OCR Text |
Show THE MURRAY- - EAGLE -- (Continued from Ijst wiv" The fog that drove trie out of mv course; my subsequent slilp'.vreck and Illness; the coming of Currier our old family servant; the clmin of circumstances that brought umm me the calamities from which I have Just extricated myself these are an old story. The only thing that now remains to clear my sky Is for me to right myself with Marcla." "That will be easy," mulled Sylvia. "I wish I thought so," was Heath's moody answer. by gara War BftSSETT Copyright by The Ten" Pub. Co. Service WNO THE STORY future of the comely "Widder" I, TttZ "her irllinK. selfishtlt-b-hus-lt a conversational V housewives of the little bachelors J, if Wilton. iidoweri also are Interested. uaptFR 11 Marcla. despite her 'Tea ure "n her 'daily life, but t time- -, and has Invited 1$ . husband's Svlvla .'lte whom "he hasniece. never seen ti,n. LiPTER The I P,ohfut anil ISIIg-'W- . and , it her. The ffM arriveswhile to her at once, tnk ti. exriectlnit to see a somewhat vrijsunt. flnds Marcla more like ti ;ster. III. Into lives of the rHAPTER the unevent-nann- y two women "Adventure" A stranger, on Li i, verge or eiiu""""'. "" , . " "' ihm hi Land in the fmr. P . . nower-ho- at His wrist Is ran - In- h. aalen Mnrp n to cnnta ninsr Jewelry. .u,i,-bine so. The doctor comes, withlown srieriu. uriim(M WinslOW. robbery on i m news of a Jewel Island estate. Look nnfrhboriiifr hnsoltablv Dut to bed. ii bis name as Stanley Heath. .1.. . ..,..nr noth- - Mrp(i navi iv .uiDTt-- n ... cvi.-- nhnnt the tewels Heath ki liked her to hide. Though unShe IS UnwilllUK. lor buiiib ,n, to believe him to be a thief. Kb the hanf handkerchief with the A "S n II" convinces her il Heath Is author of the robbery Mart reported, ana riff Wlnflow rralites thftt Marcla herself must n h.dden them. Deciding to say .! she puts the Jewels back hiding ulace. king, their Marcla admits to that she has altogether too jin Interest in her Kupst. nut is ttriess to overrome It. I'nable to of his Injured wrist, If bernii" C. jit hss Murda wire "Mrs.Is 8safe. il!." New York, saying he ilso wires orders to a man named .r.rr to come nt once. Sylvia. In room. beiWks herself with the !. Al Mnrrla'a approach she 'tthem there Heath asks Marcla brief him the Jewels. They are V. CHAPTER she Informs light of letter from nlo Fuller hoy friend" In her mwn. Alton City. Selling an knortunity. ht restores the Jewels thir original hiding place. 3UPTEK Crocker. t thiff. one of Marcla's "admir-i.- " britifis a Migrant for Heath. t'l Ok;i e ajf. he deem It an sortune time to "pop the Ques-s- " to M.m-la- . but her tender Nrtts r lmv with her stranger W inslow. ot Lilsha arriving :i the news of a Are In the village. lit KUkut hastily home. Ellsha. ' iirident. dismvpra the Jewels, no tl'.iiht they are the stolen ibis Ti. und that Heath Is the thief. nnthinit to Marcla. but rrj the jwtla. he returns to the to ist make plans, with Kleater fnr arresting Heath. it' , Terror-stricken- ilk He kindly make Ions Syhiii has a eaier re-nr- -t ''. CHAPTHIl l'rrl I'M l'rr: ftverhrars Heath, seemingly ' .r.giy. oesrnbe how he acquired arul is forced to helieve tu:!ty. At Wrath's suggestion, rrn, with Marcla. Investigates I Ming flace-a- nd finds the gems! returns to New York with !". f-t- tQt hit rmltiff!tf mnv i.inal to "Mr, Heath" have con- pitnr., ffl Mama thnt her tender dream bn fonlith one. CHAPTER VIlI.-A- having fter !!rown trouhles, , . !". . P .Kllsha and ,i mirni H...I. drum. Aiarcin ni nntt'ltllnirlv ru,M,U , !tltant. r" Of lil-!.- !r i .r. nnl Ih. them, though Marcla Cftl)t-l- r'IIiss sen thy had been thera. ""i mey srs Heath i. CHAPTKI! IX Ft nll. T bot u.r.i that the loves Heath. She i it n in his tnnocenee. 'f M'lVS Is inn nl hi. .,,lli mi will help him er,rri E( which MarrU la unwilling to an peneves Z. i a 'nocent. but urgea him. If ha to ennfpaa. 11 admits ;'c,'ty. ne. thniFL.ii ..i.t.i.....i- .4 'r,,l, and almost acknowl. t,,: "in i fHAl-Tl- comp.l. ft(h ',!'t .A': . to th,. sherllt. t ' l. imt ,t she loves him. also iu Insist! jh .t. ... iti m nipir .... iki.n.. "'"isiiia sue 1. Sfirf ssn win 'he disgrace." reproarhes I... . ' V. hlr '"ctistody" Li-hnupTo Msrcls'a it hs V,n" to f.n, G1 for rherk, x ' "Hortla" Fuller ar. fvivia, f yiAU Kit XI -- Kfrretly overjoyed. "'"'"''S roypssa. but he uW rinn. ill.,- With him. af. , 'P.V'',; of th Utij. home, ah goea Jim j.I.T . It . i, - 't ''mrni - flu) CliAKrr n vtt !... t eproarning mm " 'lion in irsnna pressa regret, d ,ov' Marcla almost f..,i, iir. i, Jt" N,w Tor h tells Sylvia, Wh"la they are v"m'" ,,,,,, 'nsi tne resi J,;( tt !. em hf'fT. assuring Sylvia ' lltnr..i-n.i j " IN Widder' will ' t ,;h ii-- lo'fs) ':rtb1' flu k nr. in '"H ii . nin,n- - J fflcvment r.., , ''ran,is una eurrennerea 'he about lo be mar "n'' f.n,n believing the to his meeting m "'enra are fsmiliar, tneet Warrla. ti .7'? even when Hm T. . ""'vene.s, st VL 'ot led m )., ,' If.' "I Corlnn of n old ""f asireed to H,n With ,h. tha drift i.h '""'''"nl. r"f "fa. h How 'leetn had visited tha " '"im "t lf' Mrcl "I.-- On th way to 'Hortle" and Sylvia. threads of the haa been stolen . "'"mothpr tf her maid. ai.,.' j. 10 - I trn M i- ' "t kl -- hlkn , r.,r,,'t""nt ) t, of h' "fl'VlTt v"-c- i M power-boa- Pfssesslon of Jason's wed-tit with r.iB.e. nrcist and the ii, writttn. vi II ' 111" She was not In the house when at Inst Stanley Heath overtook her, but far up the beach tossing driftwood Into the surf for I'rince Hal to retrieve. The man paused, watching them. Hatless, her splendid body aglow with exercise, Marcla had the freedom and wholesomeness of a young athlete. Yet with all her strength and muscular ease, there was a grace unmistakably feminine In her every movement. When she turned and saw him, she uttered a faint cry, but she did not advance to meet him. Prince Hal did that, racing up the beach, uttering shrill yelps of welcome as he came, A second and the dog was again at Marcla's side, and in this ecstasy of delight he continued to run back and forth until Stanley Heath had covered the sandy curve that intervened and himself stood bexide her. "Marcla dearest I have come back come to ask your forgiveness. I misjudged you cruelly the night we parted and In anger spoke words I had no right to speak. Forgive me, dear! Forgive me! Can you?" "I forgave you long ago before you asked," she whispered. "Forgave without understanding how like you! Kut you must not do that You have more to forgive In me than you know, Marcla. I have been proud, unbelieving, unworthy of a love like yours. 1 have made you suffer suffer needlessly. Listen to what I have to tell and then see If you can still forgive." Turning they walked slowly along the shore. "I could have told you about the jewels and how I came by them at the outset had I not suddenly conceived the Idea of teasing you. The plan to conceal my story came to me as a form of sport a subtle, psychological game. Here I was pitched without ceremony Into a strange environment among persons who knew nothing of my background. What would they make of me? How rate me when cut off from my real setting? I resolved to try out the experiment. Women are said to be Inquisitive, particularly those living In Isolation. My advent could not but stimulate questions. I thought It would be an amusing adventure to circumvent not only your curiosity but also that of the village. "I placed scant dependence on and confeminine discernment stancy. "When I went to the war, I left behind a girl who pledged herself to love and wait for me. When I came back It was to find her married to my best friend. The discovery .wlionk my confidence In human nature, and especially In womI derided en, to lis found;rt!ons. love, vowing I never would marry nnd be made a puppet of a second time. "The remainder of the story you know. "I stumbled, a stranger, Into your home and instantly you set at naught all my preconceived theories of womanhood by believing In me with unreasoning faith. You asked no questions. You did not even exhibit legitimate curiosity in the peculiar network of circumstances that entangled me. You were a new type of being and I regarded yoti with wonder. ".Still 1 was not satisfied. I felt sure that If pressed too far your trust in nte would crumble and, then-fore- , I tried deliberately to break It down by throwing obstacle In Us pathway. When suspicion closed In upon me 1 put jou to further test by withholding the explanations I culd easily have made. It was a contemptible piece of egoism seltlsh nnd cruel nnd dearly have I paid for It Hut at least remember that If I caused you gufferlng I have suffered also. "For Marclft, through It all I loved yoti. 1 recognised from the moment I first looked !nt jour eyes thnt a force mightier than ourselves drew us together a Orcc not to be denied. Nevertheless, so bitter had been my experience 1 dared not Inyield to (Ids si range new power. all It with J my stead opposed strensih, giving toy bne reliictiinlly, fishtlng Inch by Inch the surrender I sensed to be Inevitable. "Yoti, on the other band, had like myself known betrayal, but you had taken the larger view and not allowed It t warp nr mar your outlook on life. When love came knocking a second time, yoti were neither too proud nor too cowardly to anwer It. but freely gave your affection wllh the gladness and sin eerily so characteristic of yoti. 1 do not deserve mch a love. "Iteside the largeness of your nature my own shows Itself childishI r thing for which a small, blufh. "Help me to erase the pnt. "I love you with my whole sotit dear. Everything In me loves yoti. unless you My life l worth nothing It. share will you? Ah, you need not fear, Marv mythlng. 1U-gylvli bit told n oved, there Is not and never been a barrier to our has marriage Wu have misunderstood one another. Let us do so no longer. "I am free man acquitted. Come to me and let us begin life . afresh." She came then, swiftly. As he held her in his arms, the last shadow that separated tbem melted away. ., V Under the glow of the noonday sun, they walked back toward the Homestead, hand In hand. Sylvia came running to meet clothes. Assisted by the pilot, be managed to get down upon the wharr by menus of steps lowered The Chechahco. from Inside the cabin. After huron a headnet and planks of riedly putting GARTH knelt upon the inshore between he started gloves, fasto floating wharf its ten a patch on the his two companions, lie limped If slightly crippled, lint the lame bottom of his upturned birclibark canoe. In the midst of his work he ness might lone been due to cramp paused to listen. A faraway drone front long sitting. Garlh spoke to the supply tender; was just audible above the ting and hum of insects. He turned to peer "I'm only a stray prospector, Tobln. at the southerly sky above the vast Understand?" "Aye, sir," grunted Tobin. Withflood of the Mackenzie. The drone out a word of greeting, he hobbled became more distinct. few steps as t lie pilot and back A plane was coming down river his passengers stopped In over the towards the emergency refueling rough threshold station at ttie old abandoned tradThe purity man opened a gold ing post. Yet the regular schedule eiirur case. The young mounted of the line did not call for the woman produced a long northbound Hellaiica for several cigarette holder. This was days. In all probability, the Commercial Airways had sent out Its promptly tilled by the pilot, who" on emergency plane from Fort McM.ir-ray- , paused only to slap a mosquito cheek before strikhis Alberta. Though his thoughts lingered on ing a mutch. Out went Garth's hand In a swift the approaching plane, his eyes nnd that caught the flaming clutch hands turned to the patching of the canoe. The craft must be made match In his calloused palm. The pilot, who was as tall as Garth au l ready for the weeks of uprlver padheavier built, turned to stare down would be There too none dling. him In cold anger. at much time for the thousand-milfreeze-up- . Insolent roughneck ! Clear "You out winter before the trip out of here." As he finished the patch the loud Garth smiled. Tobin did the androne of the motor swelled Into swering. "Huh, crazy loon lightCan't you a staccato roar. He turned to watch ing matches In here. the white monoplane swoop down read the sign? "No smoking.' Bounce and take the water like a squatter-Inhim, lad." duck. The pilot thrust a hand Insld- The pilot started to taxi shorehis leather Jacket. "Try it I'll drill ward. Garth again set about patchboth of you." "How frightful," said Garth. "You ing the small leak. A sudden silence told that the motor had been must Imagine this Is a Wild West stilled. Across the hush came a curt show. Please don't shoot until the Shots are order: latly can get outside. ''Ho, Jack, fend off and snub her." even more apt than matches to ex Garth leisurely twisted around to plode all this gasoline." The portly man snapped shut his eye the Incoming cruft. She wat a beautiful medium sized plane with elyar case, a cabin behind the "That's so! Yoti have no cause cockpit. P.etween her headway and to be ruffled, Vivian. The fellow the rher current she was driving seems t) have acted 011 a toward the upstream side of the impulse." wharf at a speed that promised to The pilot's hand came out empty smash the pontoons. front Inside the Jacket. "Why Yet neither of the two helmeted couldn't the fool have spoken a persons In the cockpit made a move warning?" Garth had sized up the man. He to climb down In readiness to ward off the shock. Nor did either work expected neither an apology for the the control to veer the craTt clear. abuse nor thanks for saving the visIioth were hastily putting on head-net- s itors from possible annihilation. ami gloves to protect themWith nn Indifferent smile, he shifted selves front the otitbuzzlng swarms the gaze of his gray eyes to examine of mosquitoes and bulldog files. the woman member of the party. A first glance had led him to They seemed to take for granted that the worker on the wharf would think her older than the pilot. I rider her rouge and powder her face rush to give them service. In the North ablebodied men are uaslhin and drawn. Its Hues might have belonged to a woman In the Supposed to wait upon themselves'. mid thirties. Her blue eyes looked More, the pilot's lone had been that more (linn borml nnd cynical. Their of a master commanding an InGarth stayed motionless, tiredness matched the lined face ferior. waiting for the crackup with cool ller body was thin almost to boldness. curiosity. Garth At that the smaller person cried Yet, upon examination. out In a sharp, almost shrill voice; saw she could not be even In the mid twenties. Traces of girlish "Quick, you gawping dummy!" The fact that one of the pair was freshness still lingered In her pa!ut a woman made a vast difference. ed face, under the blemishes of 4ln Gnrih caught the end of the moorsipatioii nnd disillusionment. As she faced away from htm, the ing line Hung by the pilot, and snatched Up a long plkepolo. Its pilot spoke to Tobln; "Got busy. Truck down sixty gal point met the Hp of the nearIons of gas and five of oiland be est pontoon. Aided by a slight swerve In the quick about it. While your helper current, he was able to walk the Is refueling the (da tie, you'll cook plane to the outer end of the wharf us ibe best meal you can throw in before the nearer pontoon could hit gel her." I town came Tobln's shaggy eyethe float logs. As the aircraft glided clear, lie made the lino fast to a brows. "Who d'yoti think you're ringbolt and returned to his canoe. Imysin"? Shove along to a tradln' -post for yer grub nn' gas. This here What the devil!" snapped the piIs the comp'ny'g emergency cache In fool. Take lot. Come back, you deepo." the slack n r us. The prtly visitor took a billfold Garth swung hU canoe Into the water and stepped aboard to test from his coat nod drew out a paper. "Take a look at this order, my man. the last patch. The airplane, hayme to requisition any It authorize end to the downstream drifted ing Aim of the ajs' station for whatof the line, swung around and lay ever supplies I wish.'' Neither the current. the nosing Tobln read the order, and thrust man or the woman made a move-meof b! until Garth drove his came It bnik. with no thitit'tiess. "So lturlii you're ashore and lifted It atop the stony ore you? Looks like a straight bank. oi'ib-r- . All the same, you'll sign the As he climbed to the front of the book before you'll get a drop," old post store, above the base of lie turned about to open un oily the wharf, he saw the pilot nt last account book on one of the Ma k on haul the line. to nwlng don Mr. Hit null drew Inside (tie big log cabin he crossed of gasoline cases. a fountain pen from bis test pocket rooms rear nnd of the one to put with plump white fingers, and a light hand on the forehead of forward to write. limped in man nearest the the snoring "There' your receipt," said the bunk. "Now have this dumb helper pilot, Visitors." ToMti. "Turn out, our gas. and get The crl?.?.!e bearded station tender of j ours rush out on the fire. We want your pan blink and to roused op peer. You're not strlngin' service," "VU'iors? "Yuh? Well, you're welcome to me, Mr, Garlh?" want It till dooin"iJay. That comp'ny "No. Hover plane." order calls for supplies. Iton't say Tobln slipped n his mnecaln eookin" imr service." and hobbled out Into the storeroom. tiothiti" about Mr. liatnlll luletped: "All right, moored his The pilot had plane t see you're stiff from rheuhead and tall lo the lower Side of man. I will pay this matism. joiing felwas handHe the landing stage, refm the to low plane," ing his woman companion down Garlh turned his cool ga?e upon from the cockpit. I'.oth had replaeed the j pilot. "Why not give this bird their leather fi.lng helmet with or yours the chance to earn a little Btid nets. hats mosqullo mote pay?" They went In under the overhang"P.ecause Mr. Iltixby has flown of screened door the to ing wing my plane all the way from Chicago, the cabin It opened to the ft llu ouly ihurt atop over, Alao, h of portly tuaa la city CHAPTER I pitch-smeare- d 11 amber-sieinine- As He Held Her in Hi Last Shadow That Them Melted Away. Separated them and, throwing her arms about Marcla, kissed her. "Everything Is all right I can see that," she cried. "Uh, I am so glad so glad for both of you! I believe I Just could not stand It If you were not happy, because I am so happy myself. Hortle Is here, you know. Didn't Stanley tell you? Why, Stanley Heath, aren't you ashamed to forget all about Hortle and me? Yes, Hortle came thli morning. We're engaged. See 111 v e g ring!" TOE END. d clean-shave- Arms, the "King!" repeated Heuth. "Mercy on us, Marcla, you must have a ring. I cannot allow this yotin sprite of a niece to outdo you. 1 am afraid 1 was not as foresighted as Mr. Fuller, however. Still, I can produce a ring, such as it Is. Here, dear, you shuil wear this until I can get something better." He slipped from his little linger the wrought-golring with Its beautifully cut diamond. "I I do not need a ring," mur mured ehe, drawing back and putting her hands nervously behind her. "Of course you do," Interposed Sylvia. "How absurd! A ring la part of being engaged." "A very, very small part," Marcla answered. "Nevertheless, It Is a part," the girl Insisted. "Come, don't be silly. Let Stanley put It on." Playfully she caught Marcla's bands and imprisoning them, drew them forward. On the left one glistened a narrow gold band. "Jason's!" cried Sylvia. "Jason's! Take It off and give It to me. You owe nothing to Jason. F.ven I, a Howe, would not have you preserve longer that worn out allegiance, neither would my mother. The past U dead. You have closed the door upon It You aid so yourself. Never think of It again. You belong to Stanley now to Stanley and to no one else." As she spoke, Sylvia look the ring from the older woman's hand and held It high In the air. 'The past Is dead," she repeated, "and the lat reminder of It is gone." There was a gleam as the gulden band spun aloft and catching an Instant the sunlight's glory, disappeared beneath the foam that marked the line of the Incoming breakers. "Now, Stanley, put your ring upon her finger. It Is a symbol of a new life, of hope, of happier thing. Isn't It so. Marcla?" "Yes! Yes!" Sjlvl.i drew a long breath. "There! Now we'll not be serious a minute longer. This Is the greatest day of our live. There must not be even a shadow In our heaven. Kiss me. Mania, and come and meet Hortle, pour dear! He Is with frltfht at the paralyzed thought of appearing Into your presence. I b'ft him biding behind t he door. 1 could not cax til in out of the bouse.' "How ridiculous! You must have made tie out an igre." "Un the contrary, I made yoti out an enchanlress. I told him yu would bewltih him, That's why he became panic stricken. I'o be nice to him for my sake. He really I a lamb." Sylvia stepped to the pla?w. "ItoralK" called she Imperiously. away and "(me out lore right And please, meet your Aunt Mania. Stanley, forgive me for misUkinif, I'm dreadfully you for a bandit. mortified. Still, you must admit evidence was slrong attains! yoti. AH of which prove our mi what shifting snnds rest moral rbarncleral" "Say rather our reputation, dear child," Heath corrected. partner, not a mecnanlc." "Well, he's not the only party present who's not a kiwi." Garth, pulled a small poke from Inside his buckskin shirt, hefted It as If considering, and put it buck. "Nor do 1 need your pay." Huxby's 8upercllioiis eyes glistened with sudden keen Interest. ''What's that You're from the new gold fields?" "No." "But your gold sack?" "Gold?" Garth muttered. He drew out his poke again and opened It to shake a few small nodules of metal into his palm. Both Huxby and Mr. Kamlll stepped close to peer nt the grayish silvery bits. The older man looked puzzled. The younger took a nodule Into his own palm, eyed It a moment, nnd handed It back in an Indifferent manner. "Galena. I'm a mining engineer. You're out of luck, not making a gold strike. Never before In history has silver been so low." Garth looked disappointed. "Too bad, Isn't it?" He picked out a nodule that had been rubbed to a rather bright polish. The girl was leaning with her left hand on one of the lower piles of gasoline cases. A ring with a large blue diamond banded the "enGarth thrust gagement" linger. the nodule up close beside the ring. "Yes," he said, "I always did think gold looked prettier than galenaeven white gold." The girl drew her hand away as If he had smirched It, "My ring Is Is my semi-enclose- The Girl Drew Her Hand Away a If He Had Smirched It not gold. You pretend to be a prospector, yet you do not know platinum from gold !" "Platinum?" Garth questioned. "But your friend bere call It galena." Mr. Hamlll Interposed: "Permit me, Llllth Young man,. I am largely Interested In metalliferous mine. If you have located a lode of galena, the lead might pay for development of the prospect," "That depends," put In Iluxby. "Where's the placer" "Three week paddle and portage," Garth answered. "Slow travel. But by airplane?" "The bird distance can't Interest you. Neither lead nor sllrer would Nor pay for airplane freighting. would packing. I lost ten pounds of this galena. Canoe upset, running one of the rapids." , A Garth spoke he put up a hand to cover a yawn. "If you don't mind, Tobln, I'll roll In. It's a long travol to Great Slave." The portly Investor In mines caught the eye of his engineer partner. He spoke to Garth: "You are going outside?" out-thru- st ' I "Perhaps." -' n leHM-nin- llu-mil- l, out-thru- tt "Well, a day or w should make no difference to you. I there a lake or pond near your prospect?" "Out) about four mile long; half as wide" Iluxby repeated his question; "It could be reached how aoon by ttlrt" The fish were no longer nibbling; they were hooked. Garth had only to haul In on hi line. But he took hi time about It lie paused to consider. Not all Dh prove to be desirable catches. Neither Mr, Hamlll nor Huxby looked like a cronk. They had tho appearance of reputable business men. tin tho other hand, neither looked eay. Huxby broke In on Garth's weighing of the rhancta: "Well, Jack. lei have if. "Two or three hour, Garth replied. "I don't know the speed of your plane." "Fan.! type of cabin cruiser. Call It sit hour to gn and return, and the same ii n;.ivj your pro-pecIt's there timt be a trace of gold In your ore I'll teat It while you c! nr sleep," The g'tl poke t? Mr. lUmnb "I shall take a tinp niysolf, I 'ad. Ten hour of flying, with no clisnr to dance off the Scotch, enough to kill a hore." In the net of banding nodule J to to Huxby Garth pa ?sre at the girl. So thai was ti,(? answer llqoor, tuhaiTo. pain!, and ail the res! of liio fl:ipppr-JarroU She stiffened and stared bark at him haughtily. He dropped the nodule Into Huxby's cupped pwlm and croei into the rear room to stretch out en one of Ihe hunks, a s !. po-sd- 1 j I j j (TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE) |