll lose her if 'ydtf slip,” he warned himeedf. “You’ll lose her forever. And what kind of a warld would it be without her ? She believes you can beat the booze. Show her she’s right She’s worth fighting for You’re the luckiest man in the world that she loves you enough to give you a chance.” - .• 1 ^ He had beaten the wave so far, be cause there was no liquor available when the appetite rolled the highest. err^ #is none on- the DayenankT-” ranch, principally because Davenant hated it, and would not have on the place a man who drank. So victory of a soit rested with Eddie. When the craving subsided, it left him, sometimes, sullen and resentful toward Patsy. He would tell himself that she was deserving of no consider ation; that any fight for her sake was fruitless because she had abandoned him in time of need. This unreasona- _ ble’mood soon passed, however. Then he would acknowledge she* was right Love welled up anew, and he resolved to make the fight for her sake. If he did win, it would be for her. But on thia Sunday his heart beat recklessly as he left the house and went out along the lonesome road to the north. His eyes were alight, his step bouyanb There was in his air something of the fearful exhiliation that men exhibit as tfcey go into bat* tie Soon he passed a fourth struck. There were two on the seat m front, a third perched on the rear of the load. All eyed him suspiciously As ’ they — jolted by. Another two miles and he came on a fifth truck in the bottom of a little valley. The crew of three was changing a tire. His hands clenched involuntarily and blood surged into his eyei. He recognized two of the three—Jake, the driver, and. who had -wivgn him 1 drugged WKTsgey'* and' locked him in the car bound for Chicago. a There was no retreating, for Culley had looked up and the recognition was mutual. He saw the guard’s hand go swiftly to hi® hip pocket. He ia\r him speak cautiously out of the cor ner of hig mouth. Whereat the otber two men straightened and stood in an attitude of wasting, ready to snatchy out a weapon if the necessity arose. He decided in a course of action, and throttled-the rage that possessed him. He brought a smile to his face. “Hello, there, sports!” he called gaily. “It’s a long time since I saw you fel lows. Where have you been?” (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.) t Fact and Fancy. “The worse winter I remember was when we were besieged,’*' said fhe old soldier. “We had only one bite a day for two week*, and that waa borse fkrh.” “I remember living for a month on one bite, and that was out of my leg,” said O’Brien, his companion. “You don’t expedt me to believe you turned cannibal, do you?” roared the soldier. - “If* true, believe it or not,” said O'Brien calmly. “A dog took a bite out of my leg, and the insurance keptt me like a lord for four weeks.” / ■ ——• m Given Is Right. She:—-“Bow many cigars do you -. ke in a day?” t “Ofcfc any gfvsn number ” \