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Show rnr Courtney Ryley Cooper CHAPTER VI Continued C 11 Courtney Kyley Cooper. WNU Service. Hammond whistled. That means a lot of work. "You bet it means work and men. row confine between the door and And a concentrated campaign. Any the counter. Then Jeanne said: other method will keep you here for Id hoped you'd never have to the next fifty years. You've got to know about him. in to make money spend money I dont if you put it that way. mining. she had But now, her "Thats what Ive been trying to chin lifted withstraightened determination. he But Joe. McKenzie tell "Ill feel better if you do know. There he halted. Kay was com He caught her by the arms, lng down the trail. Bruce Kenning clutching them tight. called good morning and went up "Look here! he asked. "Do you the stream. Hours later, with Kay think anything could change my and Hammond watching intently, of feelings about you my friendship? the workmen began a clean-u- p you? If that's the case, dont the sluice box on the Joyce claim. Do me. I dont want to know. It only revealed the usual flour gold, tell"You, of all persons, have the indications of something more to to know. right worth as but yet, nothing come, She freed herself and walked past saving. "Neither this flume nor the sluice him to the door, closing it. Then is long enough, one of the work- she turned, and her back against it, ers complained. Me V Jim waste as though the support would give an awful lot of time just standin her needed strength. Suddenly she around, for fear of shovelin in too drew back. A voice had come from outside: much gravel. "Hey, Jeanne! Whats the idea? "Then build em up now, while Shuttin that door? clean-uout for the dried youre Involuntarily she opened it. A Hammond said. "Im going past the sawmill. Ill tell em to send miner entered from Kay's claim. I didnt some lumber. Oh, he exclaimed, know you were here, Mr. Ham"And nails, called Kay. mond. "Ill get them. Hammond left the stream, with "Yes, Im here. It was banal Its lines of eager workers. At the but there was nothing else to say. "Miss Kay thought you'd forgotsawmill he gave the lumber order, then turned for Jeanne's to get the ten them nails." nails. She met him, some fifty "No but while youre here, take yards away, returning from the de- them. Hammond clawed a double livery of a batch of darning. handful of spikes from the keg and "Havent sold all those nails? passed them on to the miner. he asked. Tell Miss Kay Ill be down after "I think there are some left. awhile, he commanded. Theres been a run on them this Sure, the miner answered and morning. Everybody in camp wants started away. or nails glass. "Jeanne, why cant I go to Terry They reached the store and she about this man? Hed handle it con-from lifted the peg the hasp few persons in Sapphire lake even bothered to close their doors. Then pushing the door open, she walked within the store, suddenly to gasp and to hurry around the end of the rough counter. The crudely built money drawer stood open. The girl wavered, starher ing at it, her hands Jaw sagging. Then she said, in a queerly dulled voice: "Somebodys been in the store! "Had you left your money here? ' Hammond asked sharply. "Yes all of it I I thought nobody ever bothers to lock up Hammond stared about him. It seemed inconceivable that crime y should have entered this p, half-raise- d, far-awa- . place; Sergeant Terrys main work was growing a garden. Beside him, Jeanne Towers continued to stare blankly; it was as if they sought an explanation of the impossible, the supernatural. "But who would want to steal my money? die asked dazedly. "They took everything; the bills, and my nuggets and a bottle of golddust Hammond did not answer. The door had begun to swing shut; the faint breeze therefrom was sufficient to lift a bit of paper, hitherto unnoticed, and whisk it to the floor. Jack moved for it, but the girl, with swift intuition, sped before him. She grasped it, turning it in her hand. Then, with a spasmodic movement, she crumpled it in a tightly clenched fist. It's nothing, she said. Her face was bloodless. A strange madness overpowered Hammond. He did not know why he insisted; he only realized that his face was hot and his veins pounding. "Give me that paper, he said thinly. There was something terrible about his eyes. Slowly the girl passed it over to him. His hands shook as he unfolded it, revealing its curt message: "I.O.U. Lew. In "And, too, I suppose he pulled the old gag what was the use of worrying your parents by getting married, to say nothing of his poor old mother who'd never survive the shock "In this case, it was his crippled sister, Jeanne supplied without bitterness. "Oh," she supplemented suddenly, "Im not trying to say I was-learound. Did you ever spend the best part of your life in a place like The Pas? Not the town that it is now but the one like it used to be? "How did Lew Snade get his Hammond hands on that money? asked bluntly. He felt queerly feverish. The girl went on: "There wasnt anything at the Winnipeg auction worth buying. Lew argued that we ought to go on to Edmonton there would be an auction there in about ten days. I wrote home what had happened, about the auction I mean. Then we went to Edmonton. Lew's money was gone. I began to cut into the cash Id brought along; then one afternoon Lew pretended to count the money to be sure it was all there. I wasn't looking. He shouted that a hundred dollar bill had flown out an open window. "Of course you never found it. She smiled faintly. I found the place later where he had lost it- gambling. Of course, I didn't know that then. I began to worry about making up our expenses and that hundred dollars. Lew said he had a friend in Vancouver who wanted to sell out his stock of furs. I let him argue me into believing that he knew enough about the fur business to go and buy out this stock and make enough on it to cover all our losses. She was silent. Hammond waited a moment. "Well, he asked at last. "Thats all, came tonelessly. "He stole toe money and deserted you? asked the man. His hands as Much as Young Man Qualified for Job, He Got It "Well, inquired the man in the swivel chair as the seventy-fourt- h applicant of the day strode into his office, "have you had a thorough education in art? Yes, sir, answered the young applicant confidently, "I have. Studied in Europe? features of Gothic architecture?" "Pointed arches, vertical accent, skeletonal framework with small wall space and large windows. This contrasts With the Romanesqua where " Whoa. Whoa. Thats enough. And you'd be able to explain re"Yes. Four years at the Beaux productions of great painters to Arts. inquiring visitors? And youre sure you could Certainly. The perspective of guide visitors through this place Fabriano, the power and religious fervor of Masaccio, the splendid competently? chiaroscuro of Leonardo, the reYes, I am sure. Well, we shall see. What were lentless realism of Rembrandt, the brilliant color tones of Verothe three Greek orders? have backbone tokefn ?,Jst froi getting wobbly. People who want they need have the mi!jthan of children. 11 liberatefy wilks to see if he IS uadSIjfc Too many men never a, charitable act unless s' somebody around to apSd11 your overalls on," condTZ proprietor of the Ducal Station, Inc., "and give thftS tomer out there a few Parke Cumm? f nese, born 1528, died gas. "Ionic, Corinthian and Doric. "Youll do. Now go and get Cleveland Plain Dealer? "Good! What are the outstanding - -- were trembling. "I worked at anything I could get in Edmonton until I earned fare to enough for second-clas- s Vancouver. The man in toe fur store said hed never even heard of Lew Snade. I couldnt find a job in Vancouver; finally I got one for a single trip on the Prince Rupert boat, working in toe dining WESTEfcN UTil room. You kept on looking for Snade? "I'd been to every dance hall in Vancouver and dvery gambling joint Someone remembered him and said he'd gone North. So I kept on asking questions after I got on toe boat. One of the girls said she knew him that hed got ten her to sneak out after hours and meet him on deck. When I got to Prince Rupert, I asked about a lawyer and someone suggested Mr. Bars tow. I was afraid to go to the police. "Yes. Because of your people " I told Mr. Barstow Id pay him a ' percentage on any money he could get back for me. But he said no Barstow's that kind. "Im Not Trying to Say I Was lived where I could; for awhile "I Led Around. . I worked in A1 Monsons store, fidentially. Certainly, weve got to was there for nearly two months, do something. but Mr. Barstow couldn't get any The girl leaned wearily against track of Lew. Then one day, he called me and said Lew was in the counter. town hed been in Alaska and just "Not necessarily. "Why not? What right had he to come back. I dont know how be found out. come here and take money? "It gets to be a habit after "Barstow knows every ship capawhile. There was no sarcasm in tain and cabin boy in Prince Ruthe statement, only resignation. pert. I cant see it. Look here, youve "I guess that was it. He said Lew made a start for yourself up here had promised to come to his office in the North. This fellow cant the next and pay back morning come out of your past and wreck every cent. So I went there. But it, no matter what the trouble-"T- he "He didnt show up, Hammond trouble is, she supplied interjected coldly. dully, that Im tied to him. "No, Mr. Barstow had to tell me "Married?" that hed skipped out. Thats when "Worse than that. first saw you coming down the "Thats none of my business, Istairs from Mr. Barstows office "I thought so, said Hammond, Jeanne. and turned for the door. Jeanne She rested her hands on the counmoved desperately, catching him ter. by the arm. "It is, Jack. The subjects been "Jack! Wait! Wait! opened. You might as well have it Why wait? he asked. "I'm go- all. Lew and I were kids together ing after Sergeant Terry. in The Pas. You know where that But she blocked him, frantic, both is? hands against his chest. in Northern Manitoba "Yes "Oh, dont! she gasped. "Please Quite a town now, with all those dont please dont! mines opening up. Jack Hammond could not believe "My father ran a trading store her. there. It was as though she were Youre not going to let Lew in a witness chair. "Neither FaSnade get away with a robbery?"' ther nor Mother liked Lew. I dont see anything else to do,' worked in the trading store, espeJeanne answered hopelessly. cially when Father was up North, "But vaguely Jack realized Well, this time he had to go into that he was discussing a situation the Arctic circle to trade with the of which he really knew nothing. Eskimos. Before he left, he told "You cant do tjiat. He stole your me that I was to go to the annual fur auction in Winnipeg for him; I money!" The girl sank against the counter. know furs. So I went and took "I simply cant go to the police. $3,000 with me. In currency? Hammond had I guess that's why he left that I.O.U. so Id know who did it and begun to see ahead. not make a report. "Yes. Father likes cash. Lew followed me down there. I was "Why not? She rubbed her hands. terribly in love with him. She must "He still uses his own name. have caught the look in Hammond's "What of it? eyes. "Oh, he's changed so much-- all She smiled faintly. in a year. I guess getting hold "Ive changed mine, came at of that money did something to last. "If I had to prosecute him him." and they took him out to Fourcross Evidently. So, after he met you dont you understand? Plainly in Winnipeg? So well she spread her Hammond did not and evidenced it. The girl added, in a colorless hands. If it should ever get back I know. Hammond was trying voice, home that Lew Snade had been ar- to make it easier fog her. "You rested for stealing money from a were away where nobody would girl somebody would figure out the know and you loved him and life seemed something terribly precious right name of that girl. Again there was silence. At last that wouldn't last Hammond began to pace the nar- "Thanks, the girl answered. To the Point "I guess I know the rest. Four-cros- Jack Hammond raised his hand p her shoulder and gently pushed her away. "Im not going to Terry! he an- nounced. Almost before he realized it, he was out of the store and stalking the crooked streets of the little town, head forward, a queer, ugly as he swing to his shoulders, searched the territory of tents and shacks. Then he turned down to the lake where Timmy Moon, grimy with oil, was working on his air- plane. he asked. "Seen Lew Snade? Without waiting for an answer, Where docs he usually hang out? Anywhere around this camp? Does he work for Around the World A- nnie? "Give a guy time. grouched Timmy. "I just saw him walking up' Loon creek, with Bruce Kenning ti-- 18 chaima PRWltCTYWtWESW 'THOUSANDS said that tires could not stand the terri A grind. They said cars had been built with mu greater speed, turns in the track had been repaved wi granite-lik- e surface, yet Wilbur. Shaw drove to victc on Firestone d Tires a new reco of 113.58 miles per hour on onesetting of the hottest da in the history of the Indianapolis track. Think of the terrific impact on these tires as t cars roared into the treacherous turns and out agai Tons of force straining, pulling, and twisting insi the tire, yet not one cord loosened, not on tread tepantt font body all because t Gum-Dippe- Gum-Dippin- You haven't talked to him up here? The girl glanced at the I. O. U. where Hammond had tossed it. "That's all, she said slowly. "I don't even know how he got here. "I do. He came up with the last bunch from Fourcross got in the same night as Bruce Kenning, know something more. He's going to give you back that money. The girl flashed before him. "Dont go to Sergeant Terry! Please! You know how news lathe kind that comes out of a new mining camp. It goes all over. If s Terry ever took him down to (TO BE CONTINUED) cauM With 6 AU-M- al Tab. 8 BSSZ.ttpZ" 39 SEAT COVERS elui nd eaa .895.1" g, Firestone patented process, successfully counteract the internal friction and heat that ordinarily destr tire life. never drive your car at these recoi breaking speeds, but for the safety of yourself a family you need the safest, strongest sad mt dependable tires. See your nearby firestone Deal or Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store. Join t Firestone SAVE A LIFE Campaign by equippii a set of new Firestone Gum-Dip-p ;our carthewith safest tires that money buy. BOIT BISK TON LIFE OK TRIR WORK Till No car owner ia going to rixk hi life and the live of family knowingly on thin worn tires. DO TOI NOR THAT Iw iw fcjsfcvW ecridente coal the liw nor I ha SS.IM feaSAONd and I i war .Claudtlaamrti directly of d |