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Show BE a CoprrUbt CHAPTER VI 11 Continued I've got to fix Italian Bank Said to A Romance of the North Woods it op with Burke somehow. I don't see how ire can use their logs legally; I don't aee how they're going to get them out without Jimmying os up. We'll have to go carefully, Ellen." Her "Oh," he thought, was a bit dismayed. "Don't worry," he assured her. This was not Ellen calling again. was Burke, as John had known the man would call or come. "Steele? Burke talking. That was nice one somebody pulled !" "I'm with you I Why the devil can't your help block their loads so they're not running away and cluttering up " Other folk's "Say, you can forget that line right now I You know d d well that those loads didn't run away!" "Well, if you know it all. prove something and suggest something." "AH right: we want our logs back P Then go get 'em and send 'em around by the main line." "Wh-whaWhy, that's a hauL No, sir. We expect 70a to deliver those logs back to the crossing and stand a lawsuit if you put a single one of 'em through your mill !" John grinned, "We're no common carriers," he said. Tou've got us on the haul in; you've no hold on us the other way. It's up to you to prove that those logs are anything but a nuisance to the Richards company. We can't litter the yard with 'em. If you don't get 'era out at once we'll have to saw 'em. Is that all?" "Walt a minuter The man evidently turned aside and cupped his band over the transmitter While he talked with another. "I've got nothing else to say except this: we expect to have our logs back at the crossing by the end of the week I" "And you tell whoever's there coaching you that logs are cluttering things tip down below. If they aren't loaded out day after tomorrow we'll start In awing 'em. Ooodby 1" He slammed up the receiver and turned away, eyes laughing. He was on shaky ground, he knew, but he had misgivings on only one score: this was that he had been so firm in hta stand that Corbel might take the matter out of Burke's hands and make his protest In person. He did not want to confront Taul Gor-byet ; he was not ready to have his He Identity known in' the country. pondered the possibilities at length and finally decided that the general manager of an operation as big as Belknap ft Corbel would not be chasing up the employees of another company. He would let Burke do the rest of the talking for him as Burke bad done Just now. He would not have been so comfortable had he been aware of one incident which transpired after supper that night He was in the office with Mark and Jack Tait when a light driving team came trotting silently Into camp. The driver stepped down, tied the near horse to a sapling and approached the little building with a stride which bespoke determination. At the steps which led to the doorway he slowed, however. Light streamed through a window upon blm; he glanced Inside and stopped . . . almost with a Jolt. John was standing where the rays of the hanging lamp fell full on his face, holding ptpe In one hand and burning match in the other. ,Tbe one outside watched John, closely, and after a moment he laughed softly to blmself. y A man came out of the and walked towards the ofllce. The visitor tugged at the visor of his fur cap and turned to meet him. Say, Jack." he said, "where's Steele?" "Ain't he In the ofllce there?" the other countered. "Sure he Is I That's blm, standln' up there." "Oh. thanks." and with a muttered word about tying his team the man turned away from the buildings. He did no tying; he untied the one horse, mounted the seat and drove away martly. Then Paul Corbel pulled the horses to a walk and lighted - cigar. He emoked rapidly as lie thought rapidly. He had gone into the Richards woods headquarters tonight to threaten and badger this stranger named Steele who was going so far in upsetting the fruition of a carefully laid plan. But be bad not talked to him. had not thought of stolen logs from the moment he looked through the window. John Belknap, masquerading as John Steele I n removed the cigar from bit mouth and laughed once, briefly and without mirth. Then he cut his team cruelly with the whip nd drove on oast his camp where be had planned to spend the night, speedia$ for Kampfest . . , Let Burke handle the affair of stolen logs. Larger matters commanded bis attention. CHAPTER VII His position bad become untenable for John Belknap. A man can't make love to a girl when he has led ber to think that he Is another, can he? About such a situation, under the circumstances, was something unclean I A man does not want to tell a girl be loves only part of what there ts to tell He wants to tell it all, every sentence, word and syllable. He had written the sheriff at length the night after DeToung. the Belknap It t! el cook-shant- He Slipped a Sheet of Paper Over the Penciled Lines. Corbel flier, had told his story, not word of that to script but setting down a theory as he had evolved It and outlining a program for the likeable but slow thinking officer to follow. This afternoon Brndshaw had telephoned that certain Investigations had been made and John rode In with the logs to determine what he had learned. "Been waltln" for you," the sheriff said, scratching his head. "Sit, Steele. I done what you told me but It didn't seem to get us anywhere. Everything looks straight as a string." "So? Just whnt'd you find?" "Well. I did Just what you suggest ed in your letter might be done. I went to Kampfest yesterday and made the point that the county didn't want to bury this lad and tried to locate his relatives. St trusting a his dark eyes glittering. Fear and bate and Jealousy rode with him. When be entered his office, however, he was controlled, apparently at peace with the world. He went to the Bank of Kampfest. gave orders to the cashier, visited a moment, and was in bis office when the mill closed. He stood in the doorway as the men streamed by and when Tucker approached be called the man to him. A girl came out, modisbly dressed in a fur coat, a different sort of figure than those you will see on the streets of a northern mill town. Corbel broke bis talk to Tucker. The girl turned, "Oh, Marie!" showing a white face under the light. even, gleamHps heavy with make-up- , ing teeth. "I'll have some letters this evening. About eight!" "All right," she said, and went on and Corbel turned again to Tucker. When he bad finished the man nodded. "U 1, yes! Vou know, she's never been a band to say much against folks. But I've heard her burn up old Belknap worse 'n If she'd cussed him out !" More rapid mumbling from Gorbel. "Front of Steele? . . . Why. . . I dunno. . . . Oh. yes! Once I did! to She sure gave old Tom what-fo- r Steele! Day after we ditched your cars to tie 'era up." He laughed unpleasantly at recalling this act of treachery. Corbel had told the stenographer to return at eight He, however, was In his ofllce again before seven, seated at his desk, writing slowly. The outer door opened and closed; his office knob turned and the girl, Marie, came In. "Lo!" she said In a half whisper. He smiled and spoke without looking up. She took off her coat, removed the snug, felt turban, pulled off ber galoshes and stood revealed, a silken-leggeslip of a girl with eyes that might have been gentle, but were not with a mouth that might have been tender, but was not "What's on?" she asked, fluffing her bobbed hair and approach'ng, laying a hand familiarly on Corbel's shoulder and leaning over to read what he was writing. He slipped a sheet of paper over the penciled lines. "Not yet!" "What's the big Idea?" she asked, hostility In the tone, drawing back. He caught her wrist roughly and laughed as he drew her to his chair arm. baby!" he breathed, The world, especially the tan part of it, now must find short-sleeve- "Hot-heade- d d 8S WKC Service John wondered. Usually when Ellen wanted to get in touch with him she left word for him to calL So it was with his curiosity roused that John left the train after Its arrival, crossed the mill iard and entered the street Lights were burning In the office. and he hastened in. Hello:- - he said, opening the door and seeing Ellen alone at her dask. She lifted her head slowly, and turned on bim a face that was a mask of reserve. White, she was, and drawn, and her eyes smoldered. "Hello . . . Ellen! You sent for me. What's . . . what's the matter?" She put down her pen slowly, opened a purse that lay on the desk beside her and took out a letter. "Explain this." she said, and her tone was like Ice. She seemed to be restraining herself, clinging with all her strength to her Frowning, he took the envelope from her. Hpr name and address were written on it The postmark, be saw. . was Kampfest He shook out the single sheet of paper with hands that trembled. "Dear Friend," he read. "In times of trouble It is up to women to stand together. I have known something for weeks that has been on my conIf you will look back you science. will see that most of the trouble which has come to you has been since the man who calls himself John Steele came to work for you. You may recall the things he apparently has done In your behalf; consider the things that have happened. This superintendent of yours conspired with Tucker, your roadmaster, to cause two He diswrecks on your railroad. charged Tucker to make his game Your barn was seem convincing. burned at his orders and a harmless tramp lost his life In it "Certain accomplishments have been placed to his credit Your property, were it not for Its being so heavily involved, would be on Its feet. If your creditors should force you out now, they would be In a position to make the operation pay from the hour they took charge, thanks to what this John Steele has done for them, under guise of doing It for you. "All this may sound beyond belief, but just ask this Steele whether or not he is using his own name or If he is not known elsewhere as John Steele Belknap. "Yours In sympathy, "A FRIEND." His heart seemed to have stopped. Strength went from his legs. "Why, that's a lie!" he choked. "That's a black. Infamous " "Walt a minute!" She had risen cunt Cult in here! "Ellen. Ellen! Listen to me! He's a poor, old. Ignorant man. Sandy". He's a man who's never written a letter of recommendation before. He seer simply forgot . . . Don't you oeneve man me to "Do you expect she asked, suddenly calm. He drew a deep brcith. he said, and shook his bead. It won't do. true as "It sounds It Is!" -And will any of the rest do? Can you explain all that's happened? You've done things, yes. but 1 see now You did Just whv vou did them. enough to get the Job In shape so that when your father and his partner and his son" hissing the word "ruin this company, it will still be a going concern. You've made a showing in the woods; you've done Just enough for the mill to keep the Job afloat until "o" ... you could close down on us!" She made a dismissing gesture with one small fist. "I've been such a fool ! I suppose It was all staged, that first encounter you had with Paul Gorbel here. Well you did It admirably. I'll give you credit for that You fooled me; you worked me up emotionally until I was ready to grasp at anything for help. at Tom Belknap's And I grasped son !" "It sounds logical," he said wearily. "It sounds reasonable. It looks like a staged drama, yes. But, Ellen dear, won't you believe me when I say that I came to you that night determined to fight my father! That I had no Inkling of the trouble here, that I stumbled Into it and that when I found a woman was running this job I was bowled over! "Won't you believe that I Jumped In, first, to settle a grudge against my father and that I have gone far enough now to be convinced that he has no band In all this trouble that has been ... made for" big timber operator, ordered by his physicians to take complete rest, plans a three months' trip abroad. Promises of advancement he has made to his son John are broken, and the young man Is Indignant. Paul Gorbel, Belknap's partner, ts a bone of contention. Father and son part without an understanding. At Shoestring, his train delayed by a wreck, John ts mobbed. After a list tight, his attackers realize it Is a case of mistaken Identity. John learns his father Is believed to be out to wreck the Richards lumber company. Bewildered and unbelieving, he seeks a young girl, and throws him out. Gorbel does not employment with that company. At the office he finds Gorbel bullying recognize him. The girl Is Ellen Richards, owner of the company. A letter he carries gives John's name as John Steele, the Belknap being dropped Inadvertently, and John, knowing the feeling against bis father, allows Ellen to believe that A series of attempts to handicap operations of the Richards is his name. Ellen engages John as her superintendent. company culminates In the wrecking of a snow plow. John, admiring Ellen's bravery, begins to have a sentimental attachment for the girt, which Is returned. The Richards barn and stables burn. In the blazing structure John finds the dead body of a stranger. He realizes the fire was set, but refuses to believe bis father could be a party to such an act Steele and Sheriff Bradshaw arrange to work together on the case. "Tom" Belknap, :it It!" "What do you suppose he'd say tf he knew we had a witness to his handing over a jug to this mnn? And If the witness was pretty certain the jug was filled with gasoline?" "Huh?" Brndshaw gauped. "Witness? You mean" John nodded. "Witness!" he whispered sharply. "I've got him, Nat !" Rapidly he recounted what had told him and the sheriff's eyes grew round with excitement "Now," John went on, "the next move Is to upset Cornel's own story. He told you again and again that the man was drunk. DeYoung doesn't think so, but If that stomach hasn't alcohol In It then Faul Corbel's well on his way towards being suspected of arson, and arson Isn't a mild charge In this state, Nat !" "HI say! I'll say It ain't! D n me. . . ."We'll have a debnrylnMn a day or two now. and we'll see what we'll see !" Thry talked until late and John went to his bed with a finer sense of than be had had for a long time. He would not have been so compiacent. o certain that bis problem would come to an easy and early solution had he known what went on in the Belknap & Gorbel offices that same evening. Paul Gorbel had driven bis team aeiwtlessly Into Kampfest that day, well-bein- g and kissed her arm. "It's a letter to now, and stood before him. "What," another girl But when you've read she asked, as though her voice would It through you'll understand. And I'm break, "what Is your name?" "Why, that part's all right. I can going to let you read !" He patted her back and the temper explain It I am John Belknap I receded from her face slowly. did" "And this ! Explain this ! I remem"Well, ever since I caught you writing to this Richards party, and found bered, you see!" out you'd been going to see her and She whipped a telegram from her desk, thrusting It towards him. It was lying to me about It I've naturally from the State Bank of Ferryvllie, the been suspicious." nearest bank to Witch Hill It read: "Onn't you see?" he pleaded Impa"Witch Hill Lumber Co. owned by tiently. "You know the state things are In now! Let me get hold of this Belknap Lumber Co., Chicago stop S. Richards property on my own, let me Mclver Is superintendent." get things running here as they should "Why . . . why. yes. Ellen. That's all true. But. you see, I couldn't let go and I'll throw you a party, preacher and all, that'll startle even the picyou think I'm who I am. I couldn't come In here and offer to help ture crowd in Hollywood!" "Well, seeing's believing." you, admitting my own name, could I?" "And what Fve got on now Is Just "Why not?" she asked bitingly. I want you to "You wouldn't have believed me, about the knock-out- . read this and hold your temper until feeling as you have about my father." She laughed then, with a wildness you get to the end. I want you to copy it on plain paper and address an which startled him. How right you are! envelope. I'm going to mail it . . . "Right! I Rend, Marie, a bombshell!" wouldn't have believed, no! I wouldn't "Well, for gosh sakes!" was her have let a Relknnp set foot on my blue eyes widening In property! comment I didn't believe that "Is It a fact?" amazement anonymous letter when it came In- - I "Sure as you're horn!" He slapped didn't want to. My first Impulse w'ns the desk. "See what it means? See to tear It up. forget it . And what It'll do?" He talked rapidly, then I remembered that my father alIn earnestness. eyes narrowed ways said a man who was right could The girl listened, and when he had stand investigation. I looked up Witch Hill, I telegraphed that bank finished she took a long breath. "You're the cats when It comes tc and you've read the answer. , . She paused, panting. scheming!" She was silent a moment, "But Ellen" thrusting out her lower lip. "If It was "Never mind! I'm going to talk anybody else, I'd be sorry for her. But her. . . . Ffngh ! If you ever look at now! It's a woman's privilege to and talk. Isn't lt?"- -a her again. IH give her a boy-bobit no mistake. . . . And maybe trim "Ire heard It said It's hysterically a WOmanfs you along with it I" privilege to have the last word She took the chair he had vacated l0.0",' WeU rm havlnS hn and drew writing materials towards Steele 'n' Belknap. "No. you didn't dare reveal her. preparing to copy what he had yourself So you have a written. superintendent write noon.' a lie. You may have worked as Two days later, shortly after as he entered the office, the clerk foreman for him, but not as camp John wheezed to John : Steele. , He knew yon weren't John "Ellen telephoned. She said for you Steele, He knew your full name beto come In with the loads tonight cause It was your father's money that sure." paid him, yonr father's money that ... b uZL possessed with mingled feellne, , ward the Bank of St. Geor Genoa, Italy. This ban kit tion, the world now Is reminded. T been doing business since 125' p sumahly It remains in undo&B Hon and will not be calling M n R. F. C. for help. Now the well known Ba&k George breaks Into the news tarotS the alleged discovery that it was rtto, institution, and not the good Isabella of Spain, that financed luuibus on his trip of inspection (V tt the West Here is somerhinj tat school the histories, on of says pointedly that "hard-heabusiness men, although they Tttt anxious to find a new route (t eastern markets), were not willia, to risk any money on such an certain venture." That Is by hard, headed business men always ceed, a fact schoolboys should be acquainted with. But here was poor Columbus, anx lous to do something to break the depression, with the financial insti tutions of his day allegedly turn ing thumbs down on his wild-yscheme. For this reason he Is gap posed to have turned to the queen. But If the Bank of St. George ac tually put up the money for the the standing of the bank Ing business will be definitely Improved in the eyes of the public. Encouraged by the news from Italy, modern business men will go to their bankers wlt.ii renewed confidence that those gentlemen will finance Twentieth century Colunibuses In their business ventures Kansas City Star. iLf W t. e To keep clean and healthy take Pierce's Pleat Pellets. They regukte Adv. liver, bowels and stomach. Pumpkin Pie's Wisdom conscientious pie pumpkin knows it shouldn't be eaten the second day after it is baked, go it cracks away from the crust A "Stop! Stop! I beg of you, stop!" she broke in, stamping a foot "Don't treat me like a child, John Belknap! If you'd come In here and told me your name. It would have been different, but you started with a lie, a He I A carefully prepared lie! And any-- EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS INSTALLMENT "Was careful to ask around In other places and, just as you figured, nobody could help. Then I went to Gorbel, like It was kind of a last resort and apologized for troublin' him on it and he tells the stralghtest story you ever heard ! If he's crooked he's too smart for us. And maybe we're guessin' wrong all along the line." "What did he offer?" He H L be told me everything! told the stralghtest story a man'd ever listened to. He'd fired this man him self, he said, because he was full of moon. Said It again and again, that he man'd been drunk as a lordl If he's lying, he sure Is a good hand Have Backed Explorer. By HAROLD TITUS affair. know. ON C. C.'S VOYAGE list "Oh. . . . They fixed that in half an hour. Tiny waa only tittle late jetting out Of course, they're not onr log. What am I going to dot" He waa grinning. Tbia waa not the ort of thing to reveal wholly to a girl yet. Tactic auch aa thla are men's "I don't HERE'S NEW LIGHT "Don't Treat Me Like a Child, John Belknapl" thing founded on a lie must be evil; it doesn't need all the logic pointed out in this letter that came to me today to give It the color of evil I "Tom Belknap not fighting me? Tom Belknap not trying to ruin me?" Tears sprang to her eyes. "Black Is white, east is west. Oh, John Belknap, what a fraud you are! She dropped into her chair on desk, hands over her face. "Ellen !" He tried to touch her but she shook off his hand. "Don't touch me! Don't come near me ! Don't let me ever hear the sound of your voice or see your face again! To think to think that oni I hoped . . terday I thought I I wanted. . . . "Oh, won't you get out?" She dropped her hands and turned hor riio. tear-we- t tressed, eyes to him. "Won't you piease go now?" voice growing light and feeble, "Won't you .please go away from me?" one hand crum pling paper witn jerky movements. "Won't you let me alone now, with what I've got left? Won't If you have any decency left In you?" oilman, ne oacKea away "I'll go," he said. "I'll t.. I'll be near. I'll be helping y0V Tm . . I'm what I am. Time may' show It but . . . I'm coin?. . He turned towards thp f1flAl nnln1.1. feet unsteady on the floor. When you can't sleep, it's because your nerves won't let you. Don't waste time "counting sheep." Don't lose half your needed rest in reading. Take two tablets of Bayer Aspirin, drink a glass of water and go to sleep. This simple remedy is all that's needed to insure a night's rest It' all you need to relieve a headache of during the day or to dispose other pains. Get the genuine tablets of Bayer manufacture and you will get immediate relief. always Bayer Aspirin dissolves without immediately gets to work is not delay. This desirable speed the not does depress dangerous; it the heart. Just be sure you get genuine tablets stamped thus; ... ... ... ... J) Custom Made Wigs & Toupees At Low Prices Guaran- In Strictly euods teed. Finest Bambina the world. Toupee Muster, 04 Cfore 6Jc per box, postpaid. Utotratee Caulor" I Writ or oil LOMBARD & BAMBINA 113 Monro St.. Lynn. MM Beginning of Wisdom age Until he reaches the wrap to of thirty that a man begins the small bills on the outside of the roll. It is not AA M - 1 M (TO BE CONTINUED.) Balked at Court Decision The Stti'lnE "John fa.v.nn made his decision; now let him enforce It" was asTthort- tn w d icsiuem Andrew Jackson and Its occasion was a decision of the Supreme court in one of the cases Involving the Cherokee Indian nation and the state of The Supreme court had found Georgia. In favor of the Indians but. a th the United States, as well as the state of Georgia, were believed Jackson by to be superior, the Indians were gradually displaced from their landa ly spite of the treaty subsisting. ,J.i t. "Complexion Curse M'buTw"-orcaf She thought she was her the ber once-avo- ided admiree pimply, blemished skin. Morej women are realizinj that pimp are often danger signals poisonous wastes rav.ijrinj complete, (Nature'e Remedy) afford elimination and promptly ease a matter, ine poisonous ruining . I- .i,i uv dizziness. all-dependable, g0fSi vegetable correc- - OVs)l n wort m&t f'f't, joujS r "XI IRA C IUIVM - - l' UX thjsw mm t TTfcTeqd W-i rirm. OniT- |