CAUGHT IN THE WILD || By ROBERT AMES BENNET j WNU Service Copyright by Robert Amee Bennet % CHAPTER VII?Continued i ?13? jlr. Bamill had reacted In his 1>wn way. His temporary friendliness had disappeared. He waa Bgnin the bland, adroit investor In mines who so gen erously presented worthy prospectors with a thousand, and In return took over claims Avorth many thousands. Husby of course had been a hopeless ease. But Garth had fancied there were possibilities In the older pirate. Lllith Ramill, however, was the real disappointment. Though she had done nothing, so far as Garth could tell, to disprove her declared hatred of him, she had seemed more and more to ?show a spirit of fair play. It had led htm into thinking she possessed a true spirit of sportsmanship. l'et now the girl avoided looking at him. Occasionally she gazed rather hard at her fiance and murmured about the hotel at Edmonton. But for the most part she sat in moody silence. The grease that dulled the brilliant blue diamond of her engage ment ring seemed to annoy her. She rubbed at It with a bit of dry moss, between bites at her meat. By the time Garth finished his own half-spoiled meat, he managed also to swallow his bitterness. After all, what else could he have expected? The girl was me aaugnier of Burton Ra xnill?the selfish spoiled daughter of an unscrupulous business sharper. He broke in upon her rubbing of the begrimed diamond: "May I ask you for the salt and tea bags, Mi3s Ramill? , They're as good as empty, I see. But I can refill them for my re turn to the valley." She stared at him, wide-eyed. "Val ley! You?you're going back there?" "To be sure. Why not? You can't suppose I'll abandon all that million In my platinum placer." Huxby's face had gone blank. His agate eyes stared with all their cold rancor. But Mr. Ramill chuckled. "Of course, my dear?the placer. He will be going back to bis placer next spring." The girl did not turn her aston ished gaze away from Garth. "Dad does not understand. I do. You mean now! Yon planned It from the first. All that caribou meat and the?" "Good guess," he broke In. "It has taken a bit longer than I expected to get you out But In my light birch bark, 1 fancy I can make the bead of canoe wat e f before the freeze-up. After that, frost and snow will make no difference. Til have a pair of webs ?snowshoes." The millionaire spoke In place of his wild-eyed daughter: "But, man. the cold?" Garth smiled. "Have you forgotten I told you that I wintered with the Eskimos at Coronation Gulf?" "They have dog teams." "Some of those teams were reared from wolf pups. I might experiment There are several wolf families In the Talley." "You're stark mad! If you think you can?" . Mr. Ramill paused. He listened to what Huxby was muttering In his ear. His frown smoothed out and he again favored Garth with the smile that did not go up as high as his shrewd eyes. "Oh, well, my boy, if you're bound , to risk your life In foolhardy sdved turing, that's of course none of our business." "Quite so," Garth agreed. "If our sixty-forty deal had not fallen through. It would have been your business to do the legal assessment work on the claim. But as things stand, I may as well put In the winter doing the work myself. The metal I sled out with my wolf team should pay enough to buy me a fair-sized freight plane. The millionaire beamed. "Yes?ah? true!" Garth smiled baric at him. "By the *?y, I meant to let you discover for yourselves at Fort Smith the happy surprise I've had all along for you. But since you're so pleased already over my prospects, I'll let you into the secret right now." "Secret?at Fort Smith?" "Yes. I forwarded my papers by the southbound Bellanca before I had the pleasure of meeting you and Miss Ha mill. My claim has been on record for the past four weeks or so." Huxby glared with a sudden change from gloating to cold rage: "You lie! You were going out in your canoe." He was on his feet almost as soon as Garth. His flats swung in blows driven by all the force of his furious anger. Garth side-stepped both, and clipped In a book to the Jaw. Huxby dropped as If hit by a sledge. Yet It was not a complete knockout. After three of four seconds, he sat up. blink ing like a dazed owl, and rubbing the flattened wad of beard on his Jaw. Garth had stepped hark. He said: "Apologize, or get up and take what is coming to yon." Huxby stopped blinking. The daze cleared from his eyes. They took on their usual calculating look. He felt again at his sore Jaw, and replied *ith cold deliberation: "I withdraw the term." Arrogant as was the tone, the words were an unqualified apology. Garth I turned to Lilitb, who stood gazing it him with a peculiar hard glow in her i I blue eyes. He spoke as If nothing I had happened: ? ? "Some of the ashes are now cool enough for you to use. Miss UamllL 1 Rub them on as a mud paste till the 1 potash cuts the grease, then scour with sand, and rinse. Better take your ashes In the blanket, and use It for protection while you do your launder ing. The 6keets and bulldog flies are swarming. You'll find a bit of sand beach just under that clump of spruce." Without a word of thanks, she dragged the blanket to the edge of the nearest outburnt fire and began brush ing the fluffy gray wood ashes upon It with a spruce spray. Her father had been gazing thoughtfully at Garth. He took up his empty foxskin bag. "Come on, Vivian. This is washday. Take Lilith's bag and get your potash." The wolfskin knapsack, with its platinum alloy treasure, had been left attached to the mooring line of the canoe. There was no bag for Garth. He made one by opening the front of his buckskin .shirt and hnnd-lmiitntr wood ashes inside. Lilith went over beyond the spruce thicket with her blanket-bagged ashes. Garth led Mr. Ramill and Huxby to the strip of sand below the "beached canoe. There he showed them how to cheat the buzzing insect pests. In stead of stripping for his laundry work, he muddled his ashes and plas tered the paste all over his body and on the Inside and outside of hi9 clothes. He rubbed in the mess and gave the weak solution of potash lye time to act. After that came the rinsing. He waded out and sat down in the water up to his neck. Thus protected from the* swarms of stingers, he stripped ofT one garment at a time, washed It clean of ashes, and tossed it upon the edge of the beach. Before coming out. he took a luxurious swim In the clear river water. First Ramill and. then Huxby rather gingerly copied Garth's method. Like Garth Side-Stepped Both, and Clipped in a Hook at the Jaw. him, both wound up with a swim. Neither, however, ventured far out Into the vast slow flood of the Mackenzie. With the landing came the comedy The others ended their bathing before Garth. He tread water to watch them Both had wrung out their clothes and flung them well up the beach. The moment they splattered ashore, the waiting swarms of bloodsuckers buzzed to the feast. Huxby cursed, snatched up his half dry rags, and dashed back In, to dress under water. Mr. Ilamlll, however, had no desire to put on wet clothes. He beat at the zlzzing pests with his tattered union suit. It enabled him to get into the leather trousers and coat without being stung more than half a hundred times. Garth's mirth was mixed with ad miration for the mine investor's nerve. Along with this he felt a glow of satis faction over the results of what his rigorous training had done for the once-soft millionaire. Though still heavy-set. the portly gentleman had become something of an athlete in ap pearance. His flabby muscles had been hardened; bis loose Jowls were now firm. His paunch had disap peared. He was lean about the waist and hips, and full-chested. -My word, sir," Garth sang out, "you look fit for the football squad. That ho o-nrih mnrp to von than a dozen platinum claims. At least, you might toss me my buckskins." Mellowed by the bath and swim to a temporary return of friendliness, the millionaire chuckled and came down the beach to fling the sodden garments out to their owner. His loitering afterwards may have been for Huxby. l'et he went back to the dead fires with Garth, when the engineer mut tered something ab<4Gt having dropped his penknife. As the two disappeared over the top of the ice-gouged bank. Huxby sprang to open the wolfskin knapsack, (?"rom It he snatched out a piece of ran cid bear-cub fat, a clip of pistol cart ridges, and his "lost" automatic. With swift, purposeful movements* he rubbed the fat on the rusty pistol ; and began working the mechanism. It Jammed repeatedly. But as the sun melted fat soaked the rust, the action became normal. Still quick yet unhurried, he loaded the clip into the hollow butt and slid back the outer barrel to throw a cart ridge Into the breech. As was of course to be expected Llllth Ramlll had not returned from her own dip and wood-ashes launder ing. Garth sat down beside the tin cup and little aluminum pot to mend a rip In the left leg of his buckskin trousers. Still in a friendly mood, but with shrewd calculation in his eyes, Mr. Ramlll stretched our on his back in the long grass beside Garth. "Well, young man, it appears that the game is played out The Joke on us is that you had the cards stacked. A cold deck, and no stakes up." Garth differed: "Why not put It ac cording to the facts, sir? I offered a square deal?a straight business propo sition. The placer was In on that. Had I not sent out my papers for rec ord. I would hovo Ko/J 1 1 ? - - - v. ..u.t uau mi ic^ai uam to offer in my bargaining." "Why?er? But when I refused your terms, and you refused mine, you said you preferred to play out the game." "My game." Garth qualified; "nor yours. It was you and Huxby who thought you had the cards stacked to win. You fancied it a sure-thing gamble." "But?your game? You had the placer clinched. Why not have said so at once, or at least there at the lake when you turned the tables on us? I might have accepted your terms. At least we could have flown out to gether, instead of going through all these weeks of privation and hard ship." The last words won an amused glance from Garth. "Hardship?privation? You must know several fellow millionaires who call it prime sport to spend a month in the bush." "Sport ?" "Oh, well, if you can't see that side of it. Just recall yourself as you were when I had to hoist you out of the monoplane cabin." That held the millionaire for a lone moment. Then? "Admitting how much I've benefited from your health cure, Doctor Garth, your methods have done my future son-in-law no good. As for my daugh ter, to drag a delicately nurtured lady into the dirt and privations and dan gers of your raw wilds?" "Delicate!" Garth cut in. "Do you know of anyone more hard? The point In her case is that she was only a brittle, harsh alloy. Now she's at least partly tempered Into true steel. I had hopes of still better results from the both of you. But hate and treachery blacken the blood." At the bitter statement, the million aire flushed with anger. He started to turn over on his side to frown at Garth. The movement drew Garth's glance. Above a clump of wild cur rants, less than ten paces distant, he glimpsed the top of Huxby's hat and the outthrust muzzle of the automatic. As Garth ducked forward, the pisrol blared. Garth pitched down on his face. At the same Instant, startled by the shot, Mr. Kamlll Jerked up on his elbow. The long grass had hidden him. Huxby could not have known that his partner was lying so close beside Garth. In the excitement of the moment, he must have thought he had missed hU l-UI nnH that r!r> K Jl mil auu in a i uu. ill n as UUUUUillg U ^ again. He Instantly pulled the trig ger a second time. Knocked over by the shock of the bullet, the millionaire sprawled across the flaccid body of Garth. Even as the roar of the second shot dinned in his ears, the killer saw what he had done. The pistol dropped from his paralyzed hand. He stiffened erect on his knees to glare at that up permost body. It did not move. Before he could recover his wits. Lilith burst screaming from the spruce thicket. Half clad, wet hair flying, she dashed forward to fling herself down on her bare knees beside her father. Under the partly washed off coat of mosquito dope, his face was the same sallow gray as Garth s. She looked up, her eyes black with horror. Iiuxby had risen to his feet. He was advancing, once more cooL She flung out a forbidding hand. "Stop! Keep awayl You?mur derer !" His lips tightened. ?'You're mad, darling?clear off your head. I shot to save your father, not at hfrn. N >. listen?you must listen to me! The d?d rougnneek attacked your father? with the knife?had hira down. At my first shot he dodged. I thought I missed. Your father sprang np Jtist as I fired again. It's the truth." "Truth!" she cried?"truth! You've killed them?both !** A great shuddering seized her? shook her like a fit of ague. Almost swooning, she sagged forward on the body of her father. Huxby advanced with wary quick ness. But at tight of the two m??n ; be bad ahot, be thrust >1 a coat-hidden ( pistol into its sheath. All the back of Garth's sideward turned head was a crimson blotch. What need of wasting powder on a man shot through the head? Mr. Ramill's wound gave blm no less satisfaction, though for an exactly opposite reason. The bullet had struck high up on the shoulder blade, be tween neck and arm. Huxby pulled the thickset body from under Ltllth I and opened the front of the leather coat The steel-Jacketed bullet had drilled clean through and come out be low the collarbone. "Look 1" he shouted his relief. "Tour father?he's not killed, only knocked j out The wound's not serious, so hlgn up through the chest. Same way one of my classmates was shot by a hold up. Take bold. We'll get him Into the canoe and make a quick run down across to the refueling post. That ! fellow Tobln will have a medical kit." The pulling of her father from un der her had let the girl down upon the body of Garth. Huxby's eager as- j surance roused her from the semi swoon. She struggled partly up, to peer at her father, her hands braced upon Garth's lax side. Even as she gazed, the gray of her I father's ^ace became less ghastly. But In place of thp smile of relief for which Huxby looked, she sprang up to flare at him In another outburst of de nunciation : "Murderer! liar! There's his knife where I left It. He did not have It 1 Liar! sneak! He did not attack Dad. But you?you crawled up and shot him ?without warning!" .1-"- ? * >- ? uivjjjicu jus mask. "What of It? The d?d wood louse j lied tirst. He thought it funny to keep mum about baring recorded his claim ?to play your father and me all thin time. Great Joke that. Only it back fired on him. I'm the only pilot who can find the valley. No one can say that the claim we file on is the same as the one he recorded." The girl quivered, tensed, and bound ed sideways. The belt-ax was lying near the knife. She clutched one 1n each hand and straightened erect, her eyes ablaze. "You beast!" she cried. "Go! G?>. or I'll kill you!" (TO BE CONTINUED) Arkansas' Pronunciation Decided by Legislature From 1844 to 1848, Arkansas was represented In the United States sen ate by Chester Ashley, born in New England, and Ambrose H. Sevier, born In Tennessee. Ashley pronounced -the name as spelled, while Sevier always said Arkansaw. Sevier contended that the French got the name from the Indians, and spelled the last syllable "sas" because that was pronounced "saw" in the French language. The Vice President in recognizing Senator Ashley always said "the senator from Arkansas," while in recognizing Sena tor Sevier he said "the senator from ATkansaw." The people were divided on the subject. In 1881 the Arkansas legislature caused the appointment of a commis sion of learned men to investigate the subject, and on the strength of its re port passed the following resolution: "The only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the opinion of this body (the legislature), is that received by the French from the In dians, and committed to writing in the French word representing the sound, and that It shall be #r<*ounced in three syllables, with the final silent and the "a" In each syllable with the Italian sound and the accent on the first and last syllables, being the pronunciation formerly universally and now still most commonly used, and that the pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of "a" as In man and the sounding of the terminal "a" Is an Innovation to be "discouraged." The resolution was passed In March, 1S81. The name of the river, however, is pronounced Ar kansas by many citizens of the state who are careful to call their state Arkansaw. Wreaa is Our Gardes The house wren is one of the most economical birds we have, m friend to be cherished In any orchard or gar den. He feeds entirely upon insects and if ever one did any harm It must have been a mistake. They rear two or three broods of foar or Are table* each In a season. l>addy and Mother Wren both work, taking turns sitting on the eggs or feeding the young. For a few days after a brood has hatched the father Is so proud and happy that his song tumble* all over Itaelf. 1 hen he cools down as hts duties become more arduous. Future Written oe Start The ('ha 1 lean sages stuulcd the heavens to wr'll ffoxn them the ae < crel of the Influence of the heavenly bodl< s on human . ffa . a They fan- i Hed tl \t the future w a written on 1 ? he stars, and that It was possible for the tinman mind to <1 pher the ?croll 1 t!ie h a\ens. F.? it that s tulv of he t.iove e:its> of :h ? heavenly bodies ?'e\el?|?ed the science of as . i he asirol- ,-cr of ore age was tits astro;.' mer of tlie next. gxpfoftijf] Mary Pines for Her Pines (A Chrittmu Story) By Luella B. Lyons MARY MINTER left her home from south of the Mason Dlxon line to marry Jack Howard. That's how she happened to be hating her new home In the North? hating the snow and cold and the fireworks she knew f?he was missing dbwn home that Christmas day. Gaz ing out of the window all she could see were pine trees from four inches to sixty feet in height Cedars! Pines! Spruces! She hated the words, even. They Reached Ann Spear's Hospital Room and Made Explanations. "How about a Christmas tree In the house, honey? Maybe that would help cheer you, dc you suppose? I know you're eating your heart out with lone someness for home this, your first Christmas away." Jack offered, but Mary spurned his sympathy. "A tree. A tree, did you say? Ha ha," she laughed bitterly, "g? out there and on up the Illdge and look at those trees there by the hundreds and thou sands. Imagine they are all Christmas trees If you like." Jack gave op try ing to placate her but he understood? she was at that stage of homesickness. About noon there came a phone call from their nearest neighbor. Milt Spears. His wife was In the city hos pital, 40 miles away, and he had prom ised to visit here there, taking the two youngsters, but about an hour ago Milt had sprained an ankle and now? would Mary and Jack take the kids and go in his place? What difference did It make If It was nearly nightfall when the pair and the two youngsters reached Ann Spears' hospital room and made the explana tions and witnessed the relief that was so evident on the anxious wife's face. "But where did you find such a novel tree arrangement. Mrs. Howard?" Ann's doctor wanted to know the mo ment he sighted the midget Christmas tree Mary had fixed up at a moment's notice. "Why. they are the niftiest things I've ever seen yet. and I d like K..u a "f - A strip of painted tin that was bent to hang over the hem! of a bed Into the shape of a shelf or bracket formed the foundation. A tiny cedar seedling about eight Inches high formed the tree. Mary had stripped a wealth of tube roses she had been , growing, to tie the olossoms all over that midget village tree. Fitting Into a slot on that little tin bracket. If smiled Its blessing upon the gathering. Any Yuletlde you might stop by the Howard Midget Christmas Tree Farm to find Mar? and Ja< k getting a bit of rest from their labors, another glorl r>n? telling campaign over for another year Yes. yon'll find Mary there, for she does get pretty lonely when she rtr st be away from her thousands of ' ved mloget conifers any length of dme! ? \Ya?t#m N?fnloB. t Christmas Crackrr From Franc* The <*iirisfi:iis i-meker came from France about eig ity years ago. Mrs. Durkee's Christmas Gander By Martha B. Thomas MRS. DURKEE had a gander, a fine strong bird with fine strong wings. Wherever Mrs. Durkee went the gander went, too. Some years ago a goose egg had been given to Mrs. Durkee. It was a very large egg and ready to hatch, but a fox had killed the mother goose. It should make, when hatched and grown up, a fine Christmas dinner! , Just as Mrs. Durkee prepared a nest for It, the shell cracked and out popped a head with very surprised eyes. From that moment the gosling and Mrs. Dur kee became friends. She no more thnncht f\t him In terms of roasting than she would think of a neighbor In that unkind man ner. The widow lived alone and as the gander grew to man hood (so to speak), she depended more and more on him. Sometimes at night she would rouse him and he would un tuck his head from his wing and escort her forth under a wintry moon. And now, at the Christmas season. Gander was In full plumage and of a stern temper. Christmas eve she sat alone by her kitchen fire, and there came a knock at the door. A man stood there and before she could speak pushed his way In. Seeing no one about, he ordered her to bring him bread and coffee and meat She brought the man what he aRked, and when he had eaten he said. "Now, give me all your money and I'll go with no trouble." "No," said Mrs. Durkee. "I will not!" Out came his fist and she just escaped a hard cuff on the head. She was angry enough to fight but Instead went to her pantry. MI keep money In a Jug here," she said and Jingled some coins. At the same time she softly raised the window and whistled. "Hey . . . come on with the cash! I'm In a hurry!" "Yes, yes . . . some has stuck In the bottom." She made a great to-do at Jingling. Then she heard a sleepy "Honk Honk!" Her heart lifted. "I hare a few bills tucked behind the cookie Jar," she added. "I,et me get hose." (Anything to take up time!) She came slowly Into the kitchen. "Here Is your money," she said. "Oh. dear, I do believe some one Is at the door. Take It quick!" She threw the coins at the man. and opened the door. In stalked the gander ready for any thing. The man shoved out his foot as If to kick him. In a moment, hissing %nd nipping, the great bird seemed to sur round the man with heavy beating wings. The harder t)te unwelcome guest tried to escape the harder he was beaten back. At last, crouching md fending off the blows, he fled through the door . . . scattering coins all the way. The wad of bills had merely been a piece of make believe. The door slammed and the lonely widow sat down In a chair and laughed and laughed and laughed. The gander itood beside her. looking dignified and preening his ruffled feathers. "I'd rather have you for a friend." cried Mrs. Durkee. "than all the roast flock*, turkeys and geese In the world. Merry Christmas . .! and I'll give you some fresh lettuce this minute." The gander's bright eyes roved about the room and he followed Mrs. Durkee Into the pantry. c W'a?t?rn Newspaper Union Of INTEREST TO 1 HOUSEWIff Cakes and pies will not bum while baking If a sheet of asbestoa Is cut and fitted Into gas stove oven. 0 0 0 If skins peeled from apples when making pies are boiled until soft, then strained Into pie shell before putting in apples, the flavor of pie is Improved. ? * ? To remove Iodine that has been spilled on linen or cotton, make a paste of starch and cold water and spread over stain. Let stand until dry, then brush off. ? ? ? When roasting beef hase oven very hot at first to seal in Juices, then reduce heat, cooking more slowly. ? ? ? In arranging the table for your bridge luncheon you can get the most distinctive effect by choosing a luncheon set of that sheer cathedral linen done in pastel-tinted embroid ery. They are a change from the usual type of Italian linens. ? ? ? Butter and sugar will cream more quickly If a few drops of warm wa ter are sprinkled over them. ? ? ? Silver and gold embroidered scarfs will not tarnish when packed away If wrapped in black paper. ? ? ? A space shduld be left between wa^ls of Refrigerator and dishes cbn taining foods to allow free circula tion of air. This preserves the foods. ? Associated NewsDSDers.?WNU Serrlos. \ DOCTORS^KNOW Mothers read this: mn mri ?:??in nuivm A cleansing dose todag; a smaller quantity tomorrow; less each time, until bowels need no help at alt Why do people come home from ? hospital with bowels working like ? well-regulated watch? The answer is simple, and it's the answer to all your bowel worries if you will only realize it: many doctors and hospitals use liquid laxatives. If you knew what a doctor knows, you would use only the liquid form. A liquid can always be taken in gradually reduced doses. Reduced dosage is the secret of ang real relief from constipation. Ask a doctor about this. Ask your druggist how very popular liquid laxatives have become. They give the right kind of help, and right amount of help. The liquid laxative generally used is Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin. It contains senna and caseara ? both natural laxatives that can form no habit, even in children. So, try Syrup Pepsin. You just take regulated doses till Nature restores regularity. fromptRelklr For sufferer* from the itching, burn ing and irritation of ecsema. pimples, rashes, red, rough skin, itching, burn ing feet, chafing*, chapping*, cuts, burns and disfiguring blotches, may be found by anointing with Oificura OINTMENT Sample free. Address: -Cotfcurm," Dept. 23 S. Maiden. Mam. vffLOST! bad cast ?/ i Constipation! ? Feci fit! Feci Itfca worklwc ~ or pla?inp. En>o? life I A rmpt. ?ur?k piecsawtwar relieve the tlewinp-wp effects ef constipation Is Ip ctiAnse wnwuf-tH CARFIELB TEA-cup wj. \ Drink a cup tonifht En)ov ) tomorrow! (At drug-stores) FREE SAMPLEI (MOTEL* TU CD, toc_ Dmt (O.'teeiuie. ILT. /SWTRTVVSWKV WNT?4 50?85 B? Sure They Properly Cleanse the Blood YOUR kidneys art constantly filter I ing w?t? matter from the blood stream. But kidneys sometimes lag in their work do not act as nature in tended?(ail to remove impurities that poison the system when retained. Then you may suffer nagging back ache, dizziness, scanty or too frequent urination, getting up at night, pufhnest under the eyes; feel nervous, misera ble?all upset Don't delay? Use Doan's Pills. Doan's are especially for poorly func tioning kidneys. They are recom mended by grateful users the country over. Get them from any druggist

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