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Show uiiiiiiiiiiimimiiuiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiimimiiimiiiiMiiuimiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiimiiuiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiitiiimiiiuiiiimiiiimie were saying, but I did not budge an Inch After t heard them passing the window, and whs sure that they had left t he cabin. I remained, very quiet. In Hie chest for about five minutes longer before climbing out of It. I was progressing toward botne, shivering In every hone, limping, since both my egs had gone to sleep, when bronco Sam. riding bis named Wishbone, came up behind me nnd dismounted "Corns bad. Mary?" he questioned. Wnni to climb up on Wishbone and tune le lead him?" "When I go to meet death, I told I sha'nt go on the hack of a him, Considering hasty tempered bronco that everyone on Hie Desert Moon Is. ut tills minute. In mortal danger of their lives, all your lighthearted JestHug seems pretty much out of place." I told him. then, about Hie packages of explosives hidden under Hie shelf. I nnd not told him shout my climbing cuse than that, for surely no mortal ever did a mure foolish thing than I dhl then. I climbed into tlmt chest. long with those (kieknges, und ttie lid ilmvn orei me. If I had any Idea. I suppose It must have been a desire rmi to let him know that I bad discovered his secret his and Gaby s together, undoubtedly but I cant remember having any thought ut all mini just as ttie lid dosed. I ren pinhercd Hie sad poem about ttie bride and the mistletoe chest Then . heard, thioiigh the tldn hoards Unbelt Haul talking to some I chose one. come lino Ihe kitchen deaili h sulloeallon oi comhusliuh. vveie Hie first .My dear woman, w uds l heard from him. "you may set low-ere- The Desert Moon Mystery by ICAY CLEAVER STRAHAN WNTJ Servlc by Joubleday Doran Co., Inc. niiiiiiiiiniimiiiiiimiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiii!immiiiiiimimmiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiinini!iiniiii;;iimmiimiiir synopsis Stanley, wealthy owner of the Desert Moon ranch, telle his housekeeper, Mary Magln. that his former wife's twin daughters, Danielle and Uabtl elle, are coming to the ranch to live, their mother being dead and their father, Daniel Cannezlano. who had been the cause of Sam's divorcing his wife. In the peniSam has adopted s tentiary boy. lohn, now grown to manhood. ind a girl, Martha, physi d :allv healthy but Mrs Ollle Kicker, Martha's nurse Hubert Hand lives with them. a wanderer, and Chadwick Cau s wartime buddy, an field, John expert ventriloquist, are the oth er members of the household The girls arrive. Mrs Magln has cause to believe there Is a sinister motive In the twins' pree ence at the ranch. John becomes Caulleld engaged to Danielle shows a pronounced liking for flabrlelle. Ram weak-minde- CHAPTER IV The Cabin The girls had been on the Desert Hood a little better than sis weeks when, one evening, Sura came out Into my kitchen where I was setting hrtdnl Mary," he began, real solemn fot him, the ancient 8 used to have cities that they called cities of refuge No matter what a fellow had done, tl tie could get Inside Into one ot those clti.-s-. he was safe. Your Kitchen nl ways kinda seems like that to me a city of refuge "Lands. Sam." I said, what have you been up to that you are heading this safetv first movement?" 1 haven't been up to anything. Sam answered "and I don't aim to he But, Mary, some time ago yon came to me with some suspicions I Inughcd I am not laughing now them off I'm worried. Queer rfilngs are going I What want to on around tiere. is what lo you know?" know, ni.-Nothing. What do you know? Nothing." What do yon suspect, then, Sara?" Wliat do you? Nothing. Nothing," That, I see now, wouldnt have been bad place for us both to laugh Neither of us tiid. Have you any idea," Sam ques tloned. why the girls go prowling atJ over the place, afoot and horseback daytimes, and nighttimes too. when they should be lu fhelr beds?" Well, all I know Is Just what I've known all along. They are hunting for something." "Sure they are hunting for acme thing Bui whar? 1 don't know But wtintever It la they are going to use It to gel revenge, to Injure maliciously somebody" Revenge, h II" Sara said Have II your own wray Only I happened om night to bear Oub.v say to hinny that they had come to this ranch for the purpose ot revenge." 1" Sam repealed him Revenge, h Unless they are sore si me self. about Cnnnezlanu What else did they any. when you hiipiiened to overhenr this revenge renin rk?" If he was ready si nst, to listen 1 was more than ready to 'ell vChat little I knew I told; even to confess Ing about hiding In the dollies closet Well, well." he drawled when I had finished my story "we are prob ably making a mountain out nl a molehill I wouldn't go pussy, fool Ing around after them any more If I were you, Mary There's a screw loose somewhere, that s sure; but It Is not In the Desert Moon's machinery We've got nothing on our consciences We doa't need to worry. Dont need to worry I Sam and I. sitting In that peaceful kitchen, talk lng so smart and frivolous and de elding that we did not need to worry Is a memory I could well be shed of We didn't need to worry a bit more than If Id used arsenh In my covered pan ot bread; not a lilt more than It there had been a den of rattlesnakes Id the cupboard under the sink m gasoline instead of wniei In the tun., on the back of the stove. Thu! Is how safe and peaceful we really were, at that minute. If we hud had sense enough to know It. When I realize that four weeks front that very eve nlng, three people But I guess It would be better to tell things straight along, as they hap It seems to me a good hook pened cannot be hurried. BDy more than a Mix and sift the dry good cake can Ingredients. Is the way all recipes for cakes begin. 1 For bree days, beginning with the Fourth of July, there was to be a big celebration and rodeo at Telko Sam suggested at noon on the sec ond of July while we were at dinnet that muybe all of U9 would like to go, II, that Is. except Martha and him self. Celebrations were never good for Martha. I spoke right up and said to count me out. I know the deserts In July But the boys were enthusiastic about Oaby It. and Danny was interested. coming in late, greeted the Idea tvJtb with which a the clothes the same enthusiasm woman greets mollis In closet. Whence the crave for a Fourth of July celebration?" she asked. We have never seen u rodeo." Danny answered "Co by all means," Gaby said March In the 'Buy pink lemonade parade lilde In ihe Liberty car Mrs Magln would te stunning us the god dess ot Liberty, with Don't let my stunningness stop I am not going " said anything." It think Well over" Danny said "It would he a long, hot ride Iroh ably we should all have a pleasantei me, right here al home. Hut there was something In the way she hart said It. loo quiekly In ari swer to a look from Gaby that made me think there was more to her hark Ing out of the plan than had appeared on the surface. Cab.v mnl Just begun her (linnet The rest of us had finished ; so hc cording to our ciislom we excused ourselves and went our ways Child tried to stay with Gaby. but Martha fussed and insisted that he come with I f I her. hud a sure feeling that I hinny would return, and that she and Gal.y would have something to say lo each I went Inta I he kitchen other k Into the I and ha. stepped opened the pass window a crack Just as I opened the window I hoard John say. "I l bought Danny was In I here." But wont you No." jut) said come in and talk to me? What about?" Abou- t- tills I dared not peek, so I did not know wliat she meant uniil she said. "Why won't you kiss me?" Shall I say I don t wind to pick In Hubert Hand's yard?" hate you I" "Don't Ire sore at me. !uhy, John said "But I'm telling you Hint's h lot nearer the truth than than what Mowers I vou usually say" John was one of the poorest talk ers ever heard tine of those strong silent men supposed to nhound In the West, and who are likewise supposed to make every word that they sav s did. they counted If count. backwards. "My dear, haven't I proven over ami over again that I love you? In every way. I have made myself ridiculous here, because I haven't been able to conceal my feelings for you think,' John said, "tnui most ot that stuff you pull Is lest to spite If doesnt spite her. though Danny She knows shes the only girl In the world for me. I wish youd cut It Won't you nut all ot that. Cabby HDd Just be good friends?" You'd md want me for an enemy, would yon?" Getting at anything, going any 1 place, Gaby? Perhaps. If Danny should heat fhut you have made love to me " I have never made love to It you would be your word i.galnsi mine. I think Danny would take mine. It It came to a showdown Listen here child; don't you try to make trouble between Danny and me." Meaning?' "Nothing. Except that It wouldn't be healthy for anyone who tried II "Boo-oo- ! Dangerous Dan MeGrew stuff? Out where men are men? Killei liaise tonight nil that, eh Johnnie? A door opened. John. came In Dannys voice, uncle is looking every where for you " What." Danny questioned when Hie door hail closed behind John "mude you both look so angry, lust now?" Never mind. Are you going to that fools' celebration, with only a day or two left, now? I suppose not, If you dont ward me I know there is I'd love going. lo. no use In staying here." "In other words, you would sacrifice I more than my future for a rodeo? half believe that you know" Wind possible object could I have?" many Very 'Many, my dear 1'hoiigh I think that getting rid of me would outweigh the others Listen to me. Danielle tunnezinno. It I thought that you were keeping tills from me In order to bury me alive In this tied forsaken hole, and force me to watch you and John " Gali.v ve been a fool Why cHnt I learn to take Into consideration vein I I Utulervtatid this Dan Don't fancy tot one Instant tlmt failure Is going to keep uie heie Did you think, with a weapon like fhal In my minds, that i d stand fot anything less Hum a fifty fifty pinHsition? Out original plun would have been better Bui I'll nave nn easier, simple! share oul of this, anyway So. If you d n the shelf In the ki'chen , The shelf, about Hnee feet wide, Is built across one end of the kitchen. It served Sam for a table, pantry, and sink Being a man, he built If right handily, like n chest, sc that the en tire top of It had to be raised to get dace underneath to the storage There was no secret about It All any ne had to do. was to move everything off Hip top of It. and lift Hie lid. But I hml read how llie hardest problems for detectives always turned out to be something that had been too simple to notice; s rn.v plan was to go up there and raise the lid (in my way I met the girls coming home. I Imagined that they looked al I missed a remark me with suspicion about Hie sweet smelling clover hay and Imi'iied right along Halt an hour later, when I was ex pecting Instant deatli at any minute. I thought aliotil that 6ueet clover smell, und how unappreclafl ve I have been of It. md of Hie (due sky and fresh air, an of llm green things lighted yellow with sunshine, and took a vow Hut, If I ever did get a chanee to enjoy them again. I would spend the remainder ot my life In so doing, and In being grateful to the 'reator of them. In the cii Inn. I went at once to the Kitchen; and. removing tly Imoks and reels from the shelf lifted It hack I am sure that 1 had expected to find It empty What I had not ex peeled to find, and wliat I certainly had never hoped to find, was what was there: any number of neatly wrapped packages, undressed to Mr Sam Stanley sent by express, and labeled, variously. 'Danger." "Handle with Care." lives It did not take un.v common sense to know, straight off. Hut. sent to him or not. Sam was not mixed up In un.v business that nud to do with expin It was slves. bombs, and Bolshevism. easy enough to remember, then, that Sam had not been to Rattnll for the past ten days; that Hubert Hand had been making the trips down for the mall, expressage, and supplies. Just as he came Into my mind, I R whs a slurtling beard his voice. coincidence; but I need a better ex I s - ni to sayr am not going to your iM'ml al ret. many the g'rl. I am rml a nnrrying man as you know; and. If I were, she wouldn't have me " Under You leave tier alone, then stand me Leave he! alone." If I believed my ears, that was Mis Bicker's voice. Hull was Mrs I - hem ; so I was In no way pre- puled for his actions. lie stopped lie dropped Wishbone's bridle lie put both Ids hands on his stomach and leaned over and hurst Into uproarious laughter. "Ho It rolled out. seeming to fill the entire valley. 1 got Fireworks," he gasped. them tor Martha. Going to surprise Sent for them her on the Fourth Hid them up there. months ago. I told you to stop pussy-- j 'Do four lug around. Mary not look for wrong and evil, you will find them If you do ' With us much dignity as a heavy woman, with both of her legs asleep could muster, I turned and left him His words and his actions had certainly given me one decision. From this time on, I would tell Sam Stanley in with I Few Nerve in Teeth id ttie teeth of Hie saber tooth ears and of Hie giant wolves that lived and died In prehistoric times, has shown why these nnimals und their desi dnlants knew no such Hdiigs as toothache Examination ot teeth found in ns ilinlt pits in I'alifornla revealed that in every case, the teeth of an adult ot Hie species had only a scanty sup As Hie animal grew ply of nerves. up. the mot canal which Is Hie main route for Hie nerves Into the pulp diamher of the tooth, became com parattvely shut off. Uopular Uechan ics Magazine. Had fetid tongue, anti-a- I cid Don't diet, and indigestion. remember Phillips. Just dont suffer; Pleasant to take, nnd always effective. The name Phillips is important; It Milk Identities the genuine product. of Magnesia has been the U. S. registered trade mark of tire Charles H. Phillips Chemical Co. and Its predecessor Charles II. Phillips since 1875, have j j j PHILLIPS I Milk . of Magnesia HznfcrcTs Balsam of Filyrrh letter for Gaby, postmarked France. About a month before this. Gaby hail received another letter lliut was a duplicate of this one. rhe same gray paper, the same sprawling hnndwrit- ing Instead of taking It Indifferently, as she did other letters, nnd reading it wtierever she happened lo he. she laid smirched It out of my hand and All that laid run off to tier room evening she had seemt to he preoc- cupled, nnd wort led Sending only two letters In dose to two months. It seemed to me Hint whoever laid written them did not write unless he or she hud something of importance in say I was still puzzling over it. when dairy cane Into the room Sure enough, she snatched It out nt my linmls. Just as sli hud done with' the other letter, nnd run straight up-s- i airs with It. When John nnd Danny came In. a few minutes later. I went upstairs Habit stopped me nt Gaby's door for a minute, with my ear to Hie keyhole. Faintly, sounds dont come plainly through our thick doors I heard the portable typewriter that she brought with her when slip came to rhe ranch, a 'utis coated Magnesia ! Get acquainted with this perfect that helps the system keep sound nnd sweet. That every stomach needs at times. Take it whenever a discomfort hearty meal brings any has won of Magnesia Milk Phillips convinced And endorsement. Biedical millions of men and women they didnt t When I got back to ttie house, John was driving up the road In the sedan. He had been to Rattail fur supplies and for the mall Up tossed Hie mail-huout to me und drove around to the kitchen dour to unload There wns I'ljilitf a time Next evidence breath, or acrid skin gives Milk of Phillips stomach try sour of nothing. Since All has promoted healing 1846 Beast for Man and dealers are authorized lo refund your tor the first bottle it not suited. ir oie j Am Sure That I Had Expected to Find It Empty Bicker not only talking, but talking like that to Hubert Hand Jeal"You Matter me. he said I ous. still afler all these years? told you Ilia. I wouldn't marry tier and that she wouldnt have me If I were willing to. Wouldn't she. though? Wouldn t she? She is mad about you She can t look at you without love n tier eyes nor speak in you without (me in tier voice. She tries to htdr It . but she cant hide It from me. i know She loves you ' I uni not sure whether I read It, or whether I figured it out for myself; tiut I do know It Is a fad Hint no woman ever accuses another woman of being In love with a man unless she could Imagine being In love with him herself. A 9 to tlmt," Hubert Hand said wiat possible difference would It make to you Ollle?" Only that I would kill her, and you, too. before I would let her have you." Easy on. there, my girl. Your last attempt ut murder at least I hope that was your last attempt, .vas not. you may recall, very successful " 1 would be successful another click, So Simple Mrs Suburbs who was absorbed In a romance of the Seventeenth century suddenly looked up nt tier husband George." she remarked, "listen to this: 'By my hnlidom. exclaimed Sir Iercivul. It Is past fhp hour ot 12!' Vow. wliat Is h hnlidom. George?" Wltni do you suppose If Is?" he re "Doesn't the conlext tell spiralled vou? Sir What's Ids name said It wa-p12 by his hnlidom. didn I he? Well I should have thought nnyhodv con'd have seen that hallilirai was the make of his watch ul Kill Rats Poison Ilf4 Without exterminator that P.'eov Wont Kill Livestock, Poultry , Dogs, Cats, or even Baby Chicks can be used about the home, bam or poultry yard with absolutesafety as it contains no deadly is made of Squill, as recom-mendepoison by U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, under the Cormabie process which insures maximum strength. Two cans killed 578 rats at Arkansas State Farm. Hundreds of other testimonials. Sold on a Rejuvenated Darling, I ve just heard the ttbrst terrible hit of scandal. I thought you had, dear; you locked so happy when you came In. The Humorist. p-Uhi- s r I Hurried off downstairs, and delivered the message to Danny who vvi, s with John In the living room Whars the matter. Mary? .John questioned, when Danny had gone upstairs You look as It you had spen a ghost." "I think," I answered, "that I have the ghost of Sin. 1 "Doggone that girl," he said. wish she were In Jericho." "Gaby, you mean?" Youre darn right She's causing all the trouble around here. What trouble?" I asked. Just for a feeler. I don't know exactly. She keeps Danny miserable. But that Isnt It. or not all ot It. Don't you seem to feel trouble around here, all the time? I I do. Gosh thought everyone din at all Strain points Plus Extra Heavy Tested Denim in LEVI STRAUSS Waist Overalls Insure long wear ANEW PAIR. FREE for him Pointer for Executive If you encountered no dilticulties. the offic' hoy could lake your place. B. C. Forbes. It Is wrong RIP Askfor Levis 1 It 1FTHEY ! knows. said. "1 feel it. too. 1 know," think Snrr does, though he won't altogether admit It. Just the same. John, there Irn'f a thing we can put our fingers on. is there?" suppose not Sometimes, though, when I see Danny looking as she looked when she went upstairs Just now, I feel as if It would be a good thing If somebody would put their fingers around that vixen's throat. "John. I spoke sharply to him, dont say things like that. You dont litile CopperRivet said. mean a tec. KILLS-RATS-ON- Reliable Merchandise since 1853 TP YOU want highest prices for your fur you want the McMillan pricelist. Over 50 year business. One of the oldest, largest, and strong est fur receiving house n the United States, 1 Sight Influences Handwriting the aieiage hanilwrii ing of a person with normal vision Is taken as a standard. Hud of Hie Individual suf faring from nearsightedness will he found to he much smaller and that of the farsighted individual much larger. The nearsighted person does not realize that Ills writing Is small, for he sees it enlarged, and the farsighted person does not know that he writes large, for his eyes reduce the Image G Kara k away was tuckered and tired So. aftet telephoning some Instnutioiis to the kitchen, I took plentv of tlmp to tidy myself up I dawdled in my hath, and cut my corns. Hml ruhhed hair tonic into rn.v scalp But. when on my way downstairs again. I stopped for a second ut Gaby's door, the typewriter was still going. Tlierp was nothing to be made out ot It. so I went along It was fortunate that I did. been use. before I had reaehed the top of the stairway Gaby door filing open and she called to me. with something in her voice that made me shake In my shoes. I turned and looked at her Her face wore an expression that was not human; an expression that would have made any decent woman do as I did. and turn her eyes quickly away. Tell I hinny to come up here. she 1 Money-Bac- the original Squill exter Insist upon initiator. All druggists, 75c. Largesize (four times as much) S2.00, Direct if dealer cannot supply you. Co., Springfield, O. 1 ' fhelr eggs or young The American ground dove, (lie rullieii grouse, the green plover and Hie wild duck are among those tli.it practice this art of deception. Among birds that actually shunt deatli may he mentioned the land rail nnd the wafer rail. dirking m I time." I kept quiet; very quiet. Surrounded. In there by explosives, und out there by people who talked of murder ns calmly and as comfortably as If they were discussing moss roses, very quiet did not seem unit quiet enough They went Into the or her room of the cabin and stayed there Tor a few minutes I could not hear what they If Study Sweeter , Ho-lioh- Feign Death to Escape Its Actual Visitation Nature has provided the majority of animals with some means of 9elf The hold overcome the preservation enemy by fighting tooth and claw; ihe rlmld escape by rapid flight Some creatures lakevslieller behind a plat Ing of armor; others rely mainly upon their protective coloration Some In led deadly poisons; others emil nau seating fluids and even electric shocks But prohuhly Hie most icinarkiihle of all methods of evading file enemy Is that of shamming death; and one need not necessarily travel beyond Hie i online of ones own gulden for proof of the fad Hint some creature do sham death for quite a number of mtcrpillurs spiders toads nnd snakes are addicted to the habit says M D D In the Times of India Bins (rated Weeklv It Is a well known fad I hit I ecr rain birds will pretend to tie lame or wounded In Hie wing In order to draw away Intruders from the vicinity of j '' .. moralities? do know -- " I'll swear Hud "Gohy. I don t know I How could I? But surely don t you wouldn't wouldn't attempt "That Is for you to sa.v tlarllng." Darling, as she said It then, was as wicked a word as I bad ever Its tened to. For "Give John to me. I ve changed my If you II do that. I'll stay rigid mind here, and settle down, and do an iml lallon of a moral, model wife that would satisfy even you." "Gaby, you speak as If John were a child's toy. to he parsed ahold, t couldn't give him to you. If I were willing to. You You could, and you know It. won't. So. that's that. But keep your righteous fingers out of my life; stop I your d n preaching, and meddling. am going to the cabin uow. You would better come with nip. We've searched that cabin a thou sand times "All the same, It Is ttie one logical place; far removed, und under cover." The eatdn Is t tie one Sam built to live In wdien tie first came to Hie val It Is up Boulder creek, about ley. half a mile from the ranchhouse. Sam has kept it In repair, inside and out; owing, I think to sentimental memories, though he declares If Is he cause he dislikes wreckage on the place When John and Martha were little things. Sam used to hide their Christmas presents up there, under im to say It." was sure that he did not mean It I was sure that only the voice of one of his rare ugly moods had spoken, and that the wicked thought had died with the wicked words But, from that day to this, I have never repeated those words to a living soul. Because that wns the way that Gaby was murdered: choked to death, with great brutal bruises left on her throat, I (TO D CONTINUED MILLAM 6 State flRtf WOOLCO MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Pnce List and Shipping Tags! Name Add rets JUF.D. |