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Show I LEHI FREE PRESS, LEHL, UTAH L,W 2 JtP Ji?& LP A Romance of the North Woods II II II 1 By HAROLD TITUS HJt CopyrUM, Continued 10 lie was shivering, but he shook his leal "Not dow, Ole. Not yet ! Got something to do, first" As he trotted around the pond, un- fr the car der the slide and made from which four thousand feet of logs had rumbled down to menace him, Ole put down his pike pole and followed. As the Swede rounded the half emptied car he saw John squatted low to the snow. "Careful, Ole!" the boy cautioned, "Don't step In his teeth chattering. - tracks. Got a match?" Edging along so that his feet would not obliterate any of the traces there in the newly fallen snow, the older man drew matches from his pocket and lighted one. "lie came In from yonder," John aaid, pointing to lumber piles. "He etood there behind that truck, a while; squatted down, see? Here's where his weight rocked tip on the balls of his feet . . . Came over here and afterwards went out that way. See where lie ran?" "Who, Yohn?" Ole asked, puzzled. "Whoever tripped the stakes to let the load down on me !" John laughed harshly. "You didn't think they Just let go, did you, Ole?" "Yumpin Yesusl" breathed his companion. "Hustle with the light now. Let's " nee what we can see!" Together they bent low over the tracks, while Ole struck a fresh match. "New rubbers, see, Ole? . . . See that star brand In the heel? Old ones wouldn't leave a clean mark like that: looks like the work of a die. . . . neavy big man." Quickly he spanned the footprints with spread fingers to gauge the dimensions of the footmarks. "Long stepper, too l See how far he stepped when be lit out for cover? Tall as I am, Ole." The Swede was speechless until John, staring off into the shadows of the lumber yard, Involuntarily moaned with the cold. "Py gosh, Yonny, you come by a fire now quick I" He went then, standing before open fire-boin the boiler room, undressing there, staring at the roaring, orange mass of blazing wood which drove the cold from his body and set his gar-- , ments steaming. The fighting light in Ills eyes was something to behold, and as he later changed from his half-drieclothing In his room, rubbing his great body briskly to drive out the last of the chill, his movements were quick and sharp, possessing a distinctly vindictive quality. He did not eat He went, Instead, from store to store where footgear was sold In Kampfest. In the third and last place where he might find a clew the proprietor advised one to bet his life he had rubbers, "New stock. Just opened 'era this week," he said. "They're the best buy for the money I've found and " John did not listen as the man extolled the virtues of his wares. lie held a rubber in his hand, gazing at the raised star In the heel with its constellation of little stars about it. at the heavy, crepe sole like the surface of a spring mushroom. "Sold many?" j "Well, not many. Only two pairs, yet. You ask the boys, though. They'll tell you they fit fine around the foot! Try one on and" "Not now. Who bought?" ; The merchant scratched his head and told him the names of his purThe last man mentioned chasers. crystallzed the suspicion that had been In John's mind. The recreation hall was accommodating Its usual evening throng when He passed among John entered. tables where smear and checkers engaged attention, went past the fireplace towards the pool tables with their shaded green lights. Baxter was sitting against the wall, a pimply faced lad grinning at him from one side; another loafer sitting bent far forward, elbows on his knees: sycophants. He looked up, perhaps a trifle warily, as John apHis hands were In his proached. pockets, one foot crossed over the other knee. "Put .up your foot, Baxter!" John aald sharply, coming to a halt before him. The man started. ; "Huh?" he asked. "Put up your foot !" ; "Who says so?" he asked truculently. 'I do. Put It op 1" The man laughed. "If you want my foot up," he growled, drawing his hands from his pockets, "you go down and git It ... x d ! " John went down with a swoop and a crouch, a swing of his one hand, fastening on the man's ankle, a backward sway, dragging Baxter from his chair with a thud, a crash, an oath. One leg In the air, held there by hand, seated on the floor for a the man gawped while his second, spilt 7 face flooded with ugliness. John stared down at the sole: big ' star; little stars, crops rubber on the sola. tat " a bit I CHAPTER IX and- -" TOTJ Senrlc "Thought so!" he said with a sharp nod and let the resisting leg go. Baxter had started to turn over with a mighty heave of his great body as John relinquished his grip. His foot dropped and upset him again, but he came up with an agile scramble, cursing, clenching his fista But a man, even a fighting man, a bullying fighting man. doesn't wade in and crush a man who stands before him. mind on something other than fighting so completely that he pays no attention to the drawing back of your fist Baxter remained poised, ready to strike, but not striking, facing the torrent of words from young John Belk-uap- , who stepped closer, one hand, palm upward, extended In a businesslike sideways gesture. "If you'd put It up, it'd saved you being set down on your tail, Baxter. I wanted to see the bottom of your new rubber because I found a track In the snow a couple of hours ago and, put alongside of other things I found out, I figured your rubber made that print You've got a reputation to uphold, I suppose, but hereafter when I tell you to do a thing I want you to do It ! "Don't get ready to fight yet!" John went on, as he might have talked to an enraged child. "Maybe there'll be some fighting between us, but not until you've had your chance to get out of "Chanse!" Baxter shouted. "Say, you got a lot of guts, talkln' of glvln me a chance to get out of fighting you!" John nodded. "Yes, I have. Enough guts so you don't scare me very much, Baxter. And plenty to tell you what I've come to tell." Baxter's eyes swept a segment of the circle about 'them ; he swallowed quickly. This was something new In the way of an encounter. "Tell? What you got to tell me?" he demanded. "This. Probably you've heard the boys saying that I came pretty near getting mine this evening out at the mill. A load let go and I had to take to the pond. I'd trusted those stakes, Baxter. They're the best patent stakes made. I didn't think they'd if let go. "Sly guess seems to 've been pretty good. In the fresh snow behind that man's tracks. He'd come car were from between lumber piles where noHe body else has been for weeks. stood for quite a time In the shadow of the trucks; he stooped down there, to see what was going on on the other side of the car. When the thing happened that he'd waited and watched for, he tiptoed to the trips and let 'em go. Then he raa . . ." He paused a moment and his eyes, for the first time, smoldered. "lie didn't get me, Baxter. I got out and found his tracks In the snow. I measured his foot; I saw the print of stars on the heel and a crepe sole. They were new rubbers. So are yours. Yours have the stars and the sole. I haven't measured yours yet, because I want to give you a run for your money. "I've got this proposition to make: If you weren't the man in those rubbers, stay right here In Kampfest If you're here tomorrow night at this time I'm coming In here and take your rubber off and measure It and If it's the same size as that worn by the man who tried to make pulp of me with saw logs, I'm going to make pulp of you with the only things I know how to fight with! . . . These I" He extended his hands. "Baxter, you don't know what a hard bird Is! You've got by some of your fracuses because people were afraid of you. A man who's afraid Is licked before he makes his first punch. I'm n more afraid of you than I am of the sweet west wind. I don't like your kind. I'd get a lot of satisfaction out of knocking your block off and using It as a football. That's all I've got to say. Good night!" He turned and In an amazed silence made his way towards the door. Baxter hitched at his pants and turned, looking into the faces about him. But now he read there not the sniveling admiration of the admittednot the apprehensive ly Inferior, glances of men who feared him. He saw only contempt and rising smiles. He knew well enough what they were thinking: that at last he had encountered fear by finding a man who had no fear. He fell Into a morose silence from which he roused now and again to mutter threats of what would happen If John so much as stuck his face Inside that door tomorrow night . . . But he was afraid, this Baxter; caught between two fires. From behind, Gorbel, with a club over his head, was goading; beyond jsaited a youth who dismissed his threats as casually as he would brush at a buzzing fly. And when the way freight went through Kampfest at two the next morning a heavy man with a grain Back over his shoulder boarded the caboose. "Where you want to go, Jack?" the conductor asked. Any place. . . . Out of this dutnpl" Baxter growled. with his regrets and fears and hopes. ue He felt particularly lonriy as CHAPTER X It was at noon the next day that McWethy. the mill foreman, hailed John as he returned from dinner. "Got a new job for you," be said. "So?" "Yeah. Barn boss. Ever run a barn before?'' "Never." McWethy whittled off a chew of plug before he spoke again. "Well," he said dryly, "I guess you're barn boss, anyhow." He stared through the dusty window a moment, and then turned troubled eyes on the boy. "You most got yours last night, son. I heard you fay out Baxter. He I got hauled between days, but Just this to say" grimly: "Watch your step! Until lately I've figured I was workln' for a white man but . things change, seem to. Or else wolves are slippln' off their sheepskins.' "And you don't want to talk because you're Just playing a bunch. That's fine, Mac. I'll watch my step ! That night a letter was waiting for John, postmarked Shoestring. Within was a single sheet of paper and written on it the words: "Meet me In the same place. N. B." The sheriff was there before him, driving his team to keep them from cooling too rapidly. "News!" he whispered. "Here . . . Here's telegrams and a flashlight'' John spread the sheets on his knees and snapped on the beam. "Yeah. That come first!" Brad-shamuttered, leaning forward to see. John read: "North Star Lumber Co. subsidiary to Forest Products stop Latter Incorporated year ago In Michigan stop North Star statement excellent and carries comfortable cash balance locally." "Now when I got that," Nat said, "I telegraphed right down to Lansing. Read what they say!" "Mid-Wes- t Forest Products articles incorporated show Deman Hill pres. Paul Gorbel vice pres. Agnes Hill secy, and treas." The paper shook In John's hand. "Now Hill," said Nat, "Is Corbel's brother-in-law- . This North Star company seems to be all In the family. What's-thIf It's any of my business?" John told, briefly, what Marie had told him, and the sheriff whistled. "Rimmm' your father all ways from the Jack ! If he ain't a crook !" "Poor old Tom!" John muttered. "This'll hurt If there has been anything he prided himself on, it was picking mea This is the first time I know of that he's gone away wrong. Finding It out'll be like poison to him." "It looks, son, like you were doin' a whole lot to drain that poison out. What's happened here since you had your talk with this stenographer?" The boy related yesterday's happenings and his change of work, and the sheriff grumbled in a rage. "He's out to get you, Johnny!" he warned. "You do as McWethy says and watch your step." John laughed. "II 1, Nat, we're just getting ready to spring the trap. Have you heard anything from the University?" "Ain't time yet, I reckon. They say it takes about a week to get a stomach analysis and the mail, with that stomach In It, was Just about timed to hit a two-dablizzard they had below that tied everything up." "Do you think there's a chance he might get scared and jump?'' John asked. The sheriff pondered a moment. "Not much chance," he said. "He's got too much at stake to Jump before he's sure trouble is on his heels. No . . . he won't Jump." John Itched to be at the bank records, to know what they might reveal, but he could make no move in that direction without exposing his entire hand. So he waited, performing his duties about the barn, spending his evenings in the recreation hall. Since his encounter with Baxter they had ceased their nudging, ceased gloating at sight of a rich man's son taking life ns they took it. He was as much one of them as the son of the boss ever could be. They respected him. It was Saturday night; another week was down. He was buying some necessary things when he met McWethy. "Say, Gorbel 'phoned he'd bargained for another team to be delivered tonight or tomorrow." he said. "You'd gone when I come past the bam." "All right; there are empty stalls. They can stand 'em in." "Watchln" your step?" "Every move!" And John grinned as the other twisted his head in grlra approval. He went to sleep dreaming of Ellen Richards, and woke with an empty feeling. . . . Hang on! he told himself. Hang on and kfcep going and you'll be able to show her how much of her trouble can be laid at old Tom's door! He was out at four o'clock, wading through new drifts towards the barn to feed and water. This was Sun He would have little to do day. throughout the day; might even take to the swamp on snowshoes for a few hours to be alon with his problem. ... w Mid-We- e y was The barn was silent; no one and d..or the He opened about Inhung that lantern reached for the side and lighted it. The warm smell of the stable was strong. He swung his lantern and looked to the left. "Hullo!" he muttered. A strange, black horse was standing there, halter rope dangling, eyeing him with head up. Coal black, night black, he was; a handsome creature, though the eye looked defiant. One of the new horses, delivered last night, probably, and insecurely tied. "Well. boy. enjoying liberty?" John asked, and slipping the lantern bail over one arm advanced, hand extended to catch the rope. He should have been warned now. had the light been better. He could not see the tensing of the big animal's frame as he approached. He was wholly unprepared for the charge when It came. With a squeal that stopped John's heart, with his lip flickering over the long, yellow teeth, with a greenish glitter springing to life in his eyes, the animal rushed him! So quickly did It happen, so close the quarters, that John could not turn and run. To the left the outer wall blocked him. without niche or corner within reach to use as sanctuary. To the right stood other horses, and as the black squealed the one nearest danced and wrung his tall. In a split second. All In a flash. John swayed backward, not daring to turn, and used the only weapon he had : the lantern. He swung It as the horse reared. Swung It the whole length of his arm and let It go full In the creature's face as he poised for the downward pitch that would mean broken bones and torn flesh. The animal cried out as the lantern The glass broke struck his nose. with a crash and a tinkling; the light low-dow- He stood, ' shaky, stroking the snuffing muzzle In the darkness. waitThe black was standing there, like waiting he thought, ing for him, a surly bear might wait for his quarry to emerge, stamping now and again. The other horses were restless from the disturbance. John slipped through into the feed alley, found a pitchfork, walked along to the far end of the building and crawled through the hay window into used for sick horses when a occasion demanded. He stood against the door which gave Into the stall row, listening. be Then, careful to make little sound, retreated he slid It open. That done, to the feed alley again and moved along, trying to locate the strange horse. He found that the animal was now standing behind a vacant stalL head down, almost as though listening himself. Cautiously John crawled through to the manger, standing erect, dragging the fork with him. Then he stepped down and with a quick stride, fork held before him, was In the litterway, confronting the black. "You!" he cried, and leaped forward. The animal squealed again. His floor as hoofs beat the straw-paddehe gathered himself for another charge. And then he cried out In pain as the fork tines raked his face, as they prodded his chest mercilessly. "Back you! Get back!" He could hear the savage teeth popfore-foo- t ping In the darkness, felt a strike out at the torturing fork. But the animal reluctantly gave ground. John At the door of the swung the fork sideways at the horse's head to turn him. The beast bit and struck. He made a stand, there, until John got the tine points against the neck and shoved, and with a scream the black yielded, turned and thundered to a Into the far corner. John had the door closed in a second, set the hasp In place and drew a deep breath. "Now. . . . Something else to figure out!" he muttered. The first of the teamsters trailed In as daylight drove back the shadows. "Here, Tim; take a look at this box-stal- d box-sta- ll down behind the horses and John let down a window in l. the door of the "My G d!" the man said. "That's old PeForest's renegade! What's that horse doin' here?" John explained that the horse had been sold to Gorbel and had been delivered after quitting time last night "Gorbel bought him?" he demanded. "Cripes, that horse's been In this country for five years and DeForest's the only man who walks who can get near him and come away whole. You mean, Gorbel was thinking of buyin' him?" John shrugged. "That's the way I took It Where does this DeForest live?" "Three mile west and half a mile south." "I guess, so long as I'm running this barn, we'll try to do without him. What say?" "If you want me around here; or anybody else who knows that horse, you will Why, It's a wonder he ain't killed a dozen men. And you handled him alone?" Three miles west and half a mile south over sleigh roads, and an hour with DeForest; a long, haggling hour that got him nowhere. The horse trader, shrewd, truculent, was a hard nut to crack and his defiant story of an attempt at a sharp sale of undesirable property seemed to hold water. Gorbel was spreading out dangerously, but he strengthened his defenses as he went and It would be difficult to prove that he was even remotely implicated in either of these attempts on John's it gave a man something to think about ! box-stal- Get Back!" went out. John had a vague impression of the horse going sideways, over against a stall partition, as he quickly turned and fled. He did not go far. Feet thudded behind him. The killer squealed again, and as John caught a stanchion in one hand and swung himself in beside another horse the black thundered on his heels. "Whoa!" he cried, as the horse which gave him protection kicked. "Whoa, you !" d Against the faint glow from lights that penetrated the dusty windows he could see the black there, stamping, crowding to get into the stall. The tied horse kicked again and squealed and lunged forward as the black's teeth nipped his hip. John was up in the manger by then, trying to quiet the one horse as the outlaw backed away, stamping. mill-yar- Love and Tenderness Part of Baby's Life Child's Need of Affection Has Been Recognized by Scientists. it Michigan's Population Michigan's population multiplied seven times in the decade from 1830 to 1840. Razor Blades 50 for $1.00 - Post Paid Fit all Gillette Type Razors Honey refunded if not satisfactory. COOMBS DRUG CO. Salt Lake City, Utah THIS WEEK'S PRIZE STORY Is there not tendency to believe that the larger city we trade in th better find at a lower price? Bit can we quclity haven't many of ns been disappointed? Going a step deeper, we might asnns that from a different section of our ceu-trwe could purchase a better trad, tf y products. But the sooner we realize that ear products are best, the sooner can we bring Prosperity to our West. Intermountain Made Goods will do that Home-Grow- n for nsl MISS BERTHA WAT. Wilder. Idaho. box-sta- pony, will you?" The man came "Back, You! hr. to spend ear money. We When we jet the thins lack. Bat it isn't cone forever. Wt know how to get it back. PATRONIZE HOME INDUSTKT well-bein- (TO BE CONTINUED.) expected from those caring for them. It is curious to see how regularly legend feels out and expresses essential psychological truths. The scientific research of recent has ascertained, for instance, years that among children who are cared for even in the most excellent institutions a higher rate of mortality and a greater retardation in mental development than r among children cared for in only averfoster age homes. The modern mother If she happens to be lacking in maternal feeling often rationalizes her unloving attitude by saying that It is not for the baby to fuss over him good and P ay with him. He will expect play all the time and become spoiled. The tiny baby needs affection as much as It needs milk. It needs In Its mother's It needs to he cuddled and heldface, and played with as mothers have done Instinctively In all times. Modern science only amends that 6 mUSt DOt be disturbed that he must tot be stimulated fai!?-Piof. over e"l'ement and ?t Agnes Lyne, la the St Louis Seven Hills of Rome The seven hills of Rome are legendary, but actually exist. CO. SPERE TENT & AWNING Tents not Camping Supplies "Everything in Canvas Goods" Salt Lake City 270 S. W. Temple Awnings A debt collector is one unpopperson who is always asked to call again. ular ASK YOUR DRUGGIST FOR HAIR OIL PRODUCT AN INTERMOUNTAIN The smell of paint, distasteful to some, has been replaced by a pleaenamel. sant odor in a quick-dryin- g Eucalyptus Tree Grows High The eucalyptus tree of Australia attains a height of 480 to 500 feet. FOR ASK BEET SUGAR THE ONLY HOME SUGAR Chares wrote a history of Aleten books, dealing mainly with the private life of the king. xander in Climate Controlled Gasoline INTERMOUNTAIN PRODUCTS COLUMN Gentlemen: Your check for the prize letter came n Monday's mail and I thank you very a for the money. It was a surprise to W was not expecting it tho' I wanted it, more than I can express to you, mere words. As money has not been very P""? with as lately, your prize money rill p a long way and will buy many thinis I would otherwise have done without. I will do all I can to boost for MOT mountain Made Goods, and will feel wkot obligations to use them myself wtiene I can. You are doing a great work In offering and awarding these prizes. Thanking yon again, I am, sincerely, One of the Prize Winner. " ,i FIREWO RKS ex-Is- ts There Is a legend to the effect that Frederick H, king of Prussia, once Interested himself In the problem of how human being who never had heard a spoken word would communicate with one another. For the purpose &f answering this question he caused a number of orphaned infants to be isolated and brought up by nurses who. though required to give their charges the best of care, were not permitted to speak with them. Neither were the nurses allowed to Indulge In any of those playful affectionate sounds with which mothers ordinarily converse with their children. The king's question remained nevertheless, the story continues, because every one of the Infants died. They simply could not live without the love and tenderness, slm-lia- 1 Globe-Democi- EVERYTHING FOR THE oS July 4th Write for Price List W. II. BDMTZ CO. Produces Most Emeralds world'l Columbia, S. A., is the emeraiusof largest producer .r3 fW'V" should use article an mads lntermountsln . i .. . u .LifL Send i ii . wuMi Bimiiar Vnnt. llnr In nrnti or VeriS t P- termountain Products Column. " Hn 115S K.lt Ike City. I' story appears in this column you will re ceive check for $3.00 Week No. SJ2J yf.S.V.-S- JS |