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/7 Hanmti fyiction Serial By HAROLD CHANNING WIRE t*r If ■' n- . SYNOPSIS Jim Cotter, forest ranger, had been mys teriously killed in the pursuit of his duties. Gordon Breck, his best friend, takes over Cotter’s Job, hoping to avenge his murder. Dad" Cook, forest superintendent, warns Breck that the Tillson brothers, mountain moonshiners, are apt to give him trouble. Before leaving for his mountain station, Breck buys an outfit and decides to attend the public dance run by the Tillsons in Lone Tree. At the dance Breck dances with Louise .n?P le pretty "cowgirl” for whom he takes a liking. Unknown to Breck. she is being courted by Art Tillson, youngest of the three Tillson brothers. Angered by Breck’s at tentions to the girl, he picks a flght which ends indecisively when someone sets fire to the hall. Breck and his chief set out for the mountain station. Halfway, they are met by Sierra Slim, moss-back mountaineer who is also in the forest service. Around the campfire that night, Breck learns from Si erra that tracking down Jim Cotter's mur derer must be done cautiously and by de vious methods. Cook. Breck and Sierra continue their ascent of the mountains. S ! to rest, they sight the Tillsons. re- to their hideaway. Next day. Cook reck and Sierra in one direction to repair the telephone line, while he takes another. Over the campfire at night Sierra tells Breck more about Louise Temple. "That kid’s a thoroughbred," he says. He also believes that Art Tillson is not essen tially "bad.” but is the victim of circum stances. Returning to Cook’s camp, Breck Is directed to go to Rock House Meadow, his permanent base. On his way. he is the target of a pistol shot from an unseen assailant. The bullet misses, but his fright ened pack animals bolt and Breck goes in pursuit. Finding a deserted cabin, he takes shelter from the rain. A moment later two of the Tillson brothers arrive and Breck hides in the cabin loft. Then Art Tillson arrives. Breck hears the three Tillsons dis cuss a plot against his life. Waiting his chance, Breck surprises the brothers and holds them at the point of his gun. Jud, the oldest brother, offers a bribe if Breck will “make no trouble.” Playing for time, Breck pretends to take the offer under con- sideratipn, lets the men go. Brack's duty la to tale count at the annual cattle drive at Rock House Meadow. There he meets Louise 'Asmple. CHAPTER IX—Continued —7— “Hanger,” Louise said, riding close, “I don’t believe I know your name.” He told her. “Gordon Breck?” she repeated. "Haven’t I heard of you before? Let me think . . Inward warning urged him to pre vent that thought. Surely she bad known Jim Cotter; and Jim had probably spoken his name, perhaps mentioned their close friendship. He did not want her to make the con nection. Sweeping a gloved hand toward the river of animals, he asked, “What part of this drive is yours, Miss Temple?” “Louy, if you like,” she said im personally. “I shan’t call you Mis ter.” And then in the same off-hand manner: “I am allowed six hundred head on my permit, but I think there are seven hundred.” Breck turned to her with a short laugh. Her eyes met his gravely and he was undecided whether she was spoofing him or not. His laugh ter died and matching her own se rious look, he said, “I can let you have six hundred and twenty, no more.” “And what about the other eighty?” Breck shrugged. “My, aren’t you a hsrd-boiled ranger!” “Very!” he agreed. They had not ridden far together when she suddenly turned in her saddle, looking up the right canyon bank. Breck followed her eyes. A bunch of steers had left the main drive and were working toward a side coulee. The girl cupped her hands. "Palo!” An Indian boy started to her. She waved him back, but he only halted. The strays swung up the coulee at a run. “Oh Lord!” The blue horse sprang beneath her, knowing his job, and raced up be hind the cattle. f In order to circle around and get ta front of them she must jump a narrow creek that had cut its steep banks along the ravine bottom. Breck watched as she dashed to the edge. The horse refused to make the leap there. She forced him fur ther on and back to the bank again. He hesitated, and in that instant of wavering, lost his momentum. When life sprang his rush was spent. Legs clawed the air. His belly struck the opposite rim. He reared, hind feet in the stream, forefeet pawing at the bank top for one tense sec ond; then he became overbalanced and fell. It all happened in a moment. Breck dropped his pack line and wheeled Kit toward the coulee. He law Louise slip from the saddle and kurl herself across the water. The falling horse missed her. 1 Breck’s , breath escaped in a thankful gasp. Then his eye caught a black shape ^pcing through the pines along the canyon bank. The Indian boy had sent his dog; was yelling at him now to come back, but too late. The black beast cir cled the herd, turned them, sent them down as he sprang in with jaws snapping at the laggards. Breck was not conscious of gaug ing distance. He only knew that the Brat of the steers was still above Louise. He lashed his horse toward her, saw there was no time to help her mount, and swung to the ground. The red flood was pot fifty yards •way. It came in a wedge, a huge vhitw-faoed animal in the lead. That was his target. He fired twice, wait ed, fired again when the steer tried to rise. Others behind that one swerved, yet only for a few steps. Kit danced from the oncoming lines and snort ed at the carcass in front'of him. With one arm Bre-k held the girl between his body and the horse’s flank, and as the herd poured about him, sought to shield her from their crush. The first passed; hoofs pounded beside his feet, shaggy coats brushed him, horns grazed within a hand’s breadth of his back. Then came one brute that would not give over. His low, broad shoulder charged into Kit’s, swung out a little from the impact, then raked full length of the horse. Breck pushed out against it. The shoulder-bone missed him, but he caught the whole force of the puffed barrel. His arms yield ed. He was crushing the girl. For an instant it seemed they were be ing mashed ^together. The steer rushed on. One word came with his regained breath. “Louise?” She lifted her head but was speechless. The pallor of her face filled him with sudden fear. He put her upon Kit, mounted the saddle himself and shifted her into his was cut almost to a man’s short ness, lying close to her small head, and to Breck’s eye needed no adjust ing. A little later, though, he was aware that some magic transfor mation had truly taken place. Per haps it was the way she had brushed the dark waves from her forehead, bringing out a finely modeled profile with something aristocratic in its clean lines. Or perhaps it was a sudden realization within himself. They were so alone here in the cabin. She thought nothing of it, apparently. But he did, and was a little disturbed, then shamed, that he could not feel equally as casual. To hide it, he worked hard at boil ing tea water and warming tomato soup; even made toast, holding slices of bread over the fire. With things ready he moved a ta ble to the bunk and put his chair opposite Louise. She remained si lent for a time, until he wondered if the accident had hurt her more than she admitted. “How do you feel now?” he asked. She smiled across her tin cup. "Very much a lady. It has been a long time since anyone served me afternoon tea!” Breck waited. To hear a girl’s voice was a pleasant treat. He “The Old Soak’s Cellar.” Louise lifted her eyes, color flowed into her cheeks, but she said noth ing and turned from him to stare out of the window. It faced west, down a stringer ol open meadow, and framed, many miles across the range, the triple peaks of the Kaweahs. Mist of the canyons caught each shade of sun set; violet deepening into vibrant red, the Kaweah tops themselves rising golden against an opal sky- The picture was paintable and Breck said so. Louise faced him sharply, her lips parted in a breath less question. “You don’t—don’t paint?” “No. Sometimes I wish I did. 1 certainly would paint this range. Why is it so many artists study the coast? It is beautiful, but so much the same—always blue water, brown rocks, fans of white surf. But this, out there—look at it!” She shook her head. “I can’t.” Breck averted his eyes from hers, aware that he had probed something deep and painful. He would have turned their talk from pictures, but her own words rushed to him. “You may think I’m silly! But you’ve just expressed what I have always wanted to do. Paint the High Sierras! And your talk of the For an instant it seemed they were being mashed together. arms. Gently he ran his fingers down her side. “Nothing broken,” she whispered. “But I’m—I’m pretty sick.” She re laxed and lay back against him. Before he had reached the drive, another rider raced up, reining his horse in suddenly. “What’s hap pened here?” he demanded. “Louy, are you hurt?” Breck looked over the top of the girl’s head imo Art Tillson’s arro gant eyes. “She’s had a little trou ble. I’m taking her to Rock House.” “The hell you are! If she’s hurt I’ll go back with her to Temple’s camp.” Breck rode on. “I don’t think it’s that serious. Anyway, my sta tion is closer.” Art drew in his horse and let himself over into one stirrup until he was near Breck. His mouth tight ened with swift rage. “I’ll ...” “Save it!” Breck cut in. “This f s no time for a row!” Half a dozen other men rode up. He repeated the same thing to them. “Not badly hurt. I’m taking her to Rock House.” An hour later he passed the nar row entrance to Rock House Mead ow and abruptly the wide bowl spread before him. Emerald green grass sloped up to the dark pine rim, and at the western edge stood the cabin. His cabin! Not one of cold rock, but of warm, weathered logs; small, certainly, yet snug, compact, a home for a man. Often in days past Breck had thought of it, had anticipated mov ing to a station of his own. But nev er had he pictured himself riding to the door with a girl held in his arms! groped for something of mutual in terest to lead her on. “I’m sorry I had to shoot that steer.” Louise shrugged. “Nothing lost. We’ll need meat for the boys to night. One steer won’t go far with thirty cowhands.” She gave the information without interest. Breck tried again. “How long have you been in this ranch country?” “Born here. And that was a long time ago—ages. But we don’t have to talk ranches, nor cows, nor how much it is going to rain this sum mer. Unless you really want to.” Breck laughed. “What then?” “Anything!” Louise spread her hands in a little gesture almost of despair. “Anything but me. This toast for example. I didn’t know a man could make it less than an inch thick. Where did you learn?” Sierra Slim had said this girl once studied painting, "As far back as New York City.” Breck deliberately gave the name of a Village club where you may fix your own dishes. It was a gathering place for stu dent artists. He had often gone there with friends. Old Soak’s Cellar. Don’t I know it —where you bring your own bread and butter and fry things, and if you haven’t a quarter for the gas meter, there’s Jimmy Valentine himself to show you how to work a slug. Bleecker Street with its Italian push carts! And a bus-top ride up Fifth Avenue for ten cents! And even Greenwich Village! “I know you’re wondering how I can fall for its sham. They work so hard at being a sham—that’s why. I admire hard work. And some of them paint. I tried to and had to give it up. Out here I whirl a lass-rope and wear chaps, but I’ve got an old orange smock down at| the ranch—” Louise broke off, and stared a» Breck through the dusk that almost hid her face. “I think I understand,” he said ' quietly. “You have an old smock— some day you’ll go back to it.” * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 “Do you think so? Do you? Oh, if I could believe that!” With sudden impulse Breck leaned j| across the table to her. “You must- believe it, Louise.” (TO BE CONTINUED) [ Coffee Was Long Under Ban as Evil And Intoxicating; Was Called ‘Cawaah J CHAPTER X Breck entered the one room, spread a canvas on thi boxed pine needle bunk, and placed Louise there. “Keep quiet for a while,” he ad vised her. “You were pretty badly jolted in your fall, and then that steer—they look like balloons, but Lord they’re hard!” After building a fire in the small iron stove in one corner, he brought water from the stream, then left her and went out to take off his packs. When he returned, bringing tea and canned soup for a quick meal, he discovered that even a mountain girl is forever feminine. She was propped up against the sad logs trying to fix her hgir. It The world does move, as proved by the historical fact that once it was necessary to bootleg coffee, no tably in Mahometan countries, be cause it was classified as an intoxi cant and banned by rfeligious regu lation. The advent of the coffee house, or cafe, centers of political, artistic and social life in many a country of the Western world, marked the triumph of science be cause it had been discovered that coffee was only a mild stimulant, and there is a world of difference between a stimulant and an intoxi cant, writes Jessie ^larie DeBoth in the Boston Globe. Coffee was not even known to be edible or potable before the Ninth century of the Christian era, and it was not until the middle of the Sixteenth century that the ban against it was permanently re moved everywhere in the world. Originally cal’ed “cawaah,” in its Oriental spelling, coffee came by way of Europe into the Baltic sea area, thence into Holland and Eng land, and thence to North Ameri ca. The Western world dominates the coffee trade and ranks high in coffee use. When we step in to buy our fa-1 vorite blend, ground to suit our owni method of brewing, for just a few,, cents a pound, it seems hard to real-' 1 ize that when the coffee houses iq England first had it, coffee cost $20 a pound. Naturally it was not then a household beverage, and many are the stories written around the meetings of the bigwigs, intelligent sia and better financed leaders of the day who gathered in the public coffee houses to discuss the prob lems of the moment. Most coffee sold is blended from a number of different kinds of beans, each with a character of its own. What you like depends upon your personal preference for certain of these characteristics, and there is everything available from the light, mild blend to the heavy, mouth-filling flavor that seems to *d ^ ouse its tantalizing HCW* 4- Ruth Wyeth Spears HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONS ■Mi 3 BLACK AND 2 PEACOCK BLUE OVALS- BORDER RUST REDf BLACK AND PEA COCK BLUE July Once Fifth Month July, now the seventh month of the year, was the fifth month during the Roman empire. The month wai named in honor of Julius CftOMUF* who was bora in it. THE FIRST ROW OF EACH OVALWSLONG 20- -H Grandmother Surprised Everyone. YES, a certain grandmother sur- J- prised everybody—even her self. She had always enjoyed making hit and miss rag rugs in cheery colors. Then one day her favorite grandson brought home the girl he was going to marry. She was a bright young thing, and chattered away about color schemes for her new home. The living room and hall were to be peacock blue and rust with touches of black. “Well, peacock is just a greenish blue,” thought Grandmother, “and rust is a brownish red.” So she got oul her dye pot and her best wool rags, and she mixed and she dipped and dipped again. Then, instead of sewing her braided rags into one big oval, she made five ovals of the size shown here—3 black and 2 blue. She sewed these together, then around them came 4 rows of rust; 2 rows of black next; then 4 of rust; 1 of black; 4 blue; 2 black; then 8 rows of blue around the outside. When the wedding day arrived this gift was a great surprise; even Grandmother was amazed at how handsome it looked at the foot of the stairs in the new house. Women everywhere are using their leisure to make their homes more attractive, with slipcovers; curtains; bedspreads and lamp shades. They are again taking up embroidery and handwork so that they may beautify their homes and there is a revival of interest in old time hand crafts. Mrs. Spears’ Book 1, SEWING for the Home Decorator, and No. 2, Gifts, Novelties and Embroid ery, clearly chart the way for you. If the old craft of rag rug making is your new hobby, you may have free Mrs. Spears’ leaflet on rag rugs with your order for both books at 25 cents each. Address, Mrs. Spears, 210 S. Desplaines St., Chicago, 111. Darn When New.—If new socks ■are reinforced by dams worked on the wrong sides of heels and toes before they are worn, they give double wear. • * • Filling Holes in Wood.—Holes in wood which have been caused by nails or screws can be filled by pressing in a paste made by mix ing together fine sawdust and glue. When dry, the surface can be evened by rubbing with sand paper. • • • Better Bread.—Yeast and bak ing powder breads will be softer and more tender if the dough is allowed to stand 10 mimites just before kneading. * * • Removing Fish Smell.—One ta blespoon of vinegar added to the washing-up water for dishes that have been used for serving fish will help to remove traces of smell. • * * For “Pomp Bumps.”—If you have “pump bumps” on your heels, tape a covering of cotton or gauze over them. Dust the tape with talcum powder to keep it from sticking to your stocking. ' - i : Cotton Strengthens the Soeks.— If you knit socks for the menfolk try knitting in a strand of ordi nary cotton, togeti.sr with the wool when turning the heels and shaping the toes. Safety Talks ) Defective Care in Accidente , iUICK ’UOTES CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT I 'HE only wiy to restore protper- -*• ity in the United State* is to core as far as possible the evil of unemploy ment. This can only be done by speed ing up private agriculture, commerce and industry to employ more people. Existing industry must be encouraged to expand. Individuals must be en couraged to spend their own time and their own money in developing new enterprises and new products.”—U. S. Senator Robert A. Taft. /COMPILATION by the National '“ l Safety council of state motor vehicle accident reports shows that 9 per cent of the motor ve hicles in fatal accidents were re ported as defective. In non-fatal accidents defective vehicles numbered 4 per cent. The council commented that “it seems certain that mass statistics understate the true importance of this problem. A careful study made several years ago indicated that vehicular defects were at least a contributing cause in 15 per cent of the accidents. ASK ME ANOTHER ? A Quiz With Answers Offering Information on Various Subjects The Questions 1. What is the speed of light ning? 2. What two European contem porary kings are brothers? 3. How did Wall street, New York, get its name? 4. Are American vessels per mitted to enter the Colorado river at its mouth in Mexican territory? 5. What is the source of the quo tation, “Patriotism is the last ref uge of a scoundrel”? 6. Why is a certain plant called Job’s tears? 7. What is a pourparler? 8. What is the origin of the word etiquette? 9. What is an archer fish? Reserve Love Love thy neighbor, but pull not down thy hedge. - The Answers 1. The speed of lightning was measured at the Empire State building in New York at 10,000 miles a second. 2. King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway are brothers. 3. From the fact that it follows the line of the palisaded wall or stockade which was built in 1652 across the southern end of Man hattan island. 4. Yes. En route they merely report to the captain of the port of Guaymas, Sonora. 5. It is from Boswell’s “Life of Johnson.” 6. Its name is derived from the hard, shining tearlike seeds which resemble bluish white porcelain and are used in making bracelets, necklaces and rosaries. 7. It is an informal, preliminary conference of representatives of different groups, factions, or coun tries, looking to a formal agree ment settling disputed questions among the parties. 8. It is derived from Louis XTV’s custom of asking his guests to ob serve and keep within the eti quettes (tickets or signs) which marked the garden beds and paths at Fontainebleau. 9. The archer fish inhabits the fresh waters of Siam and the East Indies. It is so called because of the way in which it secures its food, by shooting insects with a I pellet of water. Any kind—for Mara or high egg bred— «c up. Ga. U. 8. approved, pullorum tested. 100,000 weekly. Red*, Rocks, Orpingtons, Hampshire*, Giants, Lag- horns, Minorca*. AA, AAA, Super A grades. Light and heavy assorted. Write for details on livability guarantee that protects you. 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