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Show • THEJORDANJOURNAL,MIDVALE,UTAH I + + l l l l l l l l l l l l l I I l l : I I 1111 I MY FAVORITE S RI I STORIES By IRVIN S. COBB lllllllllllllllflllltltlt! Copnfcltt •~ the :M:eC&II Compl.ft7' ' •• CHAPTER XVIII ; ~ 'f 000000000 8eJ"" (Copyrll'ht.) from her sweated forehead, knelt on the spring's lip and putting her face to the limpid water, drank long and eagerly a foot from Buckskin's muzzle. As she straightened up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she caught a sound where had been silence before--the sound of something movIng. the rattle of accoutrements, and turning quickly, still upon her knees, she looked up into the grinning face of Sud Provine, the frowning one of the Sky Line foreman. "By Jlng !" said Provine wondering· ly, "never havln' seen you outside that there ol' bonnet of yours I didn't know how purty you was ! Them eyes now -they're right blue, ain't they? An' that wide mouth-all wet where you stopped wlpln' It-" "You d-n fool!" said Caldwell dis· gustedly. "shut up and mind the business entrusted to you. Miss Alllson," be said to Nance, "you're just the per· son we wanted to see. \Ye were sent this morning to fetch you to Sky Line, so you may as well go along sensibly, for we'll take you anyway." Nnnce rose to her feet. "Then you'll have to take me," she 1<ald curtly, "for I'll not ride a step with anyone from Sky Line." Slle swung Into her saddle and struck her heels to Buckskin's sides In a forlorn hope of escape--little Buckskin, stock, slow and faithful. Provine laughed again and daRhed forward with a leap of his gray Silvertip that put him alongside in a second. "Ain't no use, purty," he said and caught her rein. He turned the little horse up the slope, Cal dwell fell in close behind and -16The Fighting Line at Last. Brand Fair haunted the Selwood tanch. He hung to the side of the un· conscious man almost night and day. "What do you think, doctor?" he asked anxiously of tile medical man brought in from Bement. "Frankly, I don't think," said that worthy, "these lapses, superinduced by concussion, are treacherous things. He may recover suddenly, or he may die without regainin consciousness. It's a gamble." But anrlous as he was to know the secret locked in the unconscious brain of Price Selwood, Fair bad not been Idle, He and Bosslck had been very busy. Many things had been done, a plan arranged, secret conclaves held at which p1m and determined men sat their horses and pledged themselves to do a certain thing. Then Fair went to the cabin on Nameless, for the longing in his heart to see Nance Allison grew with every passing hour. He held her In his arms and kissed her forehead and her smooth cbeP.lrs, touched the shilling coronet of her hair with reverent hands. "Sweetheart," he whispered, after the age-old fashion of lovers, "there was never a woman like you! You are my tight "tn dark places, my rain in the desert. Oh, Nance, what if l bad never found you!'' And the girl leaned on his heart In an el'stasy of lo\'e that was shot with sadness, holding fast to her trust with desperate hands. "It's bound to come soon now," he told her, "we are organi?.ed and ready -only waiting for Selwood, poor fel· low, to regain hls reason that he may tell us where to strike." "There'll be gun play and-blood," said Nance miserably, "and I pray God that you will not be taken. 1-I couldn't lose you, l'lrand, and live. I wouldn't dare to live--for !! they kill you-Oh, that black hatred which bas stirred In me so long, Is getting beyond my strength to hold It ! I'll go mad and turn killer, Brand if they kill you! I know It-I !eel It here--" she laid eloquent hands on her henrt-"and then my soul will go Into the pit of. damnation." "Buck up," scoffed the man play· tully, "we'll all come through with colors flying and see this nest of "flpers caged. Then think of life on NumeIes~. Nance--safe and happy, with our fields and our herds and peace in all the land. I shouldn't have suggested anything else. Come--be my brave ~~rlrl again, my good fighter." Obedient to his words, Nance straightened and tried to smile In the l!t3rllgh t. "That's it,'' he said, "you're resilient and Listened for the as willow wood-ready with a come· Looked Black Shoat. back. You'll never leave the line, sweetheart, never In this world!" In a matter of two minutes Nance AlliIt was late In the night when Fair son was a prisoner headed for Sky rode away. Line ranch. He went sout11, going back to look again on the quiet face of Sheritr Sel'l'he pink flush was gone entire)y from her face, leaving it pale as will. wttod, then on to the Deep Heart ller 11 ps were f a 1n tl y as h en. fringes to meet Boss!ck and .Termyn. As for Nance Alllson, she was seized "Help me. Lord!" she whispered Inwith a great restlessness that made in- audibly, "Oh, my God, be not far action unbearable. from me!" "I think I'll ride the lower slopes o.f There was no fear In her, only a 111ystery, Mammy," she said next morn- deep and surging anger tha! seemed ing, "and look for that black shoat to make her lungs labor for sufficient that's missing. 1 can't afford to air. Her usually smiling lips were set lose lt." together in a thin line. The mother looked at hi<!r with worSo, In silence, save for Pro,·ine's oo rled eyes. casional jesting observations, t11ey "You take your pappy's gun," she climbed the bren~t of the great ridge. said at last. "I feel to tell you so. Th' and pre:,;eutly struck Into the welltime has ~e." worn trail which led direct to ::iky But the girl shook her head. Line. "I. don't care," she said, "I can't At the broad steps to the right trt "t myself of late," She kissed Nance was ordered to dismount. Sonny, ran a hand over Bud's bronze Pro\ine took Buckskin and Caldwell hair, and went out to the stable where motioned her to as<:end the steps. With ehe saddled Buckskin and rode away. her head up and het· month tight shut In very likely place she looked and Xance Allison strode forward into the llstQiied for the black shoat, but It stronghold of her enemies. seeme to have disappeared from the 'l'he door was open, and she saw first face of the earth, like the six fat only a pale darkness within as she 'iteers. She followed a small ravine stovped •.m the threshold. for longer than she had intended, sat 'l'lJen, pushed forward by the . forefor a while in a sunny opening high man with a none too gentle hand, her along the breast of Mystery, and sidled eyes slowly became accustomed to the back toward the west again. shadowy Interior and, In spite of her· And here It was that two men far self, they widened with amazement at above looked down and saw her with the splendor she beheld. ejaculations of delight. A man was sitting on a broad couch, "Well, If this ain't luck!" said Pro- a cigarette !n hls fingers. He was a vine grinning, "then I'm a liar! I stranger to Nnn<:P, a stranger to the thought this morning when Arnold country, but she catalogued him swift· banded us that last bunch of lnstruc- ly as the man f1·om New York of whom tlons that he was due for once to come all Nameless had heard. lie was slim out th' 11ttle end of th' horn. I didn't and fair skinned, and the gray eyes, f'ee how any human was go!n' to be set rather close together across the able to carry them out. I didn't think arch of the high-bridged nose, were the we'd ever get near enough to get her sharpest she had ever seen In a human. and do it on th' q. t. But she's brought A fo:t she had once seen caught in a herself to us!" trap had had just such eyes. "If she's armed," said Caldwell They were cold and appraising, with· short'ly, "it's not time yet to crow. I out a !'\park of kindness. think she'd fight." In one of the gorgeous chairs Kate ''Fight, h-1 !" said the other, "she Cathrew, dressed like a princess, sat don·t belleve In ftghtln'. She's re- bolt upright. Jlglous. We'll pick her up too easy an' At sight ot Nance in her faded garpresmlt her to th' boss with our com- ments, straight and defiant In her con· pllmentl." trolled anger, her handsome face An ht:mr later Nance, riding along a flushed beneath Its artistry. cllm trail m11de by the traveling hoofs "Ah !" she said, like a vixen, "getof deer, came out above a spring In a out-of-that-door. Step over to the :!Jfetty glade. right a bit, you obscure the light." She wa!'> warn1 and thirsty, so she The bil girl did not move. Sbe stood with her hat pulled down ClllmountecJ lUld pushing back her hat . I above her narrowed eyes, one band on her hlp. "If you've got anything to say to me," she said coldly, "say it." ~ Kate Cathrew leaped to her feet, but the man put out a hand and touched her. • As If a spring had been released she sank down, obeying that calm touch like an automaton. "~liss-uh-Allison," said Arnold, "there is no need for dramatics. Neither will they avail you. We wanted to see you-to talk business with you. So we sent for you." "So I see," snld Nance, "or rather you kidnaped we." "Not so decided, pleaRe. We don't like such words. '!'bey are--ahcrude, I might say." "Not half so crude as you will find the methods of. Nameless when tlll~ gets out. I guess," said Nance. "lleav· en !mows I don't amount to much, but i am likely to be a torch for a fire that's smoldering." "\Ve hnYe extinguishers," smiled Arnold. "Sky Line is a pretty fire department, If I do say !t. The thing for you to do just now is-think. I'll give you ten minutes." "I don't need them," said Nance. "I've thougb.t for several years-about my father's death-my brother's crippled body-my missing cattle-my burned stacks-and many other thin!('s. I'm thinking now about Sheriff Sel· wood-and Bossick's latest loss." The man's face hardened, yet a reluctant admiration drew a slight smile across lt. "You take liberties, Miss Allison. Are you not-speaking in jest-a lit· tle--ab-afraid to speak so broadly?" Nance laughe~ bitterly, shifting her feet in their worn b'oots. "Afraid? No--not of you-nor of your hired rustlers-nor Cattle Kate, there, with her paint and her tem· pers. I'm not afraid of anything but the wrath of God." At that Arnold laughed outright. "You have something yet to learn, I see. Very well, since you do not care to think I wlll outline briefly your situation. You know, of course, that you are at present In the power of SkJ Line ranch. Reasoning back· ward you will come to t!Te conclusion that thf>re Is a primal cause for this. Reasoning forward you will know that there Is something which you can do for Sky Line, which it wants of you." "Of course," said Nance, "the whole country knows that-my llnts on the river.'' Arnold frowned. He did not l!ke that answer. "And how, may I ask, does the country know this?" "It knows what has happened to me for several years now-and It judges the faces of your riders and ~heir boss." 4. "If you p~ase, we'll leave ll!l~s Cathrew out of this," said Arnold Tlte man turned and struck a bell which stood on a rosewood pedestal. Minnie Pine responded with suspicious promptness. "Send rue Provine and Big Basford," ~;~aid Arnold briefly, and the girl departed. The man did not speak again, nor did Nance. There came a shuffie and rattle of spur and the two Sky Line riders stood in the doorway of the room beyond. having come through the kitchen. "Uiss Allison," said Arnold, "I own the men of Sky Une, how or why Is unimportant. What I tell them to do, they do. Am I not right, men 7'' Pro\·lne nodded easily. Big Basford spoke sullenly. "Yes, sir,'' he said. "All right. Now, my girl, consider. There Is on Sky Line a se~et place--" "I',·e always thought so," said Nance decidedly. , "Be quiet. A place which the whole of Nameless Is nor likely to find, so mysteriously is its entrance hidden. One could live ther:l for a llfetime undiscovered-or be taken out as U on wings-" disappearing ''Like Bossw!ck's steers!" .Arnold was exasperated, but held his temper. "Exactly,'' he said, "lt you will. Now consider again. You are a pretty fine specimen of a woman-quite likely to appeal to men-especially to men long denied feminine cowpauion· shlp-llke Basford there.'' Nance flung a glance at Basford. His sullen. Jowerlng face set In Its thicket of beard with the red-rimmed e~·es ahove was enough to chlll the heart of any womnn. The great apelike body added its own threat. Her own intrepid spirit felt a shock of horrM, but that deep anger In her left little room for fear. She seemed to hear again Br11nd Fair's exultant words: "You'll never leave the line, Nance, never in this world!" With a dogged courage heaving through the anger &he looked back at Arnold. "Well?" she said. "Big Basford hasn't had a woman of his own for many moons, I know. !\ow-w111 you sign this deed-or will you go with Basford to Rainbow's pot -his blushing bride?" Nance's bre:1st was heaving. Great hrenth~ dilated her lungs and whistled out again. Her banrls were shut tight, the finger!' on her hat brim crimping the weathered felt. She thought of her mammy-of Bud -of their long labor and the hard· ~>hips they had horne. She thought of the cnhin on Nameless-of Its white scruhbed floors-its homely comfortsand all It meant to them and to her. lt was her pappy's dream of empire-It had heen hers. She thought of Brand Fair and of Sonny. Of BI'Bnd ann Burl who would sure start the fire to burning In 11ll the lonely reaches at new!< of her disappearnnce--and"I'm as good as most men," she said, "to take care ftf myself.. I wouldn't sign that paper to s:1ve you and all your rustlet· nest frnm eternal damna· tif!n l And that's my last word." Arnold snapped hlfl finger>;. "P:nongh," he said, "we'll see what a night In Rainbow's pot will do for yon. Basford-my compliments. I give you the beautiful lads. Properly dis· cipllnf>d she'll make you a fine wife." But Big Basford shook his unkempt head. "She's a yellow woman," he said contemptuously, "I don't w11nt her.'' and ltis hungry eyes went helplessly toward the dark splendor of Kate Cathrew in her velvet chair. ProYine surged forward, a sudden exC'itement in his snaky orbs. "I do." he criPd, "try me !" Arnold laughed. "Good! I like an engt>r loYt>r. You ma.v guard l\Ilss Allison Inside. and Basford shall tal;;e the place I had intl'n<le<l for you outsirle rhe Flange. We'll talk business some more tomorrow. We bid ~-ou adieu, llliss Allison, I hope hy mol'!ling you will be more amenable to reason." Without 11 backward glance Nance turned and strode away betwepn her guards. Resistance was useless, sha well knt>w. "The hand of God," she said calmly, "is eyer before my face. Neither yon nor yours can do me harm for the Lord shall preserve me from all evil, He shall preserve my soul. And He did not wake me strong for nothing," she added. "I shall leave It all to Him." "Yes?" asked Nance. "She's been the backbone of my troubles-under you, no doubt-and It i~m·t lil>E.'ly I'll leave her out. 1f you have anythiu~r to ~ay to me I'd advise you to say It and l!et It over before Nameless comes hunting- me." "All NameleRS may come hunting yon. Miss Allison." returned the man, "hut It will not find you. Now put .rnnr IY!tS in onl<>r. Sky Line wants those fl:1ts on the rivPr-and tuean~ tn have them. We don't d,) thing,; hy hniYes. Whnt "·e unllertnl'e we fiulsh. Tlw lilllf' has come for de<•lsiYe nrllon. Yon h:l\f' had mauy-nhhlntR to v:H'IltP nn!l ha1·e fc>ull,.hly di~· reJo:"ttt'fh'd 1 hetll. Th:,t t Is lll>P fl 1\'0tJJnn. 1\ man would have , gnnt' lnn~-: a;:n. "l"nt nn:v 111nn." !ntPrruptetl Nnnce. ''111~· pappy rli<ln't." "1'\o?" salrl A•·nolrl crul'll,v. "ls he lterP7" Qnll'k IP:trR llti~IP<l the J;:lrJ'~ <'YPS. hnt thP >'lowly thrnhhittg 11111-:('T hnrneci thPtll nnl. "Yes." ~hf' ~nlrl pru1nptly, ":ttH! nl· WilY~ wlll hl'--11 1 1hP font of nnr muuntniu-nnrl In Hurl nnrl me. Ht> fla~ nnt )'PI hPPil l'fltlQIIPrpr]." A rnnlrl <lrnppPrl hi!! rlPad l'i;.:arPt tp intn u lull hra~~ rei'Pf'tHI'lP. rn!'P nn<l ~teprwrl Into tltP other rc.nm. liP plrkerl lHllllPthlnJ! from ti}P. desk thert> >tnrl NttnP hll<"lC "\VP I'Olllf' to I'H~e~:· hP l'nlrl f'hnrpty. "l havP hPrP n prnpP.rl:r·mnrlP-mJt rlePrl. f"un\'P.Yin::r to 1\lil'l' ()tthrPw for tht> .-nm:lrlo>rntinn of onP rlnllnr. the quai'IPT·~PI'1!nn of lnnrl hPTPin rlr>~r·rihPrl. lying Along l'l>ttnele~f! rlvPr. ownPrl hy thP wlrlmv of .Tnhn Allll'nn. rlf'l'eR!';e<l. whn tonk up f'llirl In nrl under thP home~tPnrl art. Thlf' paper npf>rl~ only thP nnm• of .lohil Allif'on·~ (TO BE CONTI::>;UED.) widow an<l t\VO witrle~!';f>l' to makP It 8 legal transfer of property. I am a Protection for Big Game notary. We can supply the witnesses Sleeping sickness and malarial fever -the highly Important and necessary will perpetuate big game In Africa; signature of John Allison's widow you the realization has been forced on will obligingly furnish-at a price." hunters that they cannot defy mi· Nance swept off her hat and struck crobes when they Invade the haunts of It down against her knee. A laugh the big mammals. broke stiffly on her tallow-white face. "It I could swear," she said, "I'd Enjoyment on Tour tell you where to go, and what 1 thought you were. You may consider Tony-"What sort of time Is Frank yourself told as 1t ls." having un his motor tour?" JimArnold became coldly grave. "Great; I've had two letters rrom "You refuse?" him-one from a pollee station and ''What do you thl.nk I doi Put your 1 the other frolU a noapltal."-Qoef wlta in order 1.. j I:Uu"dwara. .. Remote From the Real Centera as someone has so aptly said, are all relative. Also, much depends upon one's point or view. There Is the story of the Texas cowboy !rom beyond Brownsville who made a trip to Dallas and upon his return stated to a group of his friends that he didn't believe he'd ever go up North again-he didn't care for "the way them Yankees lived." Also there Is the little yarn relating to the Death valley prospector who, having made a strike, paid his first visit to Chicago and Indorsed the place by saying: "She looks to me like she ought to make a permanent camp." But of yarns of this sort the one I place first in my own gallery of standard favorites has to do with a Wyoming ranch foreman who was sent east by his employer In charge of. a carload of polo ponies. He was j gone four weeks. When he arrived back ac the ranl'h he wore an ali" of unmistakable pleasure and relief. "Gee," he said, "It's good to glt home again. So fur as I'm concerned I don't want never to travel no more." "Didn't you like New York?" asked one of the hands. "Oh, It's all right in its way," he said, "but I don't keer for it." "\Vhat's chiefly the matter with It?" "Oh.'' l,e said, "It's so dad blame far frum everywhere.'' Dl~tances, MORE .POWER! MORE PULL! MORE PEP'·. Low-cost 71 , portation Star Cars ~ ~ lucsu f. •· h. unui"l• M~&l. COMMERCIAl. CHASSIS • , , ROADSTER • , • • , •' , , TOURING • • • • ·• o • • COUPSTER , • , • • • , COUPE • • • • .• • I • • • COACH • • ,. ., • , • • SEDAN • • • • • • • -. • .. Assigning G. B. S. to His Place 177,, J'. '· I. Lllllilfg, Mitb. $.C2' $S25 $,2, .V9' $675 $695 $775 DURANT MOTORS, Inc. 2 50 West 57th Street, New York General Sales Dept.-1819 Broadway, New York D111/tTJ PLAli'ns 1111d Stroift Stfl/tQIII thnug!mJI t/11 UnlttJ St111t1 Calltlll4 1111tl Mtxifq Eliubetb, N.J. Lan.ln,, Mi~h. Oakland, Cal. Toronto, Oat.~ Alarch of Progreaa "What ln the world are you doing with the music room?" "Making lt over for radio.'' When Geo1·ge Bernard Shaw, as a young man, emerged from his native A Substantial REWARD Ireland and mo,·ed to England he Thousands of people In America have began writing a column for a London been liberally rewarded !or Insisting on weekly publication. Then. as now, navlng USKIDE Soles on their shoes. USKIDE wears and weare and wears. It he had the habit of calling a .~pade Is made only by the United States a spade and frequently, in his writ· Rubber Company, the world's largest of rubber products. The lngs, he called it by an even stronger manufacturer money it saves on shoe bills is remarkname than that. a.ble, Have your old shoes re-bottomed with USKIDE. Buy new shoes with At that time Oscar Wilde was en- genuine USKIDE Soles. USKIDE Is joying his vogue as a wit und an comfortable, healthful, waterproof, Protects against slip· epigram-maker. One evening an good-looking. ping. Look for the name USKIDE on acquaintnnce, calling upon Wilde, the sole.-Adv. happened upon a copy of the paper to which !,;haw was a contril.uror Playing the Game and reading therein one of Shaw's ""'hat do you do when a fellow characteristic articles which was starts to pet?" signed with the author's Initials, said "I get real pettish." to his host: "I say, Wilde, who is this chap Watch Cutlcura Improve Your Skin. G. B. S. who's doing a department On rising and retiring gently smear for this sheet?" the face with Cutlcura Ointment. "He's a young Irishman named Wash otr Ointment in five minutes Shaw,'' said Wilde. "Rather forceful with Cutlcura Soap and hot water. It Isn't he?" l.s wonderful what Cutlcura will do "!forceful,'' echoed the other, "well tor poor complexions, dandrntr, itching rather ! My word, how he does cut and red, rough hands.-Advertisement. and slash! He does't seem to spare anyone he knows. I should :;:ay he's Benzene was discovered 100 years In a fair way to make himself a lot ago by Faraday. It is now daily used Business success is won by a brain of enemies." In explo~ives, dyC3, poisons and per- that does not go woolgathering In a "Well," said Wilde, "as yet he fumes. crisis. hasn't become prominent enough to have any enemies. But none of his friends likes him." ~ Permanent roads art a eood invtstnunt The Deceased Had Been Forehanded In tbe spring of 1V19-a few months after the !;]igbteenth amendment went Into effect-a Texan passed from this life. While the funeral services were in progress at the !ate home of deceased, two of the meil mourners stoofi on the front porch of the house lamentin~ the passing of their friend and praising his virtues. Said one of them: "There wasn't no flner fel!('r anywhf're than what Rill was, hut the main trouble \vith him was he wasn't forehanded. lie had a wife and a whole pa~sel of children and he should a-been more saving- than whnt he was. He migl•t a·knowed he couldn't live on foreYer. But no, he liver! up to everything he made. And here now, right in the very prime of life, with n family on his hnnlls, he hauls off and di~ without leaving no estate as I k::10ws of." "The h-1 he didn't leave no estate!" excla!merl the other. "He left mighty nigh a gallon!'' Natural Proof When the weather gets unseasonably .varm I deem the time suitable for reviving a story which I first heard at the Repub!i('un national convention In Chicago in 19::!0. As will be recalled by those who attendt>d that convention the entire ('Ountry from coast to coast sweltered thro·,,gh the week under a blanl,et of terrific heat. A delegate from Cn lifornla. in a halt I fluid state, fell off of a transcontinen· 1 tal train. A Chicago friend met him at the station. "Say, olcl man," said the friend when greetings baa heen exchanged, "Is It a~ hot out West as It is here on the lake?" "Is It hot out West?" repented the newly arrived one. "Say, don't maktt me laugh. You people here In the com belt don't know what heat Is. Say,, listen, I'll illustrate to you ju~t bow hot It is on the other side of tho Rol'k les. Coming across the Arizona desert • day before yesterday I looked out ot · llie car winrlow and I saw a coyote chasing a jack-rabbit-and they were both walkln:>rl" ---11,0t an expense Bo~MucbAre Poor Roads Costing You! 5,000,000 of America's 18,000,000 motor vehi· cles art~ recognized as an economic necessity on the farm. Is your car givfn& the full efficiency of which it is capable-and at the lowest cost per mile possible? Not if you are jolting over bumps and ruts. Not if you get stuck in the mud. ln addition to the time you thwlose along the way, you also pay from one to four cents a mile mOJ e in gasoline. tire and repair bills than you would pay on permanendy paved highways. Think, too, how many so-called improved roads have gone to pieces within the past few years, thereby piling up huge maintenance and rebuilding costs. Contrast all this with the record of Concrete Roads-the roads that have repair built out and maintenance built in. Firm, rigid and unyielding, free of bumps, ruts, holes, mud and dust, they are, in every way, the most economical roads. Tell your highway officials you want more Concrete Roads. Such an investment will pay you big dividends year after year. • • • Let U8 pve you all the facta about Concrete Roads,includinrthe experieuceofother communities. Aaldorour free booklet, R·3. PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION 111 West Washington Street CIDCAGO A National Organi~ation lo lmprcwe and &tend the Uses of c:o.u:r. 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