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Show UTAH EMERY COUNTY PROGRESS, CASTLE DALE, The Besert Moon Mystery ter one day, and bad Sam Invite him op to the house to play. She accompanied him on the grand piano that CHAPTER I The Cannezianof knew, that etenlng In April, when Bun got borne from Itattall and came tamping snow Into mj kitchen, his food old red. white and bine face Stretched long and wide In lta usual frin, that he had brought aome bad news with him. "1 had a letter today," he aald, from rhe Canneziano twins." I am like a lot of folks who saj that they are not superstitious, who Just bappen to think that It Is bad tuck to walk under a ladder. More than likely the shivery, creepy sensation I felt, when Sam said that, was due to the cold be brought In with him, and was not due to the fact that those words of his were the forerunners for all of the grim mysteries and the tragedies that made the Desert Moon ranch, before the end of July, a place of horror. "How much do they wantf 1 questioned. "No, Mary ; they want to come here to live. Danielle wrote the letter. Che says they want to come here and rest. Indefinitely. She says she longs for It with all her soul, or something 1 like that" "Daniehe," 1 said, "always was the best of the two. Ten going to let them come, Sam?" "Anything else for me to dof "Not a thing for you. There'd be plenty of others. Those girls are no kin of yours Let me see eight years old when they were here In 39r9. uaies tbero twenty-fou- r years old now, according to my figures. Why a couple of women twins, ag gregatlng forty-eigh- t years, should decide to come here and reft their souls, t your expense, Is beyond me." "I have plenty." "So has Henry Ford. Why don't they go rest their souls with hlra? They've got as much claim on him as they have on you. None. Leave those girls rest their souls right there where they are, Sam." "No 1 don't know, Mary. 1 guess I'll write them a letter and tell them to come along. Lots of room." I didn't argue any more tbout It. For twenty-fivyears I had been of the Desert Moon housekeeper rancbhouse. and t had learned, during that time, that there was only one subject, concerning Sam, or the place, on which I could never hope to have Trying to argue wltb any say-so- . Sam about anything that had to 'do. In any way, wltb Margarita Dltsle, when she was Margarita Dltsle Stanley, or when she was Margarita Dltsle Canneziano, was about as sensible as hoisting a chiffon parasol for protection in the midst of one of our INevada mountain cloudbursts. Margarita Dltsle was of parentage: a d beauty. Her father kept a gambling bole In Esmeralda county In the early days. Her mother had run away from a convent, after she had become a nun. to marry him. The girl had some of the nun. some of the runaway, and some of the gambling bouse proprietor In her. It made a queer combination. A'hen she was eighteen years old he came from Carson to visit Lily over on ,the Thre Bars Trooper sixty miles from here. ran.'b, abo Sara met her there. She and Sara were married two weeks later. She was a lot younger than Sum; but; even then, be was the richest man tn the valley, wltb every unwedded woman for a hundred miles around setting ber cap for him. Whether Margarita married him for his wealth, or whether It was to spite the other girls who would have liked to marry him. I don't know All 1 know Is that Margarlu never had i mite of love for hi in. She stayed wltb him, though, and acted decently enough for two years, until Dan Canneziano came to the ranch and got a Job on It as a cowpuncber. It was during those two years that Sam built this ranchbouse for her. Barn's lead and silver mine had Just come In. and there was not anything, from Italian marble fireplaces to teak wood floors, that was too grand for what Margarita called the Stanley mansion, she left It, all the elegance and the luxury, and she broke her marriage rows, for love of this wop That. 1 guess. Is fair cowpuncher. and full enough description of Marga rita Canneziano. 1 don't blame her. 1 quit blaming folks for things a good many years ago when, after firing three Chinese cooks in sis weeks, I decided that. If we were to live healthy and whole aome, I'd have to take over the Job of cooking as well as housekeeping for the Desert Moon ranch, and set In about It. and learned to cook. other words, when I became a creator myself, I got to know creations and so quit blaming all of them. If 1 forget to put the soda In the our milk pancakers. It Isn't their fault If they don't rise. They are as i made them. Margarita was as the Lord made her. He, I suppose, either bad His own good reasons for turning out such a mess, or else He was tired, or flustered, or maybe, was Just experimenting m the road to something better when He did It I should explain, 1 suppose, wish lng to be as honest as possible in spite of the fact that I am writing a mystery story, that Canneziano had a good education; be talked poetry, and lilayed the violin. Margarita heard Jdm playing, down tn the outfit's quar e French-Canadia- dark-haire- big-eye- Sam bad bought for ber. Before long, Dan Canneziano was spending a good part of his time at the ranchhonse. "Sam, being nobody's fool, toon saw how the land lay; bnf he, according to his custom then and now, kept his mouth shut and bis eyes open. Sure enough, one evening Sam they tried to elope together. went after them and brought them back. The three of tbero had about half an boar's talk together. Then Sam herded Cannezlnno down to the outfit's quarters and, I suppose, told the men to keep him there, for there he stayed until Sam was ready for him again. The next morning Sam started to the county seat He reached there that evening. The following morning be got his divorce He came bark to the Desert Moon on the third morning, with his divorce and wltb a preacher. He sent for Canneziano. and stood by. while the preacher married Margarita Stanley to Daniel Canneziano, decent and regular, according to the laws of Nevada. There It should have ended. It didn't, because Sam never got over So when, nine years loving Margarita. later, she came back to the Desert Moon, with twin girls, Danielle and Gabrlelle, and said that Canneziano had deserted ber and the children Sam took them all right In. I don't know, yet whether or not they took him In. Certainly he did not show much surprise when. In about ten days, Canneziano put in an appearance. Sam allowed him to get a good start with bis threats, and then he took him across bis knees and gave him a sound spanking, and passed him over to Margarita to dry his tears, and washed bis own hands and went by Kay Cleaver Strahan A bjr Doubled? Doras Co., Xml WNU Service woman a little seasoning of simplicity, really, is all II amounts to but there Is a quality about Sam that makes a person feel that he set out, early in life, to follow the recIH for being a man, and that be has made a thorough Job of It Why be, as a young man, with a pretty fair education and a tidy sum of money left him bv his father, who had been a well thought of lawyer In Massachusetts, should come out here to Nevada, take up his nomestead land, and settle content for the rest of his life, has always been more or less Of a mystery to me, unless you take Sam's explanation of It. He says that when his father died. It left him without relative, whom He was be knew ot In the world. twenty years old. and he owned a set ler e. fishing. That evening he bad one of the men hitch op and take the whole kit and caboodle of Cannezlanos to Itntfnll tn time to catch the east bound train. I am ashamed to say that Sam gave them money. I don't Know bow much A tidy sura, I'll be bound, for shortly after we heard that Canneziano had opened the finest gambling house south of the Mason and Dixon line. In New Orleans. Sam wanted to keep the children. He offered to adopt them. Margarita would not consider It. When Margarita died, In France, seven years after she had paid us her blackmailing visit, Sam, the ninny, wrote to Canneziano and again offered to adopt the girls and give them a good home on the Desert Moon. He got a few Insulting, Insinuating lines for an answer. Canneziano had his own plans for bis daughters, who had developed Into rare beauties. But, If Sam was soft, with the women, he was not soft with Canneziano. He had showed up here, beaming and broke, about three years ago. He had left, suddenly, after ha vine seen Sam and no one else, less beaming but quite as broke as he had been I thought when he had come. may be. Sam was forgetting that side of the family, and that this might be a good time to remind him. "Is Canneziano planning to come on later, too, and rest?" I asked. "Just at present he Is In San Quen tin, serving a three years' term. Danielle didn't say Tor what deviltry Ills term's up this summer. Poor little girls." Sam went on, "1 reckon' we haven't any Idea of what they've been through, all these years." "1 reckon not," I agreed. "But they aren't little girls any more. Seems queer to me. with all the beauty their father was bragging about that neither of them has married. Twen r Is getting along." "I'll bet," Sara answered, "It Is be cause they have never had any decent opportunities. Considering the life that they've had to lead, and all. I think tt speaks pretty well for them that they have come through straight and clean." Instead ol asking him how he knew that I said, "You'd be willing, then, to have John marry one of them?" John, Sum's adoptto son. was the apple of Sam's eye. He would have the ranch, and Sam's fortune, other dependents provided for, when Sam died. Whether or not the girl he mar rled would be contented to live on the ranch, and help John carry it on and keep up Its traditions, making It one of the proudest spots in Nevadn. was a .nighty Important thing to Sam He waited so long he tore answering my question that I was sure I had hit the nail n the head. "John," he finally said, "is old enough to take care of himself." With that he turned and went out of my titcheu. not giving me a chance to y that, though I had lived through fifty-siyears. I hud never yet seen a man at the age he had Just men Honed I knew that If these Can nezlano girls came to the Desert Moon, they would tiring trouble with them. I was right. A merciful I'rovl dence be thanked that for a time at least, the knowledge of Dow ter ribly right I was, was stared ma I am not an adn irer of men. Look lng at most any man. 1 find my sell thinking what a pity It was he had to grow up, since as a little, helpless child he would have made a complete success. Sam Stanley Is different There Is some of the cbfld left in Sam. Just as there Is, I think, in any good man or hla bosDltal to San tn a Francisco and got In touch wltb to be willing would who nurse trained come op and live on the ranch and He take care ol the two chlldrea and home bad her go to an orphans select the children and bring tbero with ber when she came The nurse came early In Septem oer with two brownyed children once named Vera and Alvlu Sara at was said, be them. John, boy. and Mary the only name for the only name for a girl. But since let the my name was Mary, he would little girl have Martha, which meant, the according to Sara. "Boss of Ranch." The nurse's name was Mrs. OIHe Kicker. I don't know how old ehe was then. I don't know bow old she not is now. She never talked. I do or gos chatted, never mean that she said siped. I mean that She never avoid could she if possibly one word It At the end of sixteen years of daily association with Mrs. Kicker, that Is, up to the time of the second Moon. I knew murder on the her past life about exactly as much as you know at this minute. John, at that time, was nine years He was as bright and as up old. standing, and as handsome, as anyI little fellow to be found, anywhere. demay as well say, now. that this scription of John, at nine years old. Is as good a description as I can give If yon will of John at twenty-fivsix to feet and his draw height up put on weight accordingly. The papers, fror the orphanage gave Martha's age as five years; but even 1. who knew less about children than it was decent for any woman to oon saw that something was know, wrong. She walked well enough, but she could scarcely talk at all. Her ways and her habits were those of a Infant, yet she was far too large for that age. Before she had been with us a week I knew that Martha was not quite right in her mind. Mrs. Ricker knew it, too. Her excuse was, that she had chosen Martha because she was so pretty; that she had had no opportunity to Judge her She insisted other characteristics that she thought, with proper cars. Martha would develop normally. I knew better. Sam knew It too But when I begged and besought him not to adopt her, he brought out an argument good and conclusive for him. "If i don't adopt her, and :akecare of her," said Sam, "who the heck would?" So adopt her he did. And le spent a small fortune on doctors, specialists, for her. None of them could do anything. It was, they said, a hopeless case of retarded development. So. nt twenty-on- e years of age. Martha, though the care and doctoring had given her a fine healthy body, had the mind of a child of five or six years not too bright a' child, either. That was at best At worstWell, no matter. Entirely harmless, the doctors said; but I always had my doubts. t. o He Left Suddenly After Having Seen Sam and No One Else. of roving toes and an Imagination So he went to California, seeking romance and gold. Finding neither, he came down here to Nevada. He staked out his hundred and sixty acres with Boulder creek tumbling and roaring through them. He built his cabin. He hired help, and built fences, and dug ditches, and planted crops, and bought slock. He bought more land. He hired more help, dug more ditches, planted bigger crops, bought more stock. He has been doing that regularly ever since. And, of course, he located the lead and silver mine, on his property, that made him millions if It made him a cent, But In spite before It played out. of the money that "Old Lady Luck." as be called his mine, made for bim, Sam never gave his heart to It It was the Desert Moon ranch that be loved, and the money he made from It that he was proud of. That was why, when the honor of the ranch went under, during those terrible weeks Inst summer. Sam all but went under with It After Margarita left the place from her visit of 11X19. taking the twins with her, Sam went around for a week or two, with his head cocked to one side as If he whs listening for something. I knew wnat he was miss lng. and 1 was not surprised when, one day. he told me he had decided to send to San Francisco and get a couple of children and adopt them. CHAPTER II Arrivals at the Ranch It was three years after Mrs. Ricker came to the ranch, bringing John and Martha, that Hubert Hand put In his He had got Mr. Indian appearance. Chat ('bin, as everybody called him. to bring him up from Itattall In bis old surrey. Mr. Indian Chat Chin stopped his old nag at the entrance to the driveway, and Hubert Hand climbed carefully down and come up the road, swinging a walking cane like he was leading a parade. Sam and I, as was our custom, went walking down to meet him. Phrase "Stone Age" Not Literal in Application The Stone age Is a term commonly used to denote the earliest recognized stage In the development of human culture as defined by the materials used by man for weapons, utensils, etc. The phrase Is somewhat misleading, since It Is probable that primitive man made use ol wood and other perishable materials to a fur greater extent than of stone, and consequently the stage Is defined by the prevailing material of the relics, not by thnt of actual Implements In common use. The term "Stone age" represents In no sense a chronological division of human progress, but is a loose equivalent for a stage of cultural development varying widely In duration In different parts of the world There are, e, g., tribes still In the Stone age. while, on the other hand, some groups hud for a Perfect Day day Is lust as perfect as you want to make It. Helen Christine Bennett gives a perfect day decalogue In an article for the Physical Culture Mag A n seine. She writes: "1. I wake up Stretch L Get a cheerful frame of mind. 8 Drink a glass of imwH water. 4. Take ten minutes settin op exercises, fi. Take a shower warm, then cool fi 7. Ke Don't At too much breakfast fuse to rush 8 Walk purl way to work. 9 lon't worry while In your office. 10. Rest before your dinner and don't work evenings ' It before the dawn of history. Is also worth noting that some tribes commonly classed as belonging grown It to the Stone age produced objects of a superior artistic and Industrial merit to those who had advanced to the use of metals. The evidence for the existence of such an age In most parts of the world Is conclusive, but It Is from the prevalence and character of the relics in certain parts of Europe rather than In America that the Idea and term have come Into general use. Famous Song Not Burnt' Although the words ot the song "Aulil Lung Sjne" appear in Burns' works, he himself, admits that he wrote only the second and third stanzas. A song of the same title can be traced to the latter part of Him). n a letter to floorge Thomson, September. l"fW. Burns si.ys "One song more I have done. 'Auld Lang Syne.' The air Is hut mediocre but the' following song, the old song of the olden times, and which has never been In print nor even In manuscript until I took it down from an old man's singing, Is enough to recommend any air." Mark of Gentleman We are Just men and women deal lng with Just ordinary human beings like ourselves. Let's treat them Just like we would want ihem to treat cs Consideration for others Is Mie dla tingnishlng trait of the gentleman. r. S. Arkwright. He took off bis hat to me, and aaid to Sam, "1 wish to aet tb owner ox this ranch." "Nobody ever mistook ma for a fairy before." Sam aald. "But go ahead. Your first wish U granted. What are the other two? Hubert Hand got out !U card then. Besides bis name It npd "Clover-blossoCreamery." and the San Francisco address printed on It Hubert Hand explained that be had an coming creamery business In San Francisco, but that bis physician bad told him that be bad to Uva In a high, dry climate with plenty of sunshine and no fog. He had, after Inquiries and Investigations, decided that the Desert Moon ranch, altitude seven thousand feet, sunshine three days In tbe hundred and sixty-fiv- e year,, to say nothing of the marvelous view ol tbe Garnet mountains, the hunting, the fishing, and the pure snow water, would fill all bis requirements. His proposition was that pe start a creamery, on the Desert Moon ranch, and supply the valley wltb Ice cream, butter, and other dairy products. Sam had the ranch, the cows, the big Ice plant. Mr. Hubert Hand had the kuovvledge and tbe equipment They could divide the profits. Next to sl.eep men, I guess there Is nothing that cow men bold In lower contempt than they bold dairy farms. Sam was too much disgusted to swear very long. "I be said. "Listen, stranger," wouldn't turn the Desert Moon Into a place to slop milk around In If tbe entire valley had to depend on Hongkong, China, for Its Ice cream cones. Forget it and come in now and have some supper.' To my knowledge, Hubert Hand, from that day to this, has never again mentioned, on the Desert Moon, anything that bad to do with creameries. Neither, from that day to this, has he been off the ranch for more than a couple of weeks at a time. "By tne way." he began, trying co make It sound unimportant, when we had finished supper. "1 heard, In. Tel-kthat you were something of a chess player." "1 am, when 1 can get a game," Sam "But chess olayers. In these parts, are as scarce as ben's teeth." "I piay a little," Hubert Hand produced, right modestly. Sam Jumi-eup and got out bis chess table. Hubert Hund beat bim the first game In about half an hour. They set up their men ngain. It took Hubert Hand over in hour that time to beat Sam, but he did It. "Heck!" Sam said, at the end of that game. "You're hired." "Hired for what?" "For whatever you want to call it, except the slopping of milk around. Send for your trunk and name yout pay. Why didn't you say. In the first place, that you were a blankety blank crack chess player?" Hubert Hand accepted Sam's offer, then and there. The next day ha titled himself assistant ranch manager, and named his salary at two hundred and fifty dollars a month. Sam paid it without blinking: and kept right on managing the ranch, and everything on It except, perhaps, myself, without any assis.ance, the same as he had always done. Chadwick Caufleld. the other member of our household, who was present on the Desert Moon ranch at the time of the first murder, came only two years ago last October 3e was wearing white corduroy trousers, a long yellow rubber raincoat, and a straw hat tethered to its buttonhole with a string He was carrying a ukulele under bis arm and a camera In his hand He took of! his hai. displaying a head full ot pretty yellow curls. He smiled, displaying a sweet, gentle ' disposition. (If there Is any better Index to character thnn the way ;i person smiles. I have never found It.) "How do you do?" he said. "1 have come t. visit yon." By the time Sam got his pipe picked up, John had got down the forty-fee- t length of living room and had Chad by both hands, nd was Introducing him as the friend he had told ns about the friend .he had made at Mather's field, during the war. The way of that was. John had saved his life for bim down there, and had never since been able to get out from under the responsibility of It John had found a Job for him, after the armistice, and when Chad lost It John had loaned hlra money to start out In a vaudeville act He did fine with that for three years, and was making good money, when he got Into an automobile accident In Kansas City and was laid up for months In the hospital there. John had wired money to him, and had asked hlra to come for a visit to the Desert Moon. But since he had had a standing invitation for years, and since he had sent no word that he was coming, John was as much surprised as any cf us that evening. Chad was a little, pindllng fellow. Around Sam and John and Hubert Hand he looked about as JaJnty and trifling as the garnish around the platter of the Thanksgiving turkey. 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