FIFTH INSTALLMENT
SYNOPSIS: Slim Loyale is
In the clearing a fire glowed and
over it crouched a tall, leathery
faced old timer.
Slim Loyale was. trembling as he
left the prison behind him.
paroled from prison after serving
18 months for a crime he did not
commit. He retains to his Circle
L ranch to find his father dead
and sinis.ter farces at work, try
ing to make him violate his pa
role so that he can again be rail
roaded to prison.
The Brockwell’s and their gang
are plotting to gain possession of
Circle L ranch and the property
of Mona Hall, a neighbor and
lifelong friend of Slim Loyale.
Slim discovers that Sheriff
Starbuck has joined that plot
against him. With the help of
Dakota Blue and his cowboys,
Slim Loyale defies the land
grabbers to do their worst.
He only knew that he had this
hated fellow where he wanted
him, and that a keen„ savage
joy flooded him every time his
flailing fists found their mark.
He was insensible to the fact
that Mona was tugging and cry
ing at him. And even when Abe
Fornachon at the frantic behest
of Mona, grabbed Slim by the
shoulders and dragged him from
his prey, Slim still fought.
But the foreman was power
ful. Between him and Mona,
they finally got Slim into :
chair, where Mona retained him
by the simple method of sitting
on his lap and wrapping both
arms about his neck, at the same
time pleading with tearful words.
“Slim!” she cried- “Slim, vou
don't know what you are doing.
Thev'll take you back—back to
Jarillo.”
\ 1 . tA _ . . _ 1 _ .. 1 111_
- 1UV. Ui XlcLV.1 1UU, VV 11W HO.V1 UC.V.U
leaning over Leo Brockwell, se
curing his guns, now looked up.
There was a queer pain in Abe’s
eyes as he watched Nona.
“Not this time they won’t
Miss Mona,’’ he said quietly.
“Remember; if anybody goes to
askin’ questiosns, it was me who
hit Brockwell—not Slim.”
These words, more than any
thing else, served to quiet Slim.
Suddenly the hard-strung taut
ness went out of him and he
sagged wearily. “I—I’m sorry
Mona,” he panted. “I reckon
I shouldn’t have paid no atten
tion tc him. But I’m all raw
inside, an’ that dawg drives me
locol Abe, I’m shore findn’ out
who ni}' friends are. However,
I cain’t let yuh take the blame
on yore shoulders.”
"Yuh shut up an’ be good,”
growled Abe gruffly. “Brockwell
had it cornin’ to him. Was I in
yore place, I’d a been just as
red-eyed.”
With none too gentle power,
Abe dragged Leo Brockwell
erect and slammed him into a
chair, Leo’s eyes were glassy and
his head rolling, but conscious
ness was returning. Slowly the
light of complete comprehension
showed in his eyes, and his
bruised, swollen face twisted
into a mask of hate and rage.
“When Starbuck hears of
this—of this,” he gasped, “yo’re
all through, Loyale, yuh damn
ed ex—”
Abe Fornachon shook him
roughly- “Best thing yuh car
do is close yore mouth an’ keep
it so, Brockwell. If Starbuci
comes snoopin’ around here I’ll
tell him it was me who whaled
yuh, not Slim. Now yuh take
yore rotten poison off this ranch
an’ stay off. I told yuh some
thin’ ; get goin’.”
Leo Brockwell went, with Abe
Fornachon in close attendance
As the door closed behind them
Mona awoke suddenly to the
somewhat embarrassing positior
she had taken, and slipped a
way from Slim, faint color whip
ping through her cheeks.
Slim did not appear to notice
her confusion. His head was
bent and his eyes staring a1
floor. “Mebbe it’d been best ii
he had plugged me,” he saic
heavily. “Seems like all I’m good
for now is to be a liability tc
my friends. Shore, they cain’i
pack my load forever. Better 1
reckon that Starbuck should take
me back to Jarillo.”
Mona stamped her foot. “Stop
that kind of talk, Slim Loyale
'O'
You’re no quitter. You've got a
hard fight ahead, but it’s worth
while, isn’t it? You see how your
real friends feel about it. They
are willing to back you to the
limit, believing in you utterly.
And if you don’t do your part
you are throwing them down,
rendering their faith in you a
worthless, empty thing-”
Slim’s head came up slowly.
"Yo’re right, Mona,” he agreed
grimly. “I never guessed what
real friendship meant until now.
Shore, I’ll play the game. Da
kota Blue tells me that Leo
Brockwell has been hangin’
around yuh a lot. That don’t
mean yuh care in particular a
bout him, does it?”
“Does it appear like it?” she
retorted. “No, I don’t care for
him; I should say not. lie gives
me the shivers, always did. But
I’ve got to get money from
elsewhere, things have been go
ing so bad for me. And I’ve
been tolerating him merely to put
ever this sale of stock that Abe
was taking with him about. I—
I guess it’s all off now.”
Mona shoulders sagged a lit
tle wearily. Slim stood up and
went over to her. “My friends
ain't haltin’ at nothin’ to help
me,” he stated quietly. “An’ I
ain’t gonna halt at nothin’ to
"Slim,” she cried, “you don’t know what you are doing.
They’ll take you back to Jarillo.’’
help them. How much money
do yuh need? Yuh can have all
I’ve got.”
Mona’s eyes grew a little mis
ty- “I could use five thousand
dollars very nicely, Slim,” she
acknowledged. “But I won’t take
a cent from you. You may need
it yourself, later. Courtney and
his gang may start in rustling
you to pauperership any time,
the same as he has me.”
“Courtney!” exclaimed Slim.
“Yuh mean Flash Courtney
from over past Battle Moun
tain?”
Mona nodded.
Slim was silent, thinking
“Yeah,” he muttered finally, “it
could be done. Flash Courtney,
eh?” He looked at Mona. “How
come yuh ain’t been able to fight
them off? Have yuh taken it up
-with Jigger Starbuck?”
i Mona shrugged. “I’ve seen
; .Starbuck about it, but so far he
j hasn’t done a great deal. And
'because of lack of funds, I
j haven’t been able to keep any
I thing like a full crew for the
past year.
“You know how Dad got rop
;ed in on mining stock deal. When
die died he left a lot of debts
! Those whom he owed money tc
weren’t very patient about it. Il
got to where I couldn’t stand
being haggled at any longer. Sc
I borrowed five thousand dol
lars and paid off all of those
old debts.
“I thought that owing the
money in one lump sum to the
right sort of a person would en
able me to get more time and
pull through. But I find it was
merely robbing Peter to pay Paul
This sale I was dickering wit!
the Brockwells for, would have
helped some, but T imagine it was
just a matter of stalling off the
inevitable a little longer. T’rr
afraid I’m going to lose mj
ranch, Slim.” Mona’s voice was
chocked and teary as she fin
ished.
“Who’d yuh borrow thal
money from?” asked Slim.
"Prom—from the lawyer ,|
George Arthur-”
"George Arthur!” exploded
Slim. “Why he was the lyin'
polecat who sold out me at my
triai an’ let ’em railroad me for
somethin’ I never did. I didn’t
think yuh’d have anythin’ to do
with him after that, Mona,”
Slim’s words were bitter.
"I don’t think you understand,
Slim,” she said wearily. “I was
desperate. I had to get the
money somewhere. Mr. Arthur
was the only one who would loan
me that much on a straight
mortgage. Remember, Slim; it
was a case of fight to live. I
had no other recourse. Dad’s
creditors gave me sixty days to
produce the money before they
called a sheriff’s sale. In my
place you’d have done the same.”
“But Arthur ain’t givin’ yuh
a whole lot of time,” argued Slim
roughly. “If yuh’ve got to sell
off yore stock to keep up with,
his demands, he must be hound
in’ yuh.” i
Mona lifted her hands pro
testingly. “Please, Slim,” she
begged. “Please don’t use that
tone to me. I’ve been so gor-;
geously happy since I’ve known!
you were coming back. I felt
at last I had a shoulder to lean
on that was trustworthy.
“Did you ever stop to figure;
what the interest on five thou
sand dollars at seven per cent
amounted to? Add that to my
other expenses and you'll under
stand why I want to sell some
of my stock-”
The note of tearful misery in
her voice made Slim quite hum
ble and contrite. ‘‘I'm sorry,
A Iona; I'm on edge. Shore, yuh
did right all along. But listen to
me; don’t yuh go to sellin’ an
other haid of yore cattle. I’m
gonna see George Arthur to
morrow an" I'm payin’ him every
cent yuh owe him. Yes, sir, I’m
An’ if yuh ever try an’ pay me
one cent of interest, I’ll—I’ll—
why I’ll cuff yore ears for yuh.”
lie grinned boyishly.
Mona smiled in return, but
shook her haid at the same
time. ‘‘That’s dear of you, Slim.
But you mustn’t do it. I’d feel
terrible, owing money to you.
And I’ll make out some way or
other. I feel pretty confident of
that.”
Mona’s more spirited tone did
not fool Slim a bit. He saw
through it and understood the
valiant courage of this slip of
a Western girl. Without kith or
kin she was waging a lone-hand
ed, losing battle against big odds,
and she was courageously fac
ing the ultimate. Slim’s eyes
softened as he watched her.
Little Spartan, that’s what she
was
“We won’t talk about that
any more,” he drawled. “One
thing is plumb certain, though;
yuh ain’t ever gonna lose yore
ranch. Whether yuh like it or
not, Mona, I shore won’t stand
for some slick jasper like George
Arthur forclosin’ on yuh. That’s
final. Now cheer up; let’s be
happy for a change.” He gave
her a comforting pat on the arm.
Strangely enough, they did
fall into channels of easy range
gossip. There was much that
had happened while Slim had
been away. Folks had died;
others had married; babies had
been ushered into the world
just homely gossip that did a
lot for them both in easing them
and cheering them up. When
Slim squeezed Mona’s hand and
left, some two hours later, he
was humming happily to himself.
It was good to be back again.
As Slim Loyale headed home
ward through the velvet night,
he had already made up his mind
as to how he would ward off
the cloud that was hanging over
Mona Hall’s head. The first
thing on the following morning,
he promised himself, he would
ride into Pinnacle and hunt up
George Arthur.
Then he would buy up the
mortgage on the Dot H Dot if
it cost him a thousand dollars
more than the amount of the
note. He'd say nothing to Mona
about it. When she finally did
learn what had happened, there
would be nothing she could do.
Slim grilled to himself- Pie
knew Mona would be as mad as
hops, but she’d get over it.
A couple of miles drifted back
under the steadily thrumming
hoofs of his bronco. He was
still engrossed with thoughts and
ninnc i A1 rvtm \xrV»An
out of nowhere it seemed, a
mounted figure rose before hint
in the trail. Slim jerked erect,
wary and suspicious. Uncons
ciously he reached to his thigh,
only to realize that he had left
his guns at home.
“Pull down, Slim,” came a
husky undertone. “Shore an’
there’s dirty work abroad to
night. Xot another step unless
vuh’ll be after wantin’ a coward
slug in the ribs.”
“Roy!” exclaimed Loyale.
“Roy O'Brien, what in blazes are
yuh ridin’ around at this time
of night for?’’
Roy swung his mount close be
side Slim’s. “Devil a bit do yuh
worry about the why an’ where
fore, lad.” he answered. “Pm
swappin’ hats an’ broncs with
yuh now.”
Without waiting for the amaz
- ?>J<)
j
Trvi/ a blessing on your hec,. i om-ol, the ntfw
shampoo discov y which fakes drab, sickly hair
and transforms if to a bright and flattering halo.
Fom-ol is an amazing foaming oil shampoo, superfine
and non-irritating to the most tender skin. Fom-of
leaves your head clean and your hair glowingly
healthy. Forn-ol is so economical; a little goes a long
way. Ask your druggist for the regular 50c size. Or.
write tor a generous trial bottle, err'~':- ’■',c to
cover packing and postage.
j i». . . <i than a shampoo — a treatmentI
HBCBJWBBOIIIBaaHBaBaiBBBBnBUman
j J C' me., 132 West 46th St., New York, N. Y.
| * enclose 10c for one trial size bottle of Fom-ol.
I ■ Nome_———————__
| Address___ ~
LCit* --—-----State_—
OMannKnieiRix; smansnBaBBHvdl
Modern Women
Painting exotically colored
deep sea flora and fauna is
something that interests Miss
Else Bostlemann, who has as
sisted Dr- W illiam Beebe in his j
explorations of the depths of!
the ocean. Miss Bostlemann
uses an iron music rack to which i
she fastens her canvas and her!
paint brushes are tied to strings;
and lowered from a boa-t. When
she wants a certain kind of
brush she reaches up and finds
ed Slim’s consent, Roy reached
over and swept off Slim’s cream
sombrero, replacing it with his
own roll-brimmed black one.
Then he swung to the ground.
“Git off’n that gray hoss of
yores,” he ordered. “Off I say,
an’ scramble up on this bay o’
mine. Then do yuh turn north
off the trail a bit an’ be after
goin’ home in a roundabout
way.”
Still bewildered, Slim slid to
the ground, but he did not relax
his grip on the reins of his gray
gelding- “What’s the meanin’ of
all this hocuspocus, Roy?” he
insisted. “Open up or I don’t
move a step.”
Roy swore softly. “I tell yuh
there be polecats an’ dirty spal-1
peens ridin’ tonight, lad. ‘Tis yuh
they are after. Unless yuh lis
ten to old Roy, yuh’ll never git
home alive. But we’ll be after
foolin’ them.
“Do as I say. Go north to
the town trail an’ then home.
I’ll wait here an hour to give
you plintv of time. Then I’ll
be drunk an’ singin’ loud, so it’ll
seem. They’ll know who I be
an’ they won’t be after bother
in’ me.”
(Continued Next Issue)
it dangling above her head.
* ,* * I
A costume worn by Mrs.
Grover Cleveland when she was
our “First Lady” and in which
she appeared when hostess at a
White House Ball in 1894, was:
displayed recently by Mrs. John
H. Amen, daughter of the late
President of Mrs. Cleveland.
The dress is of rose and green
brocaded silk with rose velvet
trimming on the bodice. Mrs.
Amen, who was Marion Clevel
and, appeared with several other
society women ir. costumes of
the “gay nineties” at a charity i
fashion show in New York. j
* * *
Miss Sally Clary, sculptor,
taxidermist and hunter, says
she holds the world record in
lion shooting, having killed two
lions in two minutes with two
shots. She is a well-known ex
plorer and her trophies are nu
merous, including the skins of
the two lions and heads, horns
any many other hides she
brought back from Africa. She
keeps her aim from going bad
bv practicing in shooting gal
a Laxative
Thousands of men and!
v.-siueu know how wise it‘is tcj
t3 r'acS-Brauglit at the!
first sign cf constipation,!
The;;* like the refreshing relief!
it ruing. TIi»y knew its!
I.'mely use may save them;
item feeling badly and pcs-j
sibly losing time at work from!
sickness brought on by eon-j
slioation.
If you have to take a laxa-j
tire occasionally, you can
rely on
BL£C&9Ef
A GOOD LAkATIVU
cries.
* * *
The art of bookbinding has
•cached a high point of beauty
md excellence through Miss
Marguerite Duprez Lahey who
aas encased many of the trea
sures of the Pierpont Morgan
Library. Miss Lahey gfoes to
Paris annually to select fine lea
ders for her work.
Be Ready For
EMERGENCES
Many an outing is spoiled by |
annoying, aggrevating head- §
aches. Here is a suggestion. I
Every large package of Dr 0
MILES ANTI - PAIN PILLS 1
contains a pocket size case that I
holds six pills. Carry this, and I
leave the large package in your |
medicine cabinet.
DR. MILES ANTI-PAIN PILLS
are recommended for pain re- ]
lief in
Headache, Neuralgia, Mus
cular and Periodic Pains.
They taste good, act quickly,
do not upset the stomach.
Your druggist sells them.
Regular package 25 for 25c. i
Economy package 125 for 51.00. \
I
I
I
IT IS
j
CONVENIENT AND SIMPLE/ i
f
An electric range is convenient and simple as well as being
automatic. Any housewife can easily operate her electric
range the first day it comes into her kitchen. The out
standing feature of electric cookery is its automatic heat
ing controls. You simply set the controls at the tempera
ture desired . . . leave your kitchen, come back at the set
time and you will find your cakes, roasts or any other de
licious food you might have been preparing properly cook
ed just the way you want it.
Just think of the economy, the safety and the pleasure of
knowing inat you are no longer faced with baking failures,
over-cooked meats and improperly cooked foods. Discover
today how easy it is for you to have this modern cookery
in your kitchen. So many thousands of women 'have al
ready discovered this new freedom from kitchen worry and
drudgery through the use of electric cookery. Come in and
let us show you how you can h a v e an automatic electric
range in your kitchen.
POWER COMPANY