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Show THE MIDVALE JOURN~ Friday, January 20, 1933 PHEASANT ACCLIMATED ZERO BELO A Romance of the North Woods By HAROLD TITUS Copyrl&-ht. 1932. SYNOPSIS -:lorn" Belknap, big timber operator, ordered bY his physicians to take a :lOmplete rest, plans a three months' t:rl_p abroad. Promises ot advancement he b.as made to his eon John ara broken, and the young man Is Indignant. Paul Gorbel, Belknap's partner, whom John cordially dislikes. Is a bone of contention. Father and eon part without a t'IOmp1e1.e understanding. At Shoestring, his tra.tn delayed by a wreck, John is ordered to leave at once. He refuses. CHAPTER !!-Continued -"?Voices. then, sharp and profane. Someone str-uck him on the cheek, and with an uppercut .John dropped a man who charged in from the right. The taste of blood on his lips goaded him. They cnme on with a rush. Be klcl~ed one's feet from under him. and the falling fellow trlpped anOther. Be strue:k and kicked and elbowed and ducked. Ells head rocked sideways from a blow. and he squeez~d his eyes sbut for a split Instant to check the mounting dizziness.. They could have bad him down and beaten to a pulp In one minute, if they'd m1ed their heads. Tbey were too mad. too eager to carry the fight; they got in one another's wa-y, fended oft' the blows or their fellows. A man. chnrgiog blm, checked and veered. and be hnd a fleeting glimpse o1'. a small figure on the edge of the group, sbo"\'lng at bls. a.ssnilunts. bold· Ing up a dissuading hand. A voice. then, a glrl's voice, was raised sharply: "Stop! Stop It! Tiny, Ezra. WayBill ! Let him alone r• The "him" was beyond a doubt J"ohn Steele Belknap, but that young man was now in no mood to be let alone 1 The Hgure of the leader was before him, poised, waiting; perhaps in ln· decision at the sudden wilting of spirit or Intent among bls fellows; perhaps waiting on tbls Stl'anger who was so nnwe.lcome in their midst_ If "for the latter bls n.·att was brief because as he kicked free from those lrupending hands John rushed him, striking ont quickly with short, snv~ age blows, g1ory1ng In this moment o.r even odds. The man retrent~d slowly, Once he landed and jQited John severely, but tb.ls ad ... antage worked against blm because it tai•Ped buried reservoirs ot strengtb and fury and hard fists !;)ore him backward into tl1e glare that streamed from the open station doorway. A cry, then. as John. bareheaded, face set, burst into the light_ •• 'Tain't bim, Tiny I 'Taln't him!" Now this Tiny mlgbt, ln another Instant, have had reason to claim that the shout distr:nct.ed him, dld he care to lay upon an alibi. But even befor-e the words were past the lips that ye1ped them, John found the opening he bad been fighting f'or. Full on the polnt of Tiny'S chin his knuckles struck and the man's legs sagged. The force of the blOw rocked hJm backward and he crumpled. Bis head, Jollfng to one side, crunched oddly as lt struck the wheel of a baggage truck. J"obn heard that sound and a tingle ran through hlrn. He lurched on forward. crouching as lf to pounce upon bis fallen adversary. Well enough to knock the big devil out, but he did not lil'e that crun~h I Hunds cl1,1tched at bls shoulder and a bourse protest was In his ear. .. Get away!'' John cried. shaking ott the hands, heedless or the words. and dropped to hls knees ln the snow beSide the fallen man. "HH his head f" someone cried. as they gathered closely about, 8 wei!" of legs damming back light from the doorway_ ''Get baek !" John snapped. "Out of the- llght. you !" The voice of authority, that, and It cut through a rising mutter from the crowd. forced a fa1Jlng back to let yellow ltght Hlter on tbe prostrate Tiny. The man•s face was bruised and bleeding. Be lay la.x.. and when John raJsed one c;tf the great. arms it dropped back limply. The man breatbed heavily, an<l &J.:l!)rehenslon mounted fn the boy's consciousness. ''Get hold here !"-sharply. "Carry him Inside where I can see!" And gently, easily, considering the man's weight, be slid ftn arm beneath the broad shoulders and raised t11e torso. Others helped. for the most part wordlessly. and they shuffled 1nto tbe waiting r()Om witb t.heir burden, placIng It carefully on the fioor beside the stove. John was heedless ot the crowd that pressed close again. Be removed the thick cap from Tiny's bead and with light, careful flugers rnmooaged t'brough the sUll' balr. Be encountered no great bruise, no depres;sion. Tbe cap had been ample protecUon ; no trac-ture, perhaps not even Tiny stirred and moaned "Get me some snow!" Jobn said, and two scurr-led outside. Wtlh bis handl<erc.hle! he wiped blood from the man's chin, and when the snow came he took a great handful and held It against brow and temples. Tlny grlmaced and puckered b.ls Ups and sllrred. He moaned next, and opene~ one eye and wh.tmpered. "What th' h-1-'' he began, and the crowd stirred, as ln relief. John drew n deep breath, tben, and looked up at the f'a<'eS above him; weather-beaten, vigorous faces, they were. and as his eyes swept them they turned on hlm w'lth curious expres· stons. "De wants to know what the b-~" he began. "And that makes two of us. What tbe h-l doer.; it-" He brol"~ short. He had settled back to his heels. searching those faces with a demand for explanation, when be saw her. She bad stood beside hlm, looking down. Very small and sllgbt or figure sl1e was, nod tlle face beneath the snug turban of bea·ve.r was as gentle as th.ose otbers were rough. Her eyes were dark and large and serious; more than serious., perhaps; possihly deep trouble rode In them to go with the repressed Une of her mouth. She was looking full in hts face, and as he broke his gruft' question he l.nelineO hls bead slightly as in recognl· tlon of a difference--and In apology. Be caught bls breath. "Sorry, .._ to her. "I should say"-whippJng hi~ glance to the men again-"wbat's a stranger to tlljnk of being ganged like this~" A slim. wir-y man, who bad squatted on tbe other side of the reviving Tiny, s-pok.e. "We was expectin' another par-ty, chum." be said. "You're a match for him In size, but you run•t the one we're looWn' for; tbls particular hard egg sent 1n to clean us out by old Tom Belknap I" John's head Jerked. Be leaned tensely forward! "Wbat ?" he demanded. a long-drawn word, strained witb surprise: perl1aps with soruethlng like shoe!;:. "I said ; we'd got news a certain par-ty who's raised h-1 here was comin' In to put n chunk untler a corner. We aimed to get blm ba~k to Knmpfest with bad news. for old Belknap. 13ein• excited Uke we wns. and bein' dark Uke H was, we mlstook you for him. Not tnlpOrtant, mebby. but true I" John took n. quick breath and let It out through his noStrils in an amazed wbitr. "\VeU ru be---" He looked up again for the girl's face, as though an exchange of glances with her might Clf\.rify this bewilder· lng situation. She was gone. Be stared at the others., but they were watching Tiny, \Yho was belng helped to a sitting posture by the smaller man. "All right, Tiny?" the other asked. The big fellow felt hls chin gingerly and Ws bead, and then shook it as lf to chase off the fog whlclJ impaired his faculties. :· 'D be git away?" be asked. A chuckle from the crowd then. "Away, your grandma! There he sets, Tiny!'' Th~ dazed eyes foUowed the gesture and then blinked slowly. " 'Y G--d. \Vay-BIIl, 'tain't hlm," be said weakly. "No. 'taJn•t." "But this one • • he's a stemWinder!" "Anyllow. that." 1 .. Nd tf this one was him-•• "Then we'd have n Jot more to worry about. Yes, slr, if old Belknap cnuld hir-e 'em lil">e you. churu"-to J'ohn-"then the company would hnve somethln' to lay awake nights about!" Tiny had heen staring at John and aow his gnze wa n:red as a man's will when he ls overcome witb embarrassment. get up," be mumbled. and John helped him to his fet. The bn,v's heart was poundlng. 01d Tom. starting that sort of trouble? ·'All right, Tiny?" Way-Bill asked, and when assured that the late unconscious mao was gettlng to be as good as new, be turned to .John. ·•cue~Ss It's due you to explain a Uttle,'' be said, and John cau):!ht some vague change to the attitude of the group. •.rbe sbuftli.Og rtf fe.et. the murmurs . . the looks spoke of a growing chagrin and embarrassment such as tlad marked Tiny's (altering gaze. "Stranger Ln this. country?" ''Yes.'' "Mebby you've beard ot old Tom Belknap?" ·•1 have once"-some of his wrath surging upward to mlogle with blgh curiosity_ "\Vell, be's evident almin" to run the Richards company, here, off the earth. Be's done a plenty. but the last thing be thou~:bt up was to bring a band named Baxter from Karnprest." John. frt>wnlng, followed the man's matter-of·fact words closely. Be spoke as one sure ol hlrnselr; even as o.ne recltJng common knowledge. "This Ba.s:ter·s a tough customer. Be mixed it with our woods boss last week. tossed him off a car 'nd broke his hlp, Tonight he was advertised to come over here. 'nd clean out the town single-handed. Makes us pretty hot''-volce rtsiog a trifle-.. bl!ln' that old Belknap only wants to close us down so's be can buy somethln' for little or nothin' We done what, likely, you'd do f.or the QUt6t that hired you 'nd you knew was fair 'nd square 'nd ln a jack-pot. Only • . • we done •n error." A g.rlm little man, be was, but bad spoken with a Hoe splrlt o! loyalty, Ele now added: ..I'm sorry. Tiny, here, sure ought to be awful sorry, and 1 guess everybody else feels like we do. I hope, chum, tbe feelln's a1n't too bard." They stilled as a g.roup wlll when an answer to an important question 1s due. "Why. no. . . . I see how it Is," .John sald, but blankly. .Mistaken for his father's hired bully! And old Tom trying to ran this other company into a corner? ..• Old Tom, ru1xlng It as. perhaps, an even older Belknap bad done tn the pine days? Was that a possible explanation of why h&-young John-had been so carefully kept away from Kampf est? Were things transpiring In th1s country of which his father waa ashamed? r... no:e a whtte-bot threa{l the thought seared through bis consciousness. It a 1\gbt was on here, waged bl' bls father agatnst a weaker competitor. . . . Now. Dllght that not ofl'er a greater vent. a more complete relief for bi.S swelling resentment than bashing: strangers with his fists? Untll this moment his only possible vengeance on b1s father had been to run away, but now . , • A man eame In fTOm ontslde, shouldering tbrot)gh the press. beating snow from a ScQtcb cap with bts mitten. "Here." be said, holding it towiU'd John. "Here's your cap. I I guess I knocked It oft' and . . well. you see how it was." Be was flushed and so evidently eon trlre tbat John sruiled, and when he sDllled the tension that had been on those men relaxed. The presentation of that cap was e(Julvalent to a treaty gift, a token to heaJ a breach, a pledge and seal of friendship 1 "Anything we can do for you now . . . nfter trytn' our best licks to do things to you?" Way-Blll nsked. "\Vhy . . . I guess not. Thanks n lot.'t Be was finding his poise. stilling tlle hot curiosity that might lead him into blunders, making up his mind to learn tbls whole story, but to do It adroitly, at the proper time. ''If somebody'll point out the hotel. now• • . . " • • • • • • • It was past the supper hour I.n Shoe string's one public stopping place, Rex Jasper's Palace hotel But Re:.t was neither lnhospitnble nor unmindful of the dimes. No more was he an uncommunicative host. So he hlmself spread cold but satlafnc tory v:lands on _poe end of a long table and sat there. elbows on the oi1cloth. while his slightly marred but obviously outstanding guest ate. and responded well to the questiOns that J,:thn Steele Belknap, identity as yet unknown 1n Shoestring. put to him. Tbe boy ate slowly, gazed much of the Urne on .Jasper's face as the man talked nnd talked and talked. "It just goes to show." be said. narrowing his watery blue eyes. ''what the concentration of great wealth into the hands of unscrupulous men wlll cause. Now did you ever read the 'History of Great American Fortunes?'" ''No." said John Impatiently. "BtH n.re you sure that this man Belknap is behind all the troul)le?" "Sur-e? Sure!" The little man brls· tied with assurance. "Wasn't It a Vander-bilt thut said that the t.hlng a mnn wanted more than n.n~thlng else was more! That's the way with this oJd Belknap. Predatory, he fs; of the predatory wealthy I Ele's got the Richards comp; t y in 8 coroer and l:le n.in't goin' to let it out. Why, even his own partn¢r, Gorhel, over here at Kampfest, can't stop hlm. GorbeJ ain't so bad, but Belknap gives tbe orders. You can't blame Gorbel. (f a man's goin' to exi$t economically under a capitalist system be's got to go with the capitalists, ain't be? Nciw If you've ever read 'Dns Kapltal' by Karl Marx you'l1 see--" .TQhn shoved back bls plate and tapped the table with Ws fork. ",Just a minute. Let's see If r've got thfs story right: The loggln~ rail· road. owned by the Richards Lumber company, goes thrvugb Belknap & Gorbel timber. The right or wny was granted by a man oamed Kampfest who used to own that timber. Beik· n® & Gorbel bought him out and began to operate. Onder the terms or the old contract they can either force the Ricba-rds company to bani tbeir logs out to a main-line branch or order them to pull their steel. And, to tighten this squeeze, the Belknap camps are making logs l.n sucb quan· t!Ues that the mill here can't be safe 1.y logged? That it?" •'That's right! This old Belknap ain't satisfied to have a $Oft thing. he ain't. The Richards mill's been gettin' by some way: God knaws bow. 'nd soon's be sees that he starts gettln' rough, just like any oJd feudal baron'd got rough. Be has his hired b.el(l pu1 lloyce, the Ricllards woods boss. out or commission, which ls awful bad You can't log without a good boss. aod Dl) man ln hls right mind's golng to tackle a job where. on top of hav!Dg til scratch to make a show!n', he's Ln danger of getting b..is block knocked "Why, this old Belknap thinks he's a superman or something. 1 guess he's been rending Ntetzsehe. Old you ever read 'Beyond Good and Evil?' No? Well, now"-wrlggllng closer to the tabl&-"there•s what I"d ealJ a downright dangerous philosophy. You see--.. But John Belknap, leaning back ln his chair now, gave no heed to Landlord Jasper's interpretation of phllosopbical theory. After what bls father had done to hlm yesterday, young John was ready to believe anything. Be bad known of wars waged by old "rom ngainst eompetftors; he had always thought them waged on fair terms. But here was a conflict apparently unt'air. unwaM'anted. Shoestring, to a man, ev1.dently attested to This multJ~ duced lnto America and now is pleutlfu1 In some suburban areas as well .ns the outlying farm sections. • ot't any ml.nute. .. Why, The rlngneck pheasant has pUed e:a::ceedingly since it wn.s inlro- Old Belknap Thinks He's a Superman or Something." Its rutbJessne~, and John's temper drove him headlong Into an accept· ance of thnt belief. Headlong and gladly. As glfod as a blow. In the mouth, this! He bad been kept awny from KaoopJ"est after beading towards It these years. Why? What reason? Because old Tom did not want him to know what was going on? Because he 1.-new that John would have demanded an about· face? Well, how wouJd his father like it t.r be refused to take what was offered; if, more than that, be stepped In and aligned himself with an oppa.sitlon because It gave him a chance to see what be was wound on? And with tbetr backs to the wall. this Richards outfit. whoever and whatever Jt rn1ght be, needed a leader, fresh blood, someone who was not afraid of this glant, Tom Belknap! ""\Vbere's tbe Richards omce?" John Interrupted, rising. Jasper blinked bls watery eyes aguin. "'\Vby, It's ac.rost from the mtll,.. he said. sbnf'l'llng to a window and peerIng out tbrougb the slit ot unfrosted glass near the top of the pane. "Yes; the' •s a ltgbt there now. Generally Is. nights . . . this winter_,• Snow bad ceased falling, The wind hail dropped and tbe planks or wooden sidewalks. deep onder hard-packed soon•, snapped and boomed as .John traversed the shadows of lun.ber piles towards the toomlng built of a sawmllJ and the lighted, one-story bullding across from lt whicb had been pointed O\Jt to him. Eie had no definite plan. Be had considered teUfng tlte manager the whole truth and asking for a job. 'l'hat, however, might not be advisable; depended entirely on tbe type of tndtvldoal be encountered. It would be a tough chore to convince some men that they should hire for a responsible post, the son of an arch enemy I . . . But whoever he found he would at least learn more of what his father was up to. Of that only was he certain as he took the office steps at a jump and opened the door. •rhe building was divided Into halves by ~ cold ballway. A slngJe tncan. descent dusty and weak with service, was set In the ceiling_ Its light was not good. but a room to the left had better illumination, and on the glazed .elass of the door was pnlnted the word Manager. .Tohn stamped snow from his feet on a husk rug, hut as he started for this evidently occupied office, the sound of a voice arrested bfm. .A man was talking swiftly, quietly~ and be stopped, not wanting to intrude at an Inopportune tim~ but Impatient at the delay. The volce went ·on: ", . and my offer stands l I'm helpless to help the Hlchards company tn any other way. but 1 wUJ buy. at that price. the entire property, timber, railroad and mltl! "Perhaps this ofl'er seems small. but look wbnt ts going to happen It you try to keep on alone I I:'m a partner "'itb Tom Belknap. yes. but I'm power less to shape the policy or direct the practice of that partnership r I'd give every doltar I have, Ellen. to see you personally at peace, bot you will bave no Jleace until Belknap has bfs way! Be ts ont to buy this company at a ftg ure evf'n lnwer than I offer. and be finishes what he starts. • • • Now. what do you say?'' .John's heart r-aced as he stood there Hsten.tng. The man tn that other room was Paul GorbeL Be was making threats In Tom Belknap's name J Bully~ lng a woman for old Tom I The woman spoke then. "1 have only one thing to say, Paull That the Richards properties aren't f'or sale at any suclJ absurd price; that they aren•t tor seJe at any ftgure under such pressure. They're ln a tight place, well enoUgh; they would have plenty to contend with tn a fal.r fight, but you mny take tbfs word back to your Mr. Belknap; that the Richards company Is going to keep on fighting, that it's not going to wblmper; that If it Hnany goes down, after doing all lt can do to survive, it wlll be with the flag flying and the band-saw singing l "Take thnt word to your renegade partner, Paul, and don't come here again with one hand extended 1n frlendshJp and tbe other carrying a clubi'J Her volae, gentle In the beginning, bad mounted. and her hara-flung defiao<'e sent a prickling sensation to J"ohn's very finger-Ups. Some IoyaJ employea--a bookkeeper, an office woman; a w1te or daughter or sister or the Richards involved-had set Gor· bel down with a jolt I Behind that closed door, a Jow, sorry laugh and the sound of slow footsteps. A shadow crossed the lighted glass and Gorbel spoke again. ''Ellen l Ellen, dear l Don't you see that behind this is only one thing for me? Oan't you understand that rm risking all I've got just tryIng to help you in sma.ll ways? It's you 1 want"-volce roughening a bit \VItb passion. "It's you who's got toto my blood! It's the. wafting that ktlls me. • • • I can't wait, I tell you I I can't-.. "Get back! Get away! Don't you dare touch me 1'' He cal led her name again, almost savagely. Feet scraped on the floor; a sharp cry as with a crash the Ught tn the office went out nnd the glass In .t he door showed a blank for .Tohn Belknap. "'Paull Get oot of this office. I tell you 1 Get away . . away!" Panic, now, In the tone, and tor the man waiting outside there was but one move to mnlie. . . . The faint llght from the hallway, further impaired by his own shadow as be poised there, hand still on the koob. revealed them. A desk lamp lay on the Hoor at the ruan•s feet and he was turning. relln~ Qulshing his bold on the girl's wrist, looking over his shoulder with a whlte, drawn face. He posed so a moment, staring at this intruder who showed onl;v i.n silhouette. "Well ?"-In :sharp demand Young Belknap did not move; did not reply for a moment. Then he said a I most casually : "I happened to ove.rhenr you being told to get out. t opened tbe door !or you.•• Gorbel whirled to face him then, feet spread. arm.s he1d with stiJ! truculence at hi.s sides. "And who are you?'"-brlght eyes searching, striving to Identify the shado'i'Ved face . ''The chap who open~d the door."' ''Well. . . . Close lt, then, and tend to your own affairs!" John shook bls head. "No.'' he sftld. ..Not until the . , • the lady asks me to.•• He could see ber standing ln the deeper sbndOws where she had swlftly retreated on his appearance. Sbe was backed against a filing case as though In need of support. He added. then: "I don't hear her asking me to get out.'' Gorbel's bands were knotting into fists. "You d-d eavesdropper I"' be muttered. "You-" John took the few quick strides that put him face to face with Gorbel, so close to him that he could hear the man's quick breathing. "No names!" be muttered. ''No names . . . or nn;y other talk. Are. you going out on your own legs?'" Gorbel swayed backward. Hls r1ght tumd swept the desk top, and with a growJ John had the arm ln one band. twisted the man about. and wrenched upward on the wrl~ : untu Gorbel dOubled over with a cry. "Drop It!" "The devil with-'' "Drop It, r told you 1" (TO Blt "Splittinq" Headaches " • •1 un,"' •be '-n<d ..., ohe was aJwaya miserable- and found out about. NR Tabteta (Namre'aRe.rnedy). Nowsbe geta along fine with everybody. This 8a{e, dependable, ali-'A:getable laut.lve brought quick relief and q_uiel. nerves because it cteared bitr system of po1aonou:s wastes-made bowel action ~ and regular. Thousands take NR dally. lt"s such a sure. pleasant OIX'Pf!Ctiv~t. Mila,.. IIOD•babit-form· ing.Nobadafteteffecta. At your druggist's-25c. 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