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Show THE PAGE SIX TIMES-NEW- NEPHI. UTAH S. Friday. January 8, 1926 OLIVER CHAPTER X Continued By George Barr McCufcbeon WNU Service Copyright. Bell Syndfceio 10 to "It looks pretty bad for you, Baxter," lie lind said at the end of a long Interview, "but there's only one thing Is ahead of me. I may be In Jail I'm a day older. lie gave her a for you to do. People don't want to believe you killed your father, and wry, bitter smile as he put his arm that's a big advantage. So It Is up over her shoulder and walked beside to you to stand your ground and face her Into the house. "Pleasant thought, bo-fo- whatever conies. Don't talk. Keep your trap closed. I called your uncle up on the telephone Just before I came here this evening. He Is coining over tomorrow morning to see If he can Identify the body. Of course be can't. You seem to be dead sure that It Isn't your father. So Is Mr. Sikes and Undertaker Link. You all claim that your" father was shorter by several Inches and had lost several of his teeth. But your lawyer will look after all these points. Just sit tight, Baxter, and keep cool. Don't leave town. Understand?" The company In Oliver's sitting-rooIncluded the redoubtable and venerable Messrs. Sikes and Link, Judge Shortridge, Mr. and Mrs. Sage and' Jane, Doctor Lansing and Mrs. Grimes. Sammy Parr was expected. He was to bring In the news of the streets. Oliver, a trifle pnle, but with a stubborn frown on his brow, listened calmly to the animated conversation that went on about him. lie sat beside Jane on the sofa In the corner of the room. "I don't see how you can be so unmoved, so calm, Oliver, dear," whispered Jane In her lover's ear. "Just think what they, are talking about end as If you were not. here at all." He stroked her hand. "I've been thinking of something else, Jane." "Of me, I suppose, and the silly notion you have of releasing me from iny promise." "I do release you, dear." "I refuse to release you so that's that, as mother says. I am ready and willing to have father marry us tonight, Oliver." "We will have to wait, dear, he said, rather wistfully. CHAPTER XI Oliver in Danger The front door opened suddenly and in walked Sammy F'arr. haste," he said, tossing his iiat und gloves on a chair. "I'm back. ... Sav. pee whiz, evervhorlv In town Is out on Clay street. Lets of them down ithis wnv. strollincr mist " ,; "What are the people saying, Sanf-my- " Judge Shortridge broke In, grasping his arm. "Well, I hate to tell you, but as far as I can make out. Judge, there seems to be a general feeling that that Oliver did It," said Sammy, wiping his moist forehead with the back of a hand that shook slightly. . r ."Snap Judgment," said the lawyer, after silence had reigned for a few Seconds. "That Is always the way with the Ignorant and uninformed. . . Hii SSL) HI isn't It, old dear? as ' the celebrated Josephine would say." Clay street was almost deserted as Lansing and Sammy Parr drove through It after leaving the Baxter place. The Sages were In trie former's car. In front of the hotel Sammy, who was some distance ahead and who had dropped the two old men at Silas Link's home, slowed down and waited for Lansing to draw alongside. "I don't mind saying to you that there4wns n lot of ugly talk earlier In the evening," said Sammy uneasily. "A lot of nasty talk. I didn't tell Oliver, hut I heard more than one man say he ought to be strung up." "Oh, Sammy, do you think " began Jane; In a sudden agony of alarm. "Nonsense !" cried the minister, Instantly sensing her fear. "Such things don't happen in these days and in this part of the country. The people will let the law take Its course. Have no fear on thnt score." "Well, anyway, It looks mighty queer to me," said Sammy tactlessly shaking his head. "I don't like this awful stillness. It Isn't like this even on ordinary nights." Jane clutched Lansing's arm and shook It violently. "Doctor Lansing," she cried, "we must return to Oliver's house immedi ately. He will have to come over to our house Better still, Sammy, you must drive him up to the city. Tonight At once. I ara frightened. Something terrible Is afoot. I know It. I feel it. It is so still. Look! Why aren't the street lamps In Maple avenue lighted? It Is as dark as " "By Jingo, Lansing," exclaimed Sammy, starting up from his seat to peer over the windshield. "See that? Men running across Maple avenue. 'Way up yonder where that arc light Is at Fiddler street. Three or four men. Didn t you see them? "We must beat It back to Oliver's," Lansing, excitedly. "Take the women home first," ordered Sammy, "and then come back. I'll go nbead." "Walt 1" commanded Mr. Sage. "Drive on up Maple, Sammy. Follow those men. See what they are up to. They are headed for the swamp road. Lansing and I will follow you in a jiffy. Drive like the devil!" he shouted in ringing tones. "No, no, no!" screamed Jane. "The other way I To Oliver's I I will not Turn go home. I'm going to him! around turn around I Do you hear me?" "Where in God's name are the po lice?" cried Josephine. "We can't take you back there," cried Lansing. "II I may be to pay. It's no place for women, Jane. Sit still ! I'll have you home In two min utes." "I will Jump out t I swear to heaven I will," she cried shrilly. "Turn back !" commanded Jane's mother. "I am not afraid of them. Jane Is not afraid. We cannot desert Oliver If he Is In danger. Please God, he may not he. Turn back, I say !" "Yes!" cried the minister. "We must get to Oliver all of usl" The two cars made reckless turns In the narrow street and were off like the wind. CHAPTER XII The Hanging Since ten o'clock men by nvos and threes and fours had been making their way through hack streets and lanes to an appointed spot an eighth of a mile past of the Baxter home, the swale that marked the extreme northern end of the slough. Whispers swelled Into hoarse, guttural mutterings as the mob, headed by Its scowling leaders, left the swale and started Its deadly march. Quickly the house was surrounded. No avenue of escape was left unguardA small, detached ed. group advanced toward the porch, above the roof of which were lights In the windows of what everyone knew to be young Oliver Baxter's bedroom. A loud voice called out: "Come out! We want to see you, Oliver Baxter." Oliver ral.-ethe window and lean?d out. "Who Is It? What have you got A mob? down there? I'll see you In h I before I'll come out !" A deep growl rose from n hundred throats, stilled almost Instantly as the clear voice of the leader rang out again. "We will give you one minute to come out." Oliver glanced over lits shoulder. Mrs. Grimes had come to his bedroom door. "Telephone for the police, Serepta," he cried out sharply. "No! Walt! You mustn't be here If that mob breaks set-face- Nothing to worry about, Oliver. They will he on your side tomorrow when they understand a little better. It's always the way Willi a crowd." Josephine Sage spread her hands In A gesture 'f contempt. "'What fools these 'mortals be,'" she declaimed theatrically. It was after eleven o'clock when Oliver's friends departed. lie stood on the porch and watched thein drive off fn the tivo nutomolilles. A few persons had lit tipped ut the bottom of the drive to see who were In the cars. The String headlights fell upon while. Indistinct faces and then al.uost Instant-- 1 left them In pitch darkness. "I wlxh you Infd let Mr. Sage marry you and Jane tonight, Oliver," said Mrs. Grimes, at his side 04 the top step. "You have the license and everything, and II could all have been. over And Jane bested In a few tulnutis. you o hard.'' "I couldn't do It, Aunt Serepta," he ald dejectedly. "I don't know what By GEORGE MARSH They dragged him down the stairs. Out of the house and down Into the. yard they hurried hfm. There they paused long enough to tic ls hands An awed securely behind his back. silence had fallen upon the crowd the shouts ceased, curses died on men's lips. They had him ! Tragedy was at hand. "In Heaven's name, men what are you going to do with me?" Oliver cried out in a strange, piercing voice. "Shut up!" Something fell upon his head, scraped down over his face. He stifled a scream. He felt . the slack noose tighten about his bare throat. He was shoved forward, protesting shrilly. Impatiently. They had picked the s;jot the place where father and son parted on that Author of "Tollers of the Trail." "The Whelps of the Wolf" (W. N. U. d In and" (Copyright by the Penn Publishing Srvif.) CHAPTER VIII Co.) With Michel would go two letters. people moving about the buildings. On explaining his change of plans. The tlie bench the post dogs already await"Is this the same one we heard at sole hope of holding the In. Hans now ed the strange craft, while a group of was in scotching the Windigo terror post people formed behind them. The Walling Klver?" "Mehhe. Mebbe 'nodder one. 'Jib-wa- early In the winter by tracking down canoe was close In shore when two and so. men left the massive tradehouse and say plenty ov dem een valley o- the beast on the first snow; strongly as his heart drew him toward drifted to the log landing stage, off de Wailing." which a York boat rode at Its moor"But what do you think. Michel?" the post, he made his decision. ing. demanded Steele hotly. "Here I am, "It looks as if the whole outfit is out CHAPTER IX with David, giving up my time to help to meet us." you run this thing down and. If posDavid turned a grim face to his For three days Steele searched the chief. sible, save the post for St. Onge ; and "Somet'Ing strange here!" you don't trust me. Why don't you ridge and back country for tracks, but "They may think we're a police without success. David returned from open your heart to me?" Michel straightened and going to Portage lake with the good news that canoe." suggested Steele. "Ah-ha!" the small lire David had built on the the fishing enmps were taking large "Is that Laflamme talking to the big his examined tattered and catches of whiteflsh. and beach, calmly pike on the landing?" shirt and trousers, as he dried cut. there was no Windigo gossip. So. In fellow "Ah-ha! lie don' talk lak' dead "You are good man. M'sieu Steele. spite of the shrill protests and IndigSo low were the sinister Daveed tell me, but I have de eye to nant refutation of their squaws, Steele, man." see. W'en you corne back on de snow, corroborated by his men, assured the words spoken that Steele, In doubt, asked : I tell you somet'Ing." Ojibwnys that what the women had "What's that?" That was all. and Steele understood. heard on the burnt ridge was the cat The Ojihway turned to his chief a It was evident that Michel had bound erwauling of a lynx, and at once starthimself to secrecy. But why had he ed with David for Ogoke lake and the face twisted with hate. know he "He don' ees dead told David? Nepigon. man !" In on a "In the morning we must hunt for a was It windless day the "Some day you enn settle with him trail," Steele said, philosophically heart of the northern Indian summer but not now. not now ! We have a bowing to the inevitable. Now we'll that the canoe bound south for the have to do what we can to quiet those Xeplgon approached the Islands guard- job on the Wailing you and Michel and I." hastily objected Steele, fearing the east end of Ogoke. Like silpoor squaws." As the canoe landed on the beach houettes of anchored battle fleets they ing this meeting with the man he below the silent tipls, one by one, rode the sleeping lake, their fighting hated had jarred David off his mental dark shapes of Indian dogs slunk tops and stacks, of black spruce, their balance. The set features of the Ojibway rerocks. from the adjacent scrul , tails between armored hulls, of His narrow eyes glowed as "Where Is the post. David?" asked laxed. legs, to whimper nt the feet of the he reassured the man who trusted him. men. Steele. "Scared stiff." said Steele. "And from "Four five hour paddle, yet. Eet "Daveed promise to meet Michel on the sound the squaws are worse. Go lie on long spruce point. You see eet de November snow. We have de heeg Job you an" Michel nn' Daveed; I and talk to them. Michel. Tell them today ver' fur off." It was a mad wolverine or lynx and "You realize that you can't start mak' no trouble here, boss." Under the Inspection of many pairs we've hunted It out of the cnuntr- -. anything at Laflamme's place now, I'M get a fire going while David brings of curious eyes, the canoe slid Into don't you?" the beach. Leaving David to keep the some tea from the Island. It will Repeatedly. David's .square shoulcheer them up the tea." ders leaned to the stroke, as his arms dogs off the canoe, Steele walked But both his patience, and his swept the blade through, before he through the silent huskies who Instinctively drew back from his apknowledge of the woods Indian's be- turned his black head to his chief. lief in the supernatural, were taxed to "David has waited ten year, he enn proach and closed In behind hira. the uttermost before Michel succeed- wait leetle tarn longer. We got plenty walking on stiff legs barely out of reach of the paddle he carried, awed ed in convincing the women that the The bulky yet threatening. Windigo they had heard on the ridge was not now luring them to their whose sinister face wore the red gash of a scar from chin to ear, donpi with the assumed voice of the Steele dismissed with a glance, tut headman of Walling River. Tn the end. they crept from the nothing, from the heavily bended tlpl to the friendly light of the tire, horror moccasins of smoke-tanne- d moose-hidIn their to the chil stetson of eyes, r, the dren clutching !ve!r skirts. There, escaped his appraising eye. To h!3 surpirse. also, the dark comforted by the tw., rtii h artrtic. features which met him with a look Iv the presence of the ttiree men, who both surly and questioning, were kept n huge fire going, the circle of stricken women passed the night. handsome. Tn the opinion of Steele, who l:ept "Good day. gentlemen!" said Steele, l with his pipe, beside the snoring p.ffab'y. Ignoring the coolness of his Divld and Michel, rolled In their reception. blankets, the coming if ttie beast to "Good day!" returned Laflamme, was Big Feather before the freeze-up- . coldly, probing the smiling face of the the gravest menace which the fora stranger with sharp look In which tunes of Wailing Ttlver post, and the doubt nnd concern patently mingled. who b;id given hltn until sprln? p!rl "I nra headed for Nepigon, from to aeeoniplish the Impossible, had yet Fort Albany, nnd nepd some supolles." encountered.' For. as a forest fire went on Steele. "Can you sell me In dry tlmVer. so rumors of the some sturr?" lowling of the Windigo at P.lg Feath-f- r With a curl of the Hp Lnflnmme rewould travel from hunter to hunter plied: "Thnt depends on what your through the upper valley of the Wnll-In-.- r. business Is on this lake." The tale would spread, gatheThe tawny-haireAmerican laughed horror ns It went ns a snow-slidIn the face of the speaker. ring L'iKh'-rIn until moT.entum. time the "Business on this lake? Are yon who'e region learned thnt a Wlndlgo You seem to have all the Joking? . '4 was looe In the valley of the Walling business here. My business Is to get a fiend fierce beyond belief anil hun- "It Looks as If the Whale Outfit Is back to New York before I'm frozen Out to Meet Us." gry f"r the flesh of the Ojihway. Then In. nnd report to the American Muwould follow, unless the beast were seum of Natural History. I've Fpent killed and the terror ended, swift troubles dees long snow on de Wailing. the last five months on the Albany, l wet-not Daveed wait ; worry fiy you exodes from the valley of the families collecting. Now. I'm bound for Nepheein." still trading fit the post, the resurrecthe railroad." "I knew you wouldn't do anything igon nndhalf-breetion und revival of the ghastly tradiThe nr.d his chief extions surrounding Hie rapids and the when we have this work down river looks. Steele changed realized thnt I will It ahead of realize that but us; river below the end of the St. Onges he hard. If we stay a day or two, for he was suspected of being a governand the post nt Wailing Klver. ment ngent In disguise, so, as he needSteele's teeth bit savarely Into the you to keep your hands off of him. His ed supplies and wished to study LnIf did would you you gang get anyway item of his pipe. This might happen flnmme while David circulated among it that and with Lnflamme, square . before the freezo-Hpand until the the post people, he desired to relieve snow made It possible to follow a trail, would put me In a hole as well." r the mind of the at once. diThe reticent David had never there was small chance of solving the "You say you're from the States-do- ing cause to even of the the Steele vulged mystery of the night walling. collecting among the Indians? Now. Steele mused, when the men ancient grudge he hore the I should be glad to see some of vour returned from their hunt to hear of lie had said simply that he wished to stuff." the voice In the night from the circle meet him bad twice Journeyed far Lnflnmme was taking no chances, of half demented women cowering for that purpose ; once missing him. nnd Steele welcomed the opportunity him second time the finding camped to establish his there around the fire, the tale would Identity. Straightway travel to the four winds, with his fur canoes. As David had no "Yes. I've two In the ennoe. und hardy Indeed wo-l- d be the hunter quarrel with Laflamme's men, who My name Is Steele.packs I've teen on the who would drive his dog team this would have come promptly to the aid Alhnny two left Christmas down the white valley of of their chief, he had hided his time. pounds this years at Fort a thousand year, Albany, to In some Laflamme way, years before, ihe Walling to trade at the go out by boat." Then he hazardetJ: post. With no Christmas, and little had Injured the OJIbsvny. Thnt wns "Yon know Lnscelles, the Revlllon prospect of a spring trade, union the the extent of Steele's knowledge. mnn lhere?" Orndunlly, us they approached, the mystery were solved by the running Lnflamme's reaction to the remnrk nnd the down of this beast with the minimi-!oti- n clearing ojiened lip buildings was Instantaneous. His face dark-ene- d vocal 11 in Is, Wnllitig Klver wan of the fur post took shape. So keen with nnger. was his curiosity thnt Steele ceased Kven If Denlse married doomed. ITO MB roNTIXt'ED ) In the spring, the post could not puddling to examine them through his man Here who lived binoculars. the he continued under n taboo. . Tragedy of Razor Blades True, St. Onge had sworn thnt she wns waiting until the snow flew for Those who nre puzzled to know honld never make the sacrifice, hut St. Oner's answer to his ofTer of a what to do with ned razor ihe factor was at his rope's end, and partnership tn the trade for the price blades may find a hint Insafety the follow-luwns tnnn of the Denlse. who the luring she would override hlin. She would says thp London Mall. A young not sec hltn d!:.Taced. Her pride Ojibwnys for hundreds of miles with nnd pretty girl approached Patterses ould drive her to It thnt fierce prld his whisky. bridge. Slw held something tightly In was little her left hand. When ot race. SI e wns a thoroughbred and Although the freer.e-nshe reached the would go to her spiritual death with more than a fortnight away, tipls middle of the bridge she stopped and on here nnd there, a high head. In the sprlrg. the post looked around. squntted, In the morning Michel would go In clearing. This, of Itself, meant hut Only one man was anywhere near, search of the enrihou hunters, for after one thing to the man who held the nnd he. apparently, was not pnying that tilght the women would not re- glasses whisky. For. throughout the any attention to her doings. In a flush main alone at Big Feather. David wide north, September finds the hunthe rnleed her hand nnd flung somewould crops lo Portage lake to learn ers on their winter trapping gro.jnds. thing Into the river below. It glittered If the Windigo had been benrd on the preparing for the corning of the long nnd shone as It fell, nnd the man. Little Current, lie, himself, would snows. gnzlng over the bridge In curiosity, "Wal. w'at yon fink ov dnt place?" saw that It wns n sm:.1l glass phial of cover the country bark of tbp rld.p for a trail which he had 11: tie hope of asl-eDavid, as Steele put his glusscs the sort In which powdered bnth salts nre sold, twelve in a box. Ills curiosflicking up. snd endenvor to hold the In thtlr case. women at their cntnp until their men "He must have a lot of people there ity overcome him, and he overtook the returned. On the return of David they girff "Do tell me what you threw Info big buildings, too." would nt once start for Nepigon. leav"Tes, eet pes her place." the river," lie begged. "My htisbaiKfa As they approached the long point. razor Hades," was the astonluhln c ing Michel to meet the ranoe St. Onge Steele was snrprlseit at the cumber of was to nt Continued 13 y -' lillgifi h mmWr age-wor- n lf.,:.W-- m oK-- half-shoute- d tree-border- He Stroked Her Hand. "I've Been Thinking of Something Else, Jane." y of Voice "For Cod's sake, be decent enough look after her." he panted. hnlf-bree- d. "Come He Yelled. "Come on, You Dirty Cowards!" on!" And the tree the distant night. sturdy old oak whose limits overhung the road. They had picked the limb. There was no delay. . . . The stout rope was thrown over the limb, the noose was drawn close about his neck by cold, nervous fingers. . . . A prayer was strangled on his writhing lips. Strong hands hauled at the ro;e. He swung In the air. . . . A great white flare of light burst upon the grewsome spectacle the roar of a charging monster the din of shrieking klaxons and then the piercing scream of a woman. The dense moh in the road broke, fighting frantically to get out of the car. Some were path of Lan.-ing'-s struck and hurled screaming aside and on came the car, forging Its way j slowly but relentlessly through the struggling mass. Up to the swaying, wriggling form shot the car, a force guided by a man who thought not of the human beings he might crush to death In his desire to reach the one he sought to save. "Let go of that rope!" yelled this man. Behind him came another car. Panic seized the moh. The compact mass broke and scattered. A writhing, tortured figure lay In the middle of the road, a loo.-- rope swinging free from the limb. The bewildered, startled men who had held It In tiielr hands fell back uncertain, bewildered. Lansing, unafraid, sprang from the car und rushed to the prostrule form. In a second lie whs tugging at the noose, cursing frightfully. Now a woman flung herself down beside the man with the rope around his neck, sobbing, moaning, her arms straining to lift his shoulders from the ground. A baffled roar went np from the moh. Men surged forward and hand were laid upon the rope too lute The noose was off and Smmy Parr, standing over the doctor and the ills traded girl, had a revolver In his band. "Come on "Come on!" hi yelled. you dirty cowards! Toil swine! You Come on and get a man d d Huns! sized pull!" irre.-istibl- e, e ITO B8 CONTtNf KT.) Services Rendered Stories of being related a wen the amoving room of tiliseiit-miiiilediK- transalantle In liner. wlde-hrlmme- d d free-trade- ns d S free-trnde- free-trnde- r. d Lns-lelle- s p "I am very nlisenf-mlndomyself." said a hitherto silent twin, "I ofte find names and telephone number written In mv notebook, tint rn t remember what persons they represent Lately I had n general checking up The name und address of nnr iohO hafricd rue. so I wrote to him skiiig If be hud ever heard of me und If I was supposed to i!o something r.,r him. He wrote buck cordial, almost nn affectionate letter, saying I limi a) ready done It. He was my life's first husband." He did not finish the sentence. There was a rush of footsteps In the I all, then Mrs. Grimes was flung nslde and Into the room leaped three, four, half a dozen men. Oliver knocked the first man sprawling, but the others were upon Mm As they led like an avalanche. . . hltn, now unresisting, from the room Thirteen new national forests with his wild, hen ten gaze fell upon the huddled form of Serepta Grimes lying total sres of CH.riOJ) acres have been Inert In the hull. created during the last sis months. gray-face- d I j -- |
