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Show UTAH THE RICH COUNTY REAPER, RANDOLPH, JACKSON GREGORY THE STORY SO FAR: Arriving simultaneously at the King Cole Ranch, Ann Lee and Cole Cody discovered Old Early Bill Cole had made two Identical wills, leaving them all his money and the Ranch. Ranee Waldron, established at the Ranch since Old Bills death from a wound, questioned mysterious gun-shthe sanity ot Old Bill and the legality ot the wills. Late that evening, Anns Aunt Jenifer stole out and watched Ranee help a strange lurching man out of the house. She awakened Cole and told him what had happened. Together with Cal, the foreman, he trailed the fleeing horsemen to a deserted cabin. Aunt Jenifer, searching Ranees possessions, heard footsteps. Now continue with the story. CHAPTER XIII For one stricken instant the adventuresome Aunt Jenifer felt as though she were paralyzed. The next second she leapt and ran like a frightened deer; her racing footsteps sounded extraordinarily loud in her own ears as she dashed through Waldrons room toward the corridor. Then an even louder sound struck her ears, a man in the yard running faster than she could run, making for the outside door of Tom Goughs room. She gained the door she was heading for and heard the other door snapped open, and heard a mans heavy boots come pounding on. She fled faster than ever, carrying her lamp in one hand, her letter in the other. The lamp chimney was shaken off and crashed to the floor, making a noise, it seemed to her, loud enough to wake the dead, but the flame, giving out more smoke than light, still burned on and showed her dimly the way she must She go to gain her own room. glanced back and saw the man speeding after her; it was too dark back there for her to make him out clearly, but she knew it must be Ranee Waldron, and she could imagine his hard hands choking her to death. By about three yards she won the race. But by the time she could slip into Ann Lees room and get her key into the lock, he was at her door. By the fraction of a second she shot the bolt before his hand touched the knob. Then she sped through Ann Lees room and to the door that gave upon the corridor, and as she heard him coming there, too, she got that door locked. There was a heavy silence, then Ann Lees sleepy voice asking, Is that you, Auntie? What are you doing? Then Ranee Waldron's voice spoke up, saying curtly yet not over loud, Miss Edwards, I think you had better let me come in. Or, if you like, you might step out here and give me a word of explanation. Not tonight, Mr. Waldron, thank you, said Aunt Jenifer with creditable calmness. Ann Lee sat up in bed. she whispered. What is it? What has happened? Again Ranee Waldron spoke, more sternly this time. Miss Edwards, I wont stand for this sort of thing. You come out here and give me a good explanation or Ill smash your door down and come in. Aunt Jenifer told her pat little lie then. I still have Cal Roundtrees gun, she said quietly. Mr. Waldron, Stick your ugly mug in here and Ill shoot it off. Ill bust your door down, I tell I know you you, said Waldron. havent any gun. Cody pitched it out into the patio and I saw Round-tre- e pick it up and holster it and carry it off with him. Going to open up? No. Not on your life. And if you try it, Ill yell my h?ad off, and Ive got a voice thatll call the hogs home a mile ; and the Cole Cody you mention will be here like a shot and will work on you the way he did this morning, only Ill bet my bustle hell do a better and more lasting job this time. Thats something to fhinlr about, said Waldron, and sounded reasonable and thoughtful. Then he fell silent. A moment later sne could hear his footsteps, moving away. By now Ann Lee was thoroughly frightened. She was sitting up, the bed covers clutched up to her throat as though for protection. He wont come back, Im sure of said Aunt Jenifer. Yet she it, wasnt sure, and he did come back. I am going to shoot the lock off your door or Ill go get an ax. You had better open up. As for calling that Cody hombre, its no use. Ive been to his room and hes not there. The chances are hes no nearer than Bald Eagle. Ann Lee whispered to her aunt, ! That isnt true! But Aunt Jenifer nodded and drew down the corners of her mouth. I'll give you about two minutes more to think it over, said Waldron. "Thats because if I go shooting yoUr lock off, Im apt to wake that nosy Roundtree. Ill go to the kitchen and get a hand-aThey listened for his departing footsteps and didnt hear a sound. So they quite naturally decided that he was still standing before their door, trying to trick them into sticking their noses out when hed be ready to pounce on them. But he had tricked them in another way. x. What he had actually done was remove his boots, set them down gently and hurry in his socked feet and to the kitchen, get the hand-a- x return. The next thing they heard was his voice, at once angry and mocking. Fooled you that time, my pretty ladies, he jeered at them. I pulled my boots off and made the trip, and here I am back with the ax. You had your chance to run, but its gone now. Listen to this. The hand-a- x crashed into the solid oak of the door. A voice, cool and impersonal, spoke out of the darkness, for it was dark where Ranee Waldron stood; he had left his lamp in his room, making his way by striking Want to shoot it out in the dark? Or get out of here? an occasional match. The voice, cool and deliberate as it was, sounded like that of a man whom it would be just as well not to antagonize, the voice of Cole Cody, just now arrived in silence. The words were, merely, Whats going on here? The answer came quickly enough. Oh, Cole! God sent you to us! That horrid Ranee Waldron is trying to break our door down! I cant see you, Waldron, said Cody, his tone as steady and deFrom your ax liberate as before. work I can guess pretty close where you are, though. Want to shoot it out in the dark? Or stick your tail between your legs and get out of here? Ranee Waldron took his time in deciding how to answer. Shooting it out in the dark, Cody, he said after due thought, is sheer luck. I havent been over lucky of late; if its the same with you Id rather take you on by daylight. Suits me fine, said Cody. Ranee Waldron dropped his ax. His gun was in his hand as he said, All right; Im taking your word for it, and started back down the corridor to his room. Then Bill Cole Cody stepped along through the darkness toward the rooms where Ann Lee and her aunt were imprisoned. He, like Waldron before him, struck a match or two. Arrived at his destination, he said, Will you ladies open up to me? Its in the cards, I think, that I have a word with you. It was Ann Lees swift hand that unlocked the door; Cody, his gun still in his hand, since he trusted Ranee Waldron in nothing, made no move to cross the threshold. His eyes, smoldering under his dark brows, took in all the loveliness of the trim little figure, before him, gave no hint of his admiration, passed on to Aunt Jenifer. Do you care to tell me what Smart Boy know its Teacher Why, Bobby, do you Mandy Dont to mean in believe ghosts? say you wouldnt like to ter wrong Marcellus Ah dont believe in be President? Bobby Not just now. Id rathem. Ah wouldnt trust a ghost as er wait until things cool down a ier as Ah could see him. No Relief There W.N.U. RELEASE GREGORY he asked. the ruckus was all about? SpeakIt might be a good idea. added. he to Jenifer, ing pointedly You were right in what you told me a while ago. Cal Roundtree and I have found out a thing or two. Will you step in, Mr. Cody? asked Aunt Jenifer. You re right welcome. Id be glad to do so, maam, said Cody politely, and stepped briskly into Ann Lees room. Aunt Jenifer closed and locked the door and wasted no further time all giving Cole Cody, with Ann Lee ears to take it in, her adventure of the night. She even handed the Jenkins letter to Cody who read it and then stood there frowning at il I dont know what to do about it all, he said at last. This letter found in his room, and the fact of his having hid a wounded man in his room all day, comes pretty close to pinning Mr. Ranee Waldrons ears back. He A man hid in the house all day! gasped Ann Lee. A wounded man? Tell me about it! Its my notion, said Aunt Jenifer tartly, and I reckon its Cole Codys notion, too, that Ranee Waldron and the man hes been hiding, are the two that held the stage up yesterday. Right, Cole? Cody nodded. Right, Aunt Jenifer. And more than that, Cal Roundtree feels certain that Tom Gough thats the man Waldron has been hiding out Is the man who shot old Early Bill. If all of us are right in our guesses, Wed better watch our steps. But if we round these two up and hand them over to the sheriff, what can we actually prove against them? Weve got scraps of evidence, but its mostly guesswork at that. Try a man for murder and let the jury find him innocent, and you cant ever haul him into court again. Thats the law. If by some off chance he thought that under the circumstances a contrite Ann Lee would break down and plead to be forgiven, he didnt as yet quite know his Ann Lee. She kept her eyes down and her hands clasped before her, and said meekly, Perhaps, Mr. Cody, that the shot you received this morning was sent by Providence to remind one that the spirit of man should never be proud, whereas if you stood out there in the lamp light and Mr. Waldron popped a bullet into you, it would probably only show that you are a bigger fool than he is. Aunt Jenifer said crisply, Sit down, Mr. Cody. Seems as though youre always to save our bacon from falling into the fire. Lets have a bit of a war talk, shall we? Auntie! Ann Lee glared at Miss Edwards, using one of the highest-grad- e glares she kept in stock. For this war talk of yours hadnt we better step into your room? This suits me fine, said Cody, and sat down. There is merit in my nieces sugshe said. gestion, Mr. Cody, Youll note if you look about 'you that her room is in some disarray; you see the dear child had already retired and was fast asleep when the fireworks started. My room youll find as spick and span as I always am. This way, please. So the three went to the adjoining room and sat down, Ann Lee having returned to her own for the extra chair needed. Now for the war talk, said Cody. He reached for tobacco and papers. Cal and I figured the whole thing out about as you do. Cal thought it might be a good idea to hang the two of em right away, and save bother and fooling around. Maybe he was right. Yet come right down to it we dont really know a thing about either Ranee Waldron or Tom Gough. But I cant see much to be done on it tonight. Its kind of late and me, for one, Im clean tuckered with the shooting-u- p this young lady handed me and the ride tonight. Suppose we talk this over, getting Cal in on it, in the morning and maybe sending for the Judge and Doc Joe to help give us a steer? Ann Lee looked her relief; Aunt Jenifer nodded and said vehemently, Mr. Cody, I want you to stay near to tonight. Ill sleep with Ann Lee, and you take my room. Wont you-a- ll ; bit. Took It and Left Unselfish So you didnt marry John because of your mothers advice? Mrs. Tiltsnoot Why are you Yes, she gave him so much of leaving us like this, Nora? it that he stopped calling. Nora Indade, an me reasons These days youve got to dig are philanthropic, mum. Oi want to give some wan else a chancet your garden. You cant just turn at th joys o livin wid yez! mind. in t over your V j TO MAKE I? 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Getting ready to perform his final and greatest feat, the local amateur magician stepped out to the edge of the platform and said: For the purpose of my next trick, which I assure you will be a good one, will some gentleman in the audience kindly lend me his hat? Will you, sir? he added persuasively to a man in the front row. But the man in question clutched his hat firmly with both hands and shook his head. I will not, he retorted indignantly, not until you return the lawnmower you borrowed last rubber-weste- In their search REGooflrichl summer. it In addition to serving Kellogg's Com Flakes for breakfast, and as "meatless meals'use them to extend your meat. In meat loaves, Hamburgers, casserole dishes, etc., they blend pexfedly with meat flavors. Recipes are on the Kellogg's Com Flakes package. FOODS, TOOI SAVE you? Cody rose and bowed; it was a rather graceful bow, thought Ann Lee as she and Aunt Jenifer rose CORN also. They passed to their room; he stepped after them to the door, closed it gently and said a very quiet, Thanks, maam. And good night, ladies. (TO BE CONTINUED ) E FLAKES tm sis Mod's Com Flakoo an KorodtoWlOLE SRAM VALUES nsrnifisfl wiTrusiwa r. otTNamie (Vitsmls Bi), Niseis sad Ira NH rn 0fu6M IMNN, SHIM INK StfMOM |