JANUARY 21. 1343.
CHAPTER XI
Synopsis
Dave Bruce, out of a job, arrives
at Wilbur Ferris' Cross Bar ranch.
Curran. the foreman, promises him
a job if he can break a horse called
Black Dawn. When he succeeds hej
discovers Curran expected the horse
to kill him. A girl named Lois rides i
up, angry with Dove for breaking I
"her" horse. She refuses to speak to
him. even when he uses his savings
to pay off the mortgage on the small
ranch she shares with her foster father.
a man named Hooker. But
when Hooker is shot and Dave is
charged with murder, Lois saves
him from being lynched. Wounded,
she guides him to a mountain cave,
where she thinks they will be safe
from Curran and the sheriff's posse.
A quarrel between Ferris and Judge
Lonergan reveals that Ferris had
killed his partner, Blane Rowland,
many years before. Thoroughly scared.
Ferris takes Curran into his confidence.
When Dave is away from the
cave Curran kidnaps Lois. Still unaware
of Lois' danger. Dave has just
discovered what he believes to be
a human skeleton near the cave. He
is examining the skull.
There was a clean, round hole at
the back, such as a bullet would
have made, and the frontal bone
was mostly missing with jagged edges
about it.
"Yore horse didn't slip, hombre,"
said Dave to the skull. "Yores is a
case of plain murder. Yore partner
shot yuh from behind, the dirty murdering
hound!"
Dave put on his socks and shoes
again and began to reassend the side
of the ravine. Arrived at the top, he
looked at the sun, and concluded it
was already well past noon. He had
told Lois he would be back to see
her around midday.
But when Dave reached the cave
he found it empty. "Lois!" he called.
"Lois, girl, where are yuh?"
The echoes of his voice floated
back mockingly from the cliffs across
the ravine, and that was all.
Then Dave's pupils contracted as he
saw the prints of a man's boots on
the other side of the cave, faint, but
unmistakable, in the ground softened
by the rains.
Here too were the prints of Lois'
little boots, and where they ceased
there was a furrow in the soil as if
she had been dragged. Beyond, the
prints of the man's boots were deeper,
as if he bad been carrying a burden.
It was all perfectly clear and unmistakable,
and told its story only
too well. Cogswell must have got
upon the frail and taken Lois away.
The waddy's face was transformed
into a grim mask of vengeance.
Dave ran back to where Black Dawn
was standing and sprang mto the
saddle. He adjusted his belt, bringing
the holster close to his right
hand. When he met Coggswell, it
would be just too bad tor Coggswell.
Softly Dave edged the stallion
along the trail, peering right and
left for any hidden ambuscade. But
the bootprints had changed to the
prints of two horses' hoofs. If.
Coggswell had set an ambuscade
along the route, he had certainly
not joined it himself.
Dave trailed the hoofprints as far
as the canyon and then lost them.
It was impossible to discover any
signs of thern on the flinty ground.
But Dave was pretty sure Coggswell
had taken Lois to Hooker's cabin,
perhaps to leave her there and
come hack in search of him.
It was an hour after the discovery
that Lois had been kidnapped before
he suddenly saw Hobker's cabin before
him.
No horse was visible, but Dave
dismounted and crept slowly forward,
peering through the undergrowth.
Foot by foot he edged his
way forward. The plaintive lowing
of the unmilked cow came to his
ears from somewhere on the mesa.
Otherwise?nothing. And when at
last Dave entered Hooker's cabin,
he found it empty, with no sign that
anyone had been in it since Lois and
he had left it
Grimly Dave turned the stallion
rAf^o Kanlr .r?L ?l? ?
??V? UUV.O. but t'illiyoiis. I
Again he found the hoofprints, and
again, in spite of casting about in a
wide circle, he was unable to discover
which way the horses had
gone.
The sun was well down in the
west when Dave rode back -toward
Hooker's cabin, reckless now. He
was almost through the scrub when
he reined in abruptly. He could
see the cabin again, and this time a
horse was standing saddled in front
of it.
Listening, Dave could hear footsteps
in the cabin. Someone was
walking to and fro inside it.
Dave didn't dismount this time.
He edged the Black horse forward
its hoofs making no sound on the
soft mesa. Now he was immediately
behind the house. He could hear the
jooisteps inside distinctly. Now he
got out of his saddle and went quickly
around the shack. As he reached
the front angle, he saw Sheriff Cogswell
come out of the door and move
toward his horse.
Dave leaped forward. His attitude
was the crouch of a beast of prey,
IProBII!
31 - >- ? ' *"
y ?v-T>aj,iiW.K.j. r E kTuftts
j his voice a rambling snarl.
"Hold 'em high sheriff, or I'll blow
yore head off!"
Taken utterly by surprise, Coggswell
put up his hands.
"Well, you got the drop on me,
all right, Bruce," admitted Coggswell
"But killin' me won't do you
no good."
Dave stepped forward and relieved
Coggswell of his gun. "You can
\ put yore hands down now," he said.
| "But yo're going to talk quick and
I straight, if yuh want to get back to
Mescal with a nasty mess on yore
shoulders. What have yuh done with I
Lois?"
"Bruce." answered Coggswell, "I
ain't set eyes on Miss Lois since she
rode into town the mornin' of Hooker's
murder, seeing I was knocked
onlrl Irwin' ?-? ----- *'
???j w fui icv. l jruu. {
The declining sun shone straight
into Dave's eyes, showing the haggard
lines of his face. He stared
into Coggswell's trying to read the
truth.
You swear that's true?" Dave cried
suddenly.
"I'm talkin' straight," answered i
! the sheriff. "I rode up here with j
i the idea of campin' out and startin'
\ on a hunt for yore trail in the mornin'.
If someone took Miss Lois away
when you was gone, it wasn't me.
Why, I didn't know where you two
been hidin' up. She ain't hurt bad,
is she?"
"She was gettin' well. We was
goin' to start out tomorrow." And
suddenly the mask of hate vanished
from Dave's face. "I'm believin'
yuh, Sheriff," he said. "But if it
wasn't you who took her away, who
was it?"
Sheriff Coggswell was silent. Dave
met the keen scrutiny of his eyes,
then suddenly handed him back his
gun, and thrust his own into his holster.
"You got the drop on me now,
Coggswell." he said. "I'm trusting
you. You can take me into Mescal
if yuh want to. But I always felt
wiih Unan> T l-.*" -?-J '
j v?.? miew x uiuu i n.111 uiu noOKer.
And I'm askin' yuh lo trust my weird
same as I trusted yores, and ride
with me to find the skunk that look
her away. After that, I'll be ready
lo place myself in yore hands."
Coggswell bolstered his own gun
in turn and gave Dave his hand.
"That goes with me," he said
gravely. Yo'iv right, Bruce, I'm pretty
sure yuh didn't kill old Hooker.
I been workin' on a line of my own,
and I think I'm on the trail. I'm acceplin'
them terms of yores. And in
a few minutes I think I'll have some
evidence. It's in that cabin. Nope,
not Miss Lois. I oust trussed up and
gagged a honibre who was acting
suspicious, after bavin' to kill his
horse."
He led the way into the cabin.
Trussed and gagged effectively on
the floor was the Mexican, Pedro,
whom Curran had sent back to the
Cross-Bar.
"Ain't had time to question him
yet," the sheriff explained. "He
was sorta stunned when his horse
dropped under him. Now we'll see."
He pulled the gag out of the
mouth of the helpless man. Pedro,
who recognized Dave, glared in mixed
fear and fury at him and at
Coggswell.
"Yore jig's up, Pedro," said the
sheriff. "Yo're goin' to come across
and come quick, or yore life ain't
worth a nickel. I'd just as soon
shoot yuh there as I'd shoot a widewinder.
Where's Curran?"
"I do not know," Senor Coggswell,"
protested the Mexican. "I
ride jus' now, back to the range, after
lookin' for shays, and you shoot j
*iij noise ana ue me up.''
"Now, listen, Pedro, it ain't a bit
of use lyin' to me," replied the sheriff,
"because I got the goods on yuh.
I been doin' some watchin' myself
the last few days, and I seen you
and Curran prowlin' around these
parts lookin' for someone.
"I watched you this morning Tide
out into the hills, and I watched
you ride back. When I called yuh,
yuh tried to get away. Now, I'm
putting it up to yuh. Curran ain't
at the Cross Bar. Where is he?"
"I see him last night. I do not
know today. Me and him we look
for this man," Pedro jerked his head
in Dave's direction. "Today I look
for strays?"
"I'm puttin' the question in another
way," said the sheriff patiently.
"Where's Curran got Miss Lois?"
"Senor, I do not see her since that
night she rode away with this man
from Mescal?"
Coggswell drew the six-gun from
his holster and spun the cylinder.
He turned to Dave.
"May as well take this feller
where we aim to bury him," he said. (
"No sense in mussin' up this floor.
There's a place at the edge of the
mesa where the ground's soft,"
He picked up the end of the rope
that bound the Mexican and began
dragging the man toward the door.
"Senor," chattered Pedro, "you
cannot murder me. I did not take
the girl away."
"You've had your chance Pedro,"
"Come on, Bruce, let's get him over
the hill and finish him," he added.
The six-gun jerked upward. A
... ;
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT?EVE!
German Prisoners
r|i
KMr Jf /
. ? i ,> f, ". ij
\ir,i roaiu~. g?i - - ? - -
j. wjiMii ami uurvu);n (Dare
Iwo German prisoners taken in Ti
look on. Major Yarborough is the
vanectl Amcriean forces in Tunisia
scream broke from the Mexican's
lips.
"Spnor?I tell?don't shoot?I tell"
chattered Pedro. "Curran bring the
girl this mornin' to the cabin that
the gold prospector built many year
ago in the blind canyon."
"I know where it is," answered
Coggswell "All right, Pedro, yuh
saved your life. "I'm goin' to leave
yuh tied up here, for which I reckon
yuh'll begrateful to me afterward.
I'll get yuh a drink of water."
Coggswel filled a pitcher and held
it to Pedro's lips, setting it down
beside him when he was through.
He turned to Dave. "Reckon we better
ride," he said. "I got my four
men waiting down below the mesa,
but I don't aim to waste no more
time with Miss Lois in the hands of
that feller."
Dave only spoke once during the
ride. "Sheriff," he said, "you lived
in this district quite some time, ain't
yuh? Ever hear of a waddy disappearing
mysteriously? Course didn't
have to be a waddy. May have been
a prospector."
He described the discovery of the
skeleton in the ravine. "Shot through
A'/otx.
"Sausages for breakfast! Sausages
for breakfast! I can smell
'em!" Small Joe came tumbling
downstairs fastening the belt of his
shorts as he camc. He made a beeline
for the kitchen. Pop was already
sitting at the table, reading
the paper, while Mom held the handle
of the frying-pan over the stove.
Small Joe came close and sniffed
the delicious smoke, wriggling all
over with early-morning joy.
"Belter be thankful for them while
you can still get them." One glance
at Morn's face told small Joe this
was one of her tight-lipped days.
"Not a drop of coffee in the house,
and no sugar left to put in it if there
was. Some war!" Small Joe kept
still.
"Letter for you, son," Pop said in
his quiet voice. Smalt Joe made a
leap for his place at table. There
it was, a private personal letter for
him alone, propped against his milk
glass.
"Hey, Pop! It's from brother!"
Small Joe was pulling the envelope
apart and diving
into the contents,
clj "Hey, look what
he sent me." He
v rH fef passed over an
oblong of thick,
crinkly paper
while he leaned
JIM. \ over the sheet of
? writing-paper.
"A twenty-five
dollar War Bond," Pop said slowly.
Mom turned and looked at it over
Pop's shoulder, with the frying-pan
in her hand.
"Listen what he says. 'How are
you doing, kid? Hurry and grow up
so you can help me slap the Japs.
Aren't you most big enough to get
into the Army? Here's something
for you in your name. Let's the
whole family gang up and help to
win this war."
Pop and Mom were silent. But
small Joe didn't notice that. He
was full of his letter and his War
Bond.
"Gee, Pop, in six years I could
get into the Army, couldn't I, Pop?
Gee, Pop, I want to be a soldier
like brother and fight in this war.
Gee, isn't that bond nifty? Look, it
was issued in Honolulu. It's mine."
But Pop was looking at Mom and
Mom was looking at Pop. There
were tears in Mom's eyes. She
shook her head sharply. Pop
reached out and patted her hand
gently.
"Well, can't let our soldier boy
beat us to buying War Bonds, can
we, old lady?" was all he said.
She shook her head again. "I
guess if he can give up liis job and
. . . and go off to war I can do some
fighting back at home," she said
in a queer voice. Small Joe looked
up at her in surprise. She saw him
looking at her and spoke sharply.
"Well, Joe. We're about ready to
eat. Say grace."
Small Jce folded his hands and
bent his head as he had been taught.
wn ijora, wt* uiuim nice xor mis
food and ail thy bountiful gifts . .
"Amen," Pop said.
"Amen," Mom said. "Now eat
your good sausages."
(Story from an actual report in
the files of the Treasury Department.)
amtii: Say yes. Take your change
in War Stamps. The least you can
do is the most you can buy in War
Bonds. V. S. Treasury Dtptrtmrut
RY THURSDAY?BOONE. N. C.
Taken in Tunisia ;
mmn
headed) ot Seattle, Wash., questions
jnlsia. as Fighting French troopers
French liaison officer with the ad.?Soundphoto.
| the back of the head," he said. "Fel1
ler had fractured his leg some time
up near the thigh. It was all healed
up rough."
"Yuh found him," shouted Coggs-;
; well, turning round in the saddle.;
: "Well, that clears up considerable I
more along the lines I was workin' " I
* * ? I
"It's all right, judge," called Curran.
as Lonergan drew rein suspiciously,
in the way Ferris had done.
"Here's Mr. Ferris and just me and
we're waitin' to talk things over
pleasant-like."
"You don't need to shout my title"
grumbled Lonergan, dismounting
and stalking into the shack. He
nodded curtly to the ranchman and
seated himself upon one of the tree
stumps, waving away Currans offer
of a drink. Lonergan's manner was
still that of a judge, a man condescending
to meet those socially beneath
him.
"What's that noise in there?" de
manded Lonergan suspiciously, as i
Lois, hearing the voice of the new
' arrival, made a desperate attempt to
free herself.
"Yuh can go in and look, if yuh
want to, Mr. Lonergan," grinned the
foreman. "But that's strictly a private
matter."
Lonergan strode to the entrance
1 of the smaller rnnm Me ee?,ia
j make out Lois fastened on the bunk, J
and her eyes turned imporingly upon
his. He hesitated, then swung
back angrily.
"What's that mean, Curran," he
demanded.
"Got on Bruce's trail this mornin\"
answered Curran. "He made his
j BOO
| BUR
j TOBJ
T MAR
4 Closes its sales for
1 day), after by far i
I Boone Market. Wi
f of this section we 1
? market both as to 1
{ erage price paid t
I WE THANK OUE
J I want to take this
r for their wonderfm
1 year for the local n
T farmers for their p
i the success of our n
j Rosi
| MOUNTAIN
getaway, but I nabbed the girl. Was \ t
waitin' for yuh to examine her af-1 E
.er this other business is settled." !
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
, v
MALE HOSPITAL ATTENDANTS; 0
^RE SOUGHT BY CIVIL SERVICE j
11
In a concerted drive to recruit ?
nale hospital attendants lor general ?
ward duty at the St. Elizabeth's \
Hospital. Washington. D. C.. the Di-, t
-ector of the Fourth United States ?
"ivil Service Region announced the I
relaxation of age and physical reauirpmpnlc
for tlioco ~ ' -
1- ? ~ *V W1JVOV. JJUOl UUUC. JThe
salary is S1320 per year. At- s
D. & P. PI
are paying the
WELL- TRIMMED I
BURl
Bring them in?no
D. & P. PIP
Telephone 194
PROTECT YO
by becoming a
REINS-STURDTV
ASSOC!,
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A 25 cent fee is charged upon joir
dues are in effect:
Quar
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I
WATAUGA INSUI
All Kinds oi
We Are Glad 1
E. A. GAULTNEY
Northwestern E
BOONE,
NE'S
LEY
ICCO
!KET
the current season
the biggest season in I
ith the full cnnnerafii
tiave broken all previ
he number of pounds
he farmers for their p
I FARMER FRIEND
occasion to thank the \
I cooperation in makin
warehouses. I particula
atronage>and all othe
larket in any way.
zoe Colen
DUHL?>X WAItLnUl
tooney North Carolina
PAGE SEVEN
endanta may be required to compete
records and make short reports
m the patients under their superision.
Applicants must be 18 or
ver.
Further information and applieaion
forms may be secured from the
Secretary, Local Board of United
States Civil Service Examiners, J.
v. xnorris, at tne tsoone postotftce or
he Director of the Fourth United
Itates Civil Service Region, Nissen
luilding. Winston-Salem, N. C.
Applications are not desired from
lersons already using their highest
kills in war work,
PE WORKS
highest prices for
VY AND LAUREL
-S
limit on quantity.
E WORKS
Boone, N. C.
UR FAMILY
member of
'ANT BURIAL
ATION
. BOONE, N. C.
ling, after which the following
ierly Yearly Benefit
.10 .40 $ 50.00
.20 .80 100.00
.40 1.60 100.00
.60 2.40 100.00
KANCE AGENCY
F Insurance
to Serve You
GORDON H. WINKI.ER
tank Building
N. C.
1 A AMj
ROSCOE COLEMAN I
today (WednesIhe
history of the
)n of the farmers ;,
ous records of the ]
sold and the avroduct.
; 1
S?
people of this area ;
g this the banner
rly thank all the *'
rs who assisted in ;
nan '
JSES. i & 2 1