'Jhe GIRL J-rom\ ' Jhe DOUBLE R S^BY BETTY 5LOCKLI NGER ? , I CHAPTER XII I When Ralph Howland went to "war, his sister, “Rusty,” was left in charge of the ranch. Soon black market operators got busy and slaughtered some of her cattle. She called Laduue Decker a neighboring rancher, to come over, but he laughed at the idea of gangsters and proposes to her. Rusty turned nim down. She stopped at the home of Dr. Her bert Westmore, a veterinarian for whom she had great admira tion, and while there is told that her Uncle Jed has been shot. She hurries to see him in I he hospi tal. Decker proposes to her for the second time and warns Rusty against Dr. Westmore, saying if t I j The Picture |i ! of HEALTH |l l i I TT’Sa picture we all like to { J x see—and be. But too often I we neglect the greatest of our I assets—our health. If you, or some member of your family, are "not so well," consult a i physician without delay. And j follow his wise counsel in | •very respect. He will ap* | prove, we believe, your ac tion of bringing his prescrip tions to this ethical pharmacy j where skilled pharma- I cists give their undivided | attention to compounding. { I ■IOUSER DRUG Co! I REllABIFe PRESCRIPTIONS she does not call him off he Deck er, will have Westmore put in jail. Decker casts supicion uupon Westmore’s character and activi It was the third day before Rusty found time to embark on iier first venture, but not one i.ioment of tf.e preceding days nad been given to calling Doctor agreement. On i.he afternoon of the third day, she saddled the now recover ed babe whistled up Mannys nogs and set forth. “The idea,” she told the dogs, “is to pick up the scent of cattle, just as Manny has taught you to p.ck up the scent of the milking held. Then I follow you.” It was late afternoon before the dogs, now far ahead, began a li anno barking. Rusty put Babe into a gallop. The dogs were sur rounding something. A Double R She roue up, called off the dogs, and for a mordent grasped the pommel of her saddle while the cliffs of the Nopocos danced dizzily before her sickened eyes. it simply couldn't be. Not on her ranch. It could not be, yet it wa.'. Before ner, too weak to ri i or even dip horn at the dogs, stood an emaciated steer in the last .stages of anthrax. ."Back liabe, sue ordered. And ■ ■> the dogs, “Get home with you. . . . Now, steudy, girl; we have to do it. . .” Before her was the drooping head o! the mortally sick steer, '•he di ew her revolver. “iiei - goes,” she said stoutly— ind shot. •'"■her sluggered, then fell to the ground and lay still. Cautiously, Rusty rode closer, looking down to check the brand. >ut where a brand had been, cere was now the crisscross ones of one deliberately fouled, mt which could never have been hat of the Double R. Then cattle not ner •e.ng run across her 'here? Or had this dose to another line, istray? ••Suddenly she knew the ex la nation, knew as clearly as hough the Nopocos were oi crystalline P^ass- Sf.e straighten ed, looked up. At that moment, a shower ol loose shale rattled down the cliff nd she caught a brief glimpse ol ■ man up tl\ere before he ducked elnnd a rock. Rusty waited a moment to see whether the man on the cliff own were land. To steer, so wandered would reappear. But he didn’t, yuite obviously, he did not want to be seen—was hiding. Then, she whirled her pony a bout and raced toward the rancli house. As she rode, she deter mined she must get in touch with Herb Westmore immediately—tell him what she had seen and what she surmised. How couia sne ever have doub ted him? She somehow knew now that he was the person to help her. But how to reach him? To tele phone would mean that a dozen or more receivers would be lifted might be disastrous. And yet, she had to act swiftly, before that lookout on the cliff could carry a warning to his superiors. Then, ahead, she saw one of her new riders—one of the two she had hired first. “Lorward,” she said, “I need a man I can trust to do an impor tant errand for me.” “You may trust me, Miss Row land. I am at your service—and the service of my country.” “So that’s it! You were placed here for a purpose.” “Now that you have singled me out, I am free to admit it. 1 know you will reveal this to no one else. What do you want me to do?” “Drive into town and tell Dr. Westmore I want him to come here in the morning, prepared to make a trip into the Nopocos.” “Herb will be glad to do this,” he stated, and Rusty was not sur prised. She told him what she had tound and what she expected to find, and he nodded. , Then suddenly, he said, “Play up,” and began a loud-mouthed denunciation of her. For a moment, Ruuty’s mouth stood open. Then she saw that a them—one of the last three new hands she had hired, nother ridel was approaching “All I got to say,” Dorward concluded, as the other ridei came up, “it’s the last time I work for a woman—” “It’s the last time you’ll work for this one!” Rusty flashed back. “You come to the house and I’ll give you your time. Then you and that pardner of yours get off the place!” Rusty was deeply asleep when something awakened her. An un sheathed paw. Annoyed, she slapped at the cat, then awaken ed completely, listening. Fatso was growling, growling like an alarmed dog. She jump ed from the bed and went to the window. A moment Intei* Holton Smith BACK ON THE After Serving 52 Months in THE UNITED STATES ARMY-35 MONTHS OVER SEAS-I’m Happy to be back HOME to SERVE you in maintenance of your AUTOMOBILE - By being Conservative you Helped to WIN the PEACE WE NOW HAVE - To keep that PEACE Continue to be Conservative. VVE ARE EQUIPPED FOR WELDING, ELECTRIC AND ACETYLELE RADIATOR REPAIRING AND GENERAL REPAIRS. DIAL 3251 FOR YOUR NEEDS HENRY HULLENDER Mechanic HOLTON SMITH, Proprietor Smith's General Repair Service 109 East First Street - Old Location of Smith Garage jumped down and went to the hall door—and again she growl ed. But did cats sense danger? Suddenly, Rusty was cold with fear. The ranch doors were never locked, and inside, this night, were only her mother, Manny, and herself. Stealthily she went to her door and opened it. For a moment she ' heard nothing. Then came the j telltale creak of the front door, a barely discernible creak.. I Swiftly, with Fatso held firm ly under her robe, she shipped through the hall to her mother's room. ,£>he literally dragged the sleep-stupid woman through her bath to Manny’s room. “Manny”— she laid her hand over his mouth—“not a word out I of you. There is someone prowl • | ing downstairs — understand”. I They could hear nothing at first. I Then, perhaps half an hour after Rusty’s first alarm, they heard | footsteps padding about Manny's room, and the murmur of men’s I voices. | “Come on,” whispered a voice. ! “This is the kid’s room; we don't I want him.” And Rusty knew it was the whom they wanted. But for what? Rusty, her mother and Manny, huddled in the little attic next to Manny’s room, heard the intruders leaving the room. For a while, there was silence. Then suddenly, there was an exptosion souund somewhere with in the house—angry voices, scuff ing. This went on for some time, to be followed again by silence. And then, the three in the attic once more heard footsteps in the adjoining room—and the sound of a familiar voice. “Muz—Sis—Maany! Where are you?” Ralph. But what in the world was he doing here? “In here, son.” Mrs. Rowland called excitedly. “Just a minute! We’ve barricaded ourselves in.” Eagerly, they clawed at the heavy play chest, moved it out of the way, and opened the door. Mrs. Rowland rushed out to fling hersdlf into he arms of her tall son- Manny breathed an awed, “Gee whiz!” Rusty followed her mother into Ralph’s arms, then looked beyond him. In the doorway stood Herb Westmore. “But Ralph, what are you do ing here?” asked Mrs. Rowland. “Westmore wangled a furlough for me, and I shot here by plane. I reached Westmore’s place last evening just after Dot-ward had brought Rusty’s message. That message made him so sure that Rusty was in danger that we drove right out. And a good thing we did! We sneaked into thi house heard some one prowling around upstairs, and came up to find the intruders in Rusty’s room. Dorward and his partner, Cutter, are guarding them downstairs now. in tne living room, the three prisoners sat sullenly, their wrists and ankles bound. Dorward and < utter stood guard over them. At first, under Westmore’s and Ralph’s questioning, the trio re fused to talk. Rut finally one of them weakened. “We didn’t aim to harm Miss Rowland/9 he said. “We was to keep her hid until we got word to let her go. She’d found out too much.” “You couldn’t have got away v.ih it,’’ Rusty put in. “Reckon we could. We’da made : you write a note to your mother 'yin’ the hospital had phoned you that your uncle had took a 1 L; d turn, and so you’d gone into i e city. Then, later, you’da tele- : ■honed that everything was okay h.'t that you were goin’ to stay n town for a few days until your ncle was better.” I suppose you know the penaj- ■ > for kidnapping,” Ralph re • arked coldly. “We’ll all get sprung,” the mai ! -ragged. “Lon’t think no little1 owtown justice can send us up. " e got protection ’way up.” After a little more questioning, the three would-be kidnappers >vere taken out and turned over CAN’T YOU. WHEN the strasa of modem* living gets "on your nerve*”, • good sedative can do a lot to lauen nervous tension, to make you more comfortable. to permit restful sleep. * Next time a day’s work and worry or a night’s wakefulness*, nukes you Irritable, Restless or Jumpy—give* yon Nervous Head, ache or Nervous Indigestion, try Dr. Hilts Nervine .(Liquid or Mervoseeat Tablets) *Dr. Miles Nervine is a time-' tested sedative that has been bringing relief from Functional Nervous Disturbances for sixty yearn yet is as up-to-dste as this mmrniug’s newspaper. Liquid U# and ll.dO, Effervescent tablets MS •»jf vsS.JUad directions and use only as mreotod. -e i jSfcs^ftafliood BUILDING STRONG TEETH Dentally speaking, the most im portant event in a child’s life is the eruption of the sixth-year mo lars, one in each half of each jaw, making four in all. Yet unless yoit are familiar with the normal, course of dental development, 01 through regular trips to the den tist have kept touch with what is taking place in your child's mouth, you may mistake these indispen sable first permanent teeth for the last of the baby crop. This is be cause the sixth-year molars come in without displacing, a first toothy for nature has designed them to" accomplish the remarkable engi:; neering feat of holding the arch in 1 place while the foundation deck.* uous teeth are being shed. The first sign of the possible advent of these initial permanent teeth is the widening of space be tween the baby teeth. This is noticeable around the fifth year. The jaws are growing and the first teeth no longer fill them, as na ture foresaw when she planned to give us two sets of teeth in one lifetime. The first occupants ol this extra space come in just in to a couple of deputy sheriffs whom Ralph and Westmore had brought from the city in case they were needed, and who were waiting in their car down on the Later, they afl assembled again in the living room. “Now, Sis,” said Ralph, “you’re going to write the kind of note those bozos wanted written. Muz will spread the news over the ranch in the morning, so that, it there are any interested ears, they will figure things went oft as planned. Later, Muz will spread word that you’ve phoned that Unc is better, but that you're going to stay a few days with the Westmores.” Ralph continued. “Before dawn, you and I, with Westmore, Cuttei and Dorward, will set out to find my trail over the N’opocos into Low Valley. I think we're going to find something in that valley. We’ve aranged for some of the other ranchers to go with us. The sheriff and his men are going to come in at the same time from •lie south side of the valley. By the way, is Decker handy?” “No, he’s gone East.” Ralph frowned. “Then that gives Slim Jack free rein. You ee, Sis, Westmore and I figured hat Slim Jack's big-heatedness in helping you with your round-up had a purpose. We suspect he and his men have been running smatlll beef off the Double R, a cross one corner of the Four D—” “And into the hills for feeding or slaughter!” Rusty exclaimed. The first leg of the trip was made in Westmore’s car, with Rusty crowded between Ralph and lerb, while Cutter and Dorward occupied the rumble seat. They followed the main road to a point I somewhere between thee Big and Little Sandy, then turned off onto » sid road. The gray of dawn was show dig five ranchers from south of the onwoods where they were met by vhon they came to a grove of col s’opoeos. Here were horses and supplies and ammunition. Rusty non found herself mounted on a! sturdy buckskin named Jimmy. | There was nothing exciting a i >out the fi'-st day’s travel. Ri: tyl tad plenty of time to think, lav I "ore of the V'ooks into the t iuw puzzle. Docker's di.-lil ... of U r. i uno c ' vifl evidently stemmed from a 1 ■motional reaction. Westmont had! !ound anthrax among his pi i-e ■attle. But what of L) ckir's t r t 0 turn the doctor ove r.o l; v Rusty prodded By J'mminv ami! •ulltd up bts..at f,e■ I> “Herb, ted me about (lie nigh, ■oil took care of Slim Jim. \» hy j on't you report the other man to I a authorities'.'” “I didn’t have to," he confesse ■! ‘I was authority enough. I treated 1 he man and dulnt want to turn im in because 1 wanted to ident v all of the small fry of ihe ring. 1 waned them to come back' to mi often as they would.” They reached the base of thi' s'opocos Imp before sunset, ane started on the next lap, a slow tin ip canyons. Darkness had fallen ■vhen Ralph found tbt. canyon he sough, a cleft deep and narrow. Slowly, carefully, the ten ridei: noved in. They came at last 1o ■vail and camped there to aw: * laylight. ' (TO BE rOVTINITED) front of the two baby molars, mak ing thoif appearance* some time be tween the ages ot 51 2 to (11 2. So much for nature's brillian? Ilian for preserving the lines or the juw, and thereby the beauty of the face, while these changs arc going on. The rest is largely up i* me parents. For if any one of the. first permanent molars is lost the other three are unable to do suc cessfully the job planned for them. This is because a tooth is never an independent worker, but function^ in relation to its antagonist in the jaw above or below, like a care fully meshed machine. Likewise, if a pair of teeth on one side of the face is deprived of its share of chewing and the other side tak es over most of this work, the chin may gradually shirt out of posi tion and greatly change the whole facial contour and expression. Den.ists have' neen doing their part by perfecting techniques for saving these priceless molars if they become diseased. But your dentist would far rather cooperate with you in preventive tooth care if you will see that he has the op portunity to examine your child ren's teeth at least every six months. For even before there is any obvious decay the teeth should be examined for slight im perfections in the enamel which may harbor germs and decayed lood, two foes of a healthy mouth. Of equal importance ale the preventive routines you can estab lish at home for building strong, healthy teeth. For one things pro per diet is esential in nourishing the teeth through their cycle of growth. As you know, the perma nent tooth grows and hardens within the jaw, beginning long be fore it pushes out the baby tootli it replaces. Faulty diet at any stage of development is reflected in irregularities of the tooth rings, or. if prolongd, in chalky or pitted enamel. Fortunately, teeth require the same well-balaned diet which produces general health, with per haps a bit more emphasia on milk and vegetables containing cslcium and other minerals. BUY BONDS USE EAGLE ADS Relief At Last For Your Cough Creomulsion relieves promptly be* cause it goes right to the seat of tha trouble to help loosen and expel germ laden phlegm, and aid nature to soothe and heal raw, tender, In flamed bronchial mucous mem branes. Tell your druggist to sell you a bottle of Creomulsion with the un derstanding you must like the way It quickly allays the cough or you are to have your money back. CREOMULSION | for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitia the fu!§we beckons * a Now that the war is over, it's time to opih the doOra to the days ahead. They’re going to be busy, exciting days. For one thing, the Telephone Company plans the greatest expansion program in its history in North Carolina — aimed at meeting the telephone needs of a great state. It means providing telephones for all ho have been wait ing for them. This is one of our first jobsl A greatly ex pande 1 telephone program for our fan er friends is also in process. Expansion of long distance service is being scheduled too. It will include the installation of coaxial cables to handle more calls with speed and convenience for you, and provide more facilities for that exciting visual art — television. A mass of construction is to be done and a new service to motor Vehicle# is also In the offing. Those are the high spots. They have been Ideas on the drawing board. They will become realities as materials be come obtainable. There will be the marshalling of pros perity’s Three M’s — Men, Money and Materials, the force* that brought North Carolina and the Telephone Company te their present positions, that won them the friendship and confidence of the public. This expansion program call* for the expenditure ef mil lions of dollars in North Carolina. And telephone people like the idea of putting money for expansion into North Carolina, contributing to the general welfare and prosperity of the state, through its men and women, its wage-earners, ite families, its communities. ^ Our optimism for the future is based on the record of the past. North Carolina and the 3712 nien and women of the Telephone Company have grown up together, and watched each other grow. Now, in the days ahead, the same friendly relationship will continue. The future beckons with a busy E. H. WASSON, Carolina* Matvagtr 4*. SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY v incorporatid . « rrmriivtvi A'i'iWViVrrrrir V»"»W»WVWW»* WWAWWWMft Established 1907 Insurance that Insures The Best Insurance Fire Automobile Liability Business Houses, Stocks Goods, Dwellings, Household Furniture; Farm Dwellings and All Buildings. Automobile Protection Cheap in The Travelers which is the Oldest and Best. DAVID P. DELLINGER Cherryville, N. C. Always Accommodating Phones: 4431 - 4681

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