HOSTILE VAIL
LEY
hy
BEN AMES WILLIAMS
Copyright bjr Ben Ames William
v WNU Service.
N.'.'.;..v..V
a r-:r
SYNOPSIS
At a gathering In the village of Llb
trty, Maine, Jim Saladine listens to the
klstory of the neighboring Hostile Val
ley, and the mysterious, enticing "Hul
ty," wife of Will Ferrin. Interested,
be drives to the Valley for a day's
ashing, and to see the glamorous Huldy
fan-In. "Old Marm" Pierce and her
tneteen-year-old granddaughter Jenny
live In the Valley. Since childhood
Jenny has deeply loved young Will
Ferrin, older than she, and who re
gards her as still a child. Will leaves
to take employment in Augusta. His
father's death brings him back to the
Valley, but he returns to Augusta, still
anconscious of Jenny's womanhood and
love. Bart Carey, something of a ne'er-Jo-well,
is attracted by Jenny. The
rtrl repulses him definitely. Learning
that Will is coming home, Jenny, ex
alting, sets his long-empty house "to
rights," and has dinner ready for him.
Be comes bringing his wife, Huldy.
The girl's world collapses. Huldy be
oomes the subject of unfavorable gos
lp in the Valley. Entering his home
nlooked for, Will finds seemingly
damning evidence of his wife's unfaith
fulness as a man he knows is Seth
Humphreys breaks from the house.
Will overtakes him and chokes him to
death, although Humphreys shatters
his leg with a bullet. At Marm Pierce's
house the leg Is amputated. Jenny goes
to break the news to Huldy. Huldy de
clares she has no use for "half a man,"
and leaves. Will is legally exonerated,
and with a home-made artificial leg
"carries on," hiring a helper, Zeke
Dace. Months later Huldy comes back.
Will accepts her presence as her right.
Two years go by. Saladine comes to
the Valley. Bad roads cause him to
top at Ferrin's farm, where he meets
Huldy. Saladine, caught in heavy rain,
takes refuge at Marm Pierce's. Bart
Carey arrives, carrying Huldy, whom
he claims had fallen from a ledge, and
seemingly is dead. Marm Pierce de
clares her dead, but while Huldy and
Jenny are alone, the woman, with her
last breath, asserts Will killed her.
Horrified, Jenny decides to tell no one
of the accusation. She goes to notify
Will. With him Jenny returns to Marm
Pierce's. She has told him of Huldy's
death, and he is bewildered. Zeke
Dace cannot be found. Saladine in
forms Sheriff Sohier, by phone, of Hul
dy's death. The sheriff comes to Marm
Pierce's farm.
CHAPTER IX Continued
16
"Rained hard last night" Bart re
minded him. "They was fresh today.
I gee them myself, when I fished
down."
The sheriff asked: "Carey, you got
any Idea who'd want to hurt Ms'
Ferrin?"
Bart hesitated. "I wouldn't go to
aay," be said. He added, with a deep
reluctance: "Not unless It was Zeke.
Zeke Dace, works for W11L Zeke was
kind of crazy about her, and Jealous
of her." He might have got mad at
her." Yet he added honestly: "But
Will don't 'low rhat Zeke would touch
her."
"Where Is Zeke?" the sheriff asked.
Bart shook his head. "Dunno. No
body's seen him sence."
Marm Pierce came out of the din
ing room. She told the sheriff she
was glad to have him here.
He nodded, and asked slowly: "Was
Mis' Ferrin dead when she got here,
ma'am?"
"As good as," the old woman as
sured him. "She was all broke to
pieces, and bled white, and she died
before I got around to it"
"Didn't come to?"
"No," Marm Pierce told him. "No."
"You look her over, did you?" the
sheriff urged. He explained: "I
guess likely I'll want a doctor to see
Bier, but you might have noticed some
special hurt on her."
The old woman told him: "Why,
Ike was hurt cruel, Sheriff. Looked
Bke she'd fell on her head and side.
There was scratches and cuts all over
her; and a deep bad cut on her neck.
And her face was banged where she'd
kit a tree, or a rock or the like."
"1 mean to say," he persisted, "noth
ing to show. . . ."
The old woman shook ber head.
"Nothing that she couldn't have got
from falling the way she did."
The sheriff sighed as though discour
aged, and Marm Pierce asked: "Too
didn't know Huldy, did you, Sheriff?"
"I've beard tell of her," he answered,
"Guess the whole county has, if if
comes to that," the old woman as
sented. "But job eaa Be for your
self, a lot of things might have hap
pened to a woman like ber." ,
"It was account of ber," Bart re
minded them, "that Will killed Seth
Humphreys. I dunno as I blame him.
I dunno as he went to kill Seth; but
geth had a gun, and Will, with his leg
soot to pieces, be bad to bang on to
Sett's neck or get another ballet In
hit. Bat Huldy was back of that"
n beard she'd left Will, sence." the
Sheriff reflected ;
"She come back," Bart explained.
,"sUM took a shine to Zeke and de
cided to stay." " - ' - - , v
-Will take her back, did her -'
I 'Dunne as he could help it," Bart
confessed; and be said slowly: "Win.
he always stood a lot from her. Sheriff I
He matter what she did, I dunno as
he'd harm her." , He added harshly:
TBut If he did. I wouldn't blame him!"
The eld woman's sharp eyes fixed en
klm, "Ton trying to let ea that Will
kUied her, Bart r she asked, la a mat
ter-of-fact tone. "Speak out He
ser la talking around eornera."
"I'm cot letting on a thing about it,"
r t essowi be. . T trying: to see
. V 1. Cranny, the same as job."
"I can see a-plenty," she said crisply.
The sheriff said, floundering: "I'd
like to talk to this Zeke. Might be
he'd know something. Maybe Will,
he'll fetch him. Looks like I'd have
to talk to that man."
But when Will and Jenny presently
did return, they were alone.
This hour she spent with Will was
for Jenny deeply comforting. Huldy's
accusation had faded Into a cloudy un
reality, like the substance of a dream.
But Jenny now, more than any other
emotion, felt a grievous sympathy for
Will, for the remorse she knew he
must endure; and she strove In small
ways to reassure and comfort him,
not hy words, but by her steady sup
porting presence at bis side.
They tramped in silence through the
woods, the lantern swinging in Will's
hand making the black shadows of the
trees along the way swing like somber
pendulums. They crossed the brook,
and climbed the steep trail, and came
up through the orchard to the barn ;
and while Jenny hold the lantern, Will
let the cows Into the tie-up and se
cured them there. He pulled down
hay for them, and went to the kitchen
for the pail and returned to milk.
Jenny stood silently by, while he sat.
his head against the warm flanks of
the cows, the lantern here beside him
on the floor.
He spoke only once of that which
filled both their minds. "I'd like to
know where Zeke's gone to," he said.
"He'll be around by and by," Jenny
promised him. "It's all right. Will."
But her own words faintly startled
her; since clearly, If Will must live
with the secret knowledge that he had
killed Huldy, the world could never
be all right for him again; and she
wished suddenly to take him in her
arms, and tell him that she knew, and
held him blameless. But she per
ceived that to do this, to confess her
knowledge of his guilt, would be to
open between them a gulf never to be
bridged.
So she was silent ; and later, when
they came back through the wet woods
together, she decided that this was a
matter none should ever know. And
thus resolving, she found strength for
the task before her, and was at peace
again. Huldy was dead. Let It be by
accident The world would presently
forget that Huldy had ever lived.
When with Will she came back to the
little house in the Valley, she bad
somehow stilled her fears.
Till she saw the sheriff there
When they came in, she felt ber
strength drain away. But then, and
by Will himself, her foreboding was
turned into fearful certainty; for Will
said to this man:
"Why, Sheriff, what fetched you
here?"
The sheriff hesitated. "I kind of
hoped you'd bring this Zeke Dace back
with you," he said, evasively.
Will shook bead. "I dunno where
Zeke's got to," he admitted in troubled
tones. "He wa'n't to home." And be
persisted: "But Sheriff, what fetched
you?"
Jenny was breathless, waiting for the
answer. Then Saladine said gravely:
"I sent for him, WllL"
Will stared at Saladine "What for?'
he protested, bewildered.
And then the sheriff said: "Why
Will, the thing Is, It looks to every
body as if maybe Mis' Ferrin dldnt
Just fall off of that ledge. They think
someone maybe throwed her off."
Jenny's throat constricted Strang
llngly. The hounds were on the trail.
As though from far away she beard
Will stammer: "Killed her, you
mean?"
"Something like that"
Will stood with his head bowed. "I
guess not," he said firmly at last
"Who'd do that?"
"I was thinking maybe this Zeke
Dace," Sohier suggested.
But Will shook his head. "No
Sheriff," be insisted. "Whatever did
happen, it wa'nt Zeke. He wouldn't
go to hurt ber." And he continued,
half to himself: "There might hare
been some to hurt Huldy; but not
Zekel Why, Td as soon think I did It
myself," be said.
Jenny felt the shock of a great blow.
Then Bart chuckled; and Will tnrned
to look at him. "What s the matter,
Bart?" be asked. "What's funny?"
"What yon said," Bart told him.
"That's a Joke, WllL I mean, to think
you'd hurt Huldy," he explained, and
he added hotly:, "Mot that anybody'd
blame you I . She needed itf He
spoke to the sheriff. -"Anyone around
here will say the samel"
Will moved a little toward him. "I
don't take that kindly. Bart," he said.
"I dont want that kind of talk from
yon or anybody. Not about; Huldy.
-Not new.? -V, '"'"
4 there eras, briefly, silence; bat after
a moment the sheriff said, half to him
self, la almost sjneratoss tones: . .
. "It's a pity she dldnt come to long
enough to ten what happened to herl"
And It seemed to Jenny suddenly
that this familiar kitchea was very
small, and crowded, and stifling hot
She felt strangled, and her hand flew
to her Hp, and stark terror, choked
her. Thea she saw Marm Pierce
watching her with eyes suddenly keea
and shrewd; and aha felt smothered,
and shrank back Into the corner by
the door.
After the sheriff spoke, there was
silence for a moment; then Jenny
bad a respite for Joe Matthews, the
acdertaker, came out of the dining
room. He spoke to WllL
"Tbewi. Will," he said. "I've done
all rhat needs doing tonight; and If
you want I'll carry her home" He
hesitated, added: "But if you take my
advice, let her lay here tonight I can
'tend to everything a sight better tn
the morning."
Marm Pierce said: "She's welcome
to stay. Will !"
Will nodded. "Well, likely that's
sensible," he agreed.
Jenny, while their attention was thus
turned away from her, opened the door
and stepped out on the porch, grate
ful for the taste of cool, moist air. In
the kitchen she heard the sheriff say
doubtfully: "I guess, Joe, you'll want
to go along home now. I don't know
as I ought to leave yet, though. Td
like to see this Zeke Dace, first But
I wish't you'd bring Doc Harris In the
morning. I want him to look her over,"
When presently the undertaker
came out to depart, Jenny drew aside
out of his way. Sohier and Saladine
crossed with him to where his truck
Jenny Stood Silently By.
stood, spoke with him there. Then
Bart came out, and said to Jenny
casually :
"Hot In there, ain't It" And In a
lower tone: "Don't you worry, Jen I
Nothing to be afraid of."
He too had seen her terror then!
It must have been plain, for them all
to see. But even as she thought this,
she realized suddenly that she was no
longer afraid, and wondered why. And
then, without speaking to Bart, she
came quickly back into the kitchen
where were Marm Pierce and WllL Her,
band touched Will's sleeve, and peace
filled her; and a deep enlightenment
and certainty, like a revelation.
Then the truck departed, and Bart
and Sohier and Saladine returned In
doors. After a moment the sheriff
appealed to Saladine. "Jim," he said.
"Looks like you could figure some
thing out of this business. I guess yon
was the last one to see Mis' Ferrin
alive."
Saladine shook his head. "I don't
see Into It at all," he confessed.
Bart turned to Will. "How about
you. Will?" he urged. "Didn't yon
hear ber screech when she fell? Td
have said everybody in a mile could ;
have heard that It sounded mighty j
lopd to me."
Will shook his bead. "The noise
wouldn't carry up to the farm, with
the hill between, and the trees." He
looked at Saladine "I mind," be said,
"when you went off with Huldy, Zeke
he come out of the shed like be'd go j
along after yon. I stopped him, made I
him stay behind." And he continued
after a moment: "Seems like I kep'j
him there a sight longer'n It'd take
yon to get down to the brook. Sup
posing you dldnt stop any time on the i
ledger --
"I didn't," Saladine said.
There was silence for a moment;
thea Will spoke again, gropingly.
"By the time I figured you'd be
gone," he explained, "I left Zeke and
went Into the house; but wbea It come
on to rain, 1 wondered where Huldy
was. I come oat ea the porch and
yelled for Zeke, but he dldnt answer,
so I went hunting them. I started to
go down the path to the brook. Bat
thea I decided, there wa'n't aay oat la
that" ' Be .added with a glance at
Saladine: - "I sea tracks where you'd
gone down, where your boots had
slipped. . ." f ' -
Saladine spoke quickly. - "Boots?
rve got shoes on. It was someone
else," he Insisted, j.Wt wa'at me." v
Will paid stubbornly: "It was boot
tracks that 1 sea,' Somebody with
boots on had gone down the tralL"
And Bart spoke. "Guess Zeke had
boon on, dldnt her : -.. , ;
Will considered, sad he nodded. iJie
ry." he agreed. "Tee, he did. I mind,
now! ' Be did.",, "r ' ":"?
. The sheriff stirred. "The way It
loo to ate," he decided. 'Zeke's tie
one to find ; and we ain't likely to find
him, long as we're setting beret"
"Nor you can't find him outside,"
Marm Pierce cried sharply. "Show
some sense, Sheriff I You couldn't see
Zeke ten feet away, a night like this,
If he was a mind to hide. Set down.
Use your head, 'stead of your feet! Use
your eyes I"
"What good's my eyes going to do
me here?" be urged.
"There's been enough to see, if yon
wa'n't blind," she told him; and she
looked briefly at Jenny. "Jenny," she
said sharply. "You were almighty
scared a while ago. I think you know
something more'n you've fold. You was
down brook this morning. Did you see
anything, hear anything at all?" Her
tones were Insistent
Jenny, though her heart was pound
ing, spoke after a moment steadily
enough. The way was clear before
her now, all doubts resolved. But she
only said: "I told you I heard some
one talking, In the woods."
Marm Pierce protested Irascibly:
"Nothing In that to scare you I" She
came closer to the girl. "Jenny, I can
see more than most; but I can't see
everything. What was It scared you, a
while ago? When the sheriff said that
about wishing Huldy had come to, be
fore she died? What was It, Jenny?"
she demanded.
The girl smiled slowly, as at some
secret thought.
"Go on, Jenny," said old Marm
Pierce. "Tell the truth and shame
the devil I"
Jenny look at Will's bowed head,
and her smile suddenly was radiant as
the sun. "It don't mean a thing to me
now," she protested softly. "Because
I can see It wa'n't true."
"What was it, Jenny?" the old wom
an Insisted.
"Huldy did come to, for a minute,
before she died," said Jenny then.
Marm Pierce cried In a deep Incre
dulity: "Jenny, she never did!"
And Bart excla'lmed: "She couldn't,
Jenny I Why, she was as good as dead
before ever I got her here!"
Jenny repeated slowly: "She did,
anyway 1" And for a moment she said
no more. She stood near the cabinet
over the sink, where knives and forks
and cooking dishes were stowed away.
Bart was by the door Into the shed.
Marm Pierce was between Jenny and
the stove; and Sheriff Sohier sat In
front of the oven with his greatcoat
loose about him.
Will was beyond the stove, near the
other door, Impassive, waiting.
Saladine, watching Jenny, thought
she seemed in this moment to wear a
mantle of grace. She looked at Will
and ber eyes held bis, and ber tone
was gently mlrthfuL
"She told me you did It, Will," said
Jenny, with a smile on her lips, snd
her glance serene.
Bart uttered a low ejaculation; bat
Marm Pierce spoke In brisk Insistence
"How come yon didn't call me?"
"I didn't want yon," Jenny told be
gently.
fThe more fool yont" said Marm
Pierce briskly, her patience near the
breaking point "What happened r
she demanded.
The sheriff spoke heavily. "Mia
Pierce, yon let ber tell It her owe
way," he urged. So Marm Pierce was
silenced; and Jenny's eyes tnrned
again to WllL The big man shook and
swayed where he stood, as though this
that Jenny had to say had struck him
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Mastiff Is Considered
British Isles' Oldest
There may be older breed of dogs
than the mastiff but not so In the
British Isles for here this dog Is con
sidered the oldest of them all, Its ori
gin dating back to the Sixth century B.
a At that time, writes Albert Stoll,
Jr, in the Detroit News, It was
brought Into Britain by the adventur
ous Phoenician traders and was adopt
ed by the Britons for hunting and la
warfare.
-For years the breed was used to
hunt the larger wild animals aad to
bear baiting but as the centuries
psssed It was adopted as a guardian
for property and aa a canine com
panion for those who fancied the
larger breed of dogs.
Mastiffs may be either fawa with a
dark face or brlndle. They weigh
from ISO to 170 pounds and stand
about 28 Inches high at the shoulders.
According to the American standard at
perfection they should be large, maa
slve and powerful with a well-knit
frame. -The legs ahould.be wide apart
aad squarely set The coat la short
and dose-lying but not too fine ever
the shoulders, neck and back. "
UUcesH al ChMshao : - .
la February, 1920, at the first plea
ary meeting of the Intor-alfied eotamts
stoa aad the Germans, a pretty fares
waa played eat when the German chief
Insisted ea opening the awetiag. Is
aplta, ef the fact that the allies wen
Imposing terms aad the Germans ac
cepting them, .compromise ea pre
cedure had to be -made wherein thi
Uermaa and the allied Mentions en
tered the council room Cs,ixzi.9eC$
V A
A Yuletide Escapade
by
Helen Gaisford
TOOTS reigned supreme In the
Martin household. Except at
Christmas time. Then Toots was
ordered from his favorite corners, and
expressed his displeasure by a switch
of nls tall.
Toots was a big black persian, with
long silky fur and wide yellow eyes. It
was pleasant under the kitchen stove,
where delicious odors of suet and fowl
mingled In the
warn. air. "Get out
of here, ye beast"
shouted Cook, who
was not quite her
self during the hol
idays. "Sure I can't
step but what you're
underfoot"
Toots arched bis
back and withdrew
to the parlor. "Nev
er lose your tem
per", was his atti
tude. "Never sput
ter and scratch ; ex
press your displeas
ure In dignity and disdain."
Beside the fireplace were a atool and
pillow which were peculiarly his own.
Onto these Toots leaped, and curled up
for a snooze. "Oh, no, Toots, darling,"
said Betty. "The tree's going there."
And Toots was picked up under one
arm, and bis stool shoved off to a
cold corner. "You must look Christ
massy, too," Betty cried gayly, and
twisted a red ribbon about us neck,
and tied a bow. Toots squirmed In
dignantly.
"See, Mother? Why, Toots, don't
tear It off! That's our Christinas out
fit" The badge of merriment dangled
Just beyond his reach. Disgusted,
Toots crawled under the sofa.
Now was his chance. Did be dare
attack? The tree, gaudy with bells and
tinsel, seemed to mock mm.
fjuitinnslv. Toots lumped up on the
sofa, sniffed at an extended bough. A
slight breeze stirred, and a goiaen mra
In . the branches quivered. Toots
crouched and sprang.
The tree went down with a swisn.
and was ablaze In a moment Toots
waa surprised and terrified. He clawed
at the door, and nowiea to neaven.
ni noise brouitht the family, and
the blase was soon put out, but not
before considerable. damage naa oeen
itoiu 'Thii tree waa a bean of smolder
ing blackened Umba, and the wall, above
was badly burned.
aaid Rett "It oeels right
off." And then she cried out, for a
secret crypt had been uncovered, ana
the hoarded coins of some oia tenant
were brought to light
Such excitement as the treasure
chest was emptied I - Toots sniffed It
all Inquisitively.
"Toots, darling," cried Betty, "you're
a hero 1" and squeezed hint Impulsively.
nt think. If are hadn't heard him
crying, we might hare been burned
out T house and- hornet- And Toots;
you shall hare a Christmas present" '.
The ' parlor" was tocaea u.r
Toots stool and cushion moved to the
kitchea underneath the' table. Cook
was basting the turkey, i A plate ef
goodies waa offered him, but Toots
only sniffed, He waa tired. He found
hla place under the table and clawed
the pUlow into shape. ; He twisted and
and scratched. He licked his fur Into
place. He settled dowa. ,
At peace with the world, Toots lay
ea his very own pillow aad slept From
under one paw dangled a piece of- red
ribbon.
WtMMwaaMOalML .
1 hi
sv it
'9
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllg
Mother's
Christmas Story
By Alice B. Palmer
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
WAS Christmas eve and the
children had gathered about the
snow white Christmas tree, a
A, s
glimmering mass of Iridescent lights
and Icicles, to listen to that long-promised
story of the Prince and Princess.
"Once upon a time," began Mother,
"there was a tall handsome prince who
loved a beautiful princess. They were
to be married on Christmas eve an
other Christmas eve, long ago.
"The gorgeous castle on the hillside
was ablaze with Christmas lights. The
Yule log was burning and crackling
delightfully and the huge; Christmas
tree was sparkling gaily, But there
were candles, tiny colored candles,
children,- Instead of electric lights.
They were lovely! Everything was
most beautiful!''
"Oh, Mother." whispered little Rose
bud, "I wish I was In that castle right
now. looking at all the pretty things."
"Hurry up, Mother I Then what?" In
terrupted Danny, Impatiently. "What
happened next?"
"Well, the prince and princess were
married and then they all sat down
to the wedding feast Let me see."
mused Mother, "they were all there
all of them, my dears. Right In the
center of the table stood the most
wonderful wedding cake yon ever taw
a gold cake frosted with sliver, and
because It was Christmas the whole
top was decorated with lovely little
bells. You see, nothing was too good
for the prince and princess, for every
one loved them and wanted them to
be happy, and . they were happy so
happy, children."
"Well, then, did they live happy for
ever and ever, Mother?" Rosebud
wanted to know.
"Why, of course they did," shouted
Danny, Indignantly. "Did you ever hear
of a prince and princess who did not?"
"Only a story," pondered Mother,
"Would that I, too, could be made to
believe that twas only a story."
"The prince I" wildly shouted the
children, as a tall man stood In the
doorway. They felt sure they had
found the real prince aa they clamored
for explanation.
"The Prlncel" Shouted Ihe Children.
' V A Tall Man la ihe Doorway.
"Oh. look. Mother I" cried Rosebud.
rLook what th prince brought toys
end dolls aad everything end an a
gold cake trimmed with silver with
bells on if. too. Just Uke the one la the
TVHf uv; i buvwmv sfjt -
the best Christmas we ever had, last
it Mother?" '" i f: --v :- '.
Mother wtilspered, "Tea, dear," aad
then rushed Into the outstretched anas
of her loving husband, the really true
prince who was waning wii
big Christmas kiss. "Aad (hey all lived
happily .forever arter.- wmsperea
Mother, through tears; Oirtsrut -
0 Wwura M-