Newspapers / The Wallace Enterprise (Wallace, … / April 25, 1935, edition 1 / Page 3
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rj0; - j - . Jt . , _ .... Strange partners they were—Speed Malone, hardened gambler; Ed Mait land, young New Englander, son of ; seafaring folks. They met on their trip north to the Yukon gold fields In ’97, Maitland in pursuit of lost ihmily fortunes, Malone evading the law in the gold camps. Frenchy, the fisherman who took the two men north; Lucky Rose, the beautiful girl who gave Maitland a ring for a •. keepsake; Fallon, tpul boss of the miners and resentful of Rose’s at tentiont to Maitland; Brent, old-time • prospector; Carnet, who gave Mait land and Speed his outfit and horses when he quit the trail; Pete, and MM drunken partner Owens, drown ed on the beaeh; these were among1 the crowd of, gold seekers. After a hard trip north, with many hasards —J-Afidt RngfiH iri11d»ri a man it SHifiv. way, the auni|«r of • shell game ♦ho m out to get Speed—the two partners made camp for the winter near Bennett, where the Canadian Mounties held sway. Drew, head of the Mounties there, said there was a strange legend about a ghostly Si wash who left tracks in the snow— his new taan Cathcart was specially interested in it. One night the two partners were surprised to have a ’’half-starved dog join them while they were eating steaks from a deer Speed had just shot. A little later a man came out of the storm to them—the ghostly apparition of the Mounties’ legend, they decided—and took half their deer. While Speed had gone to Shagway with mail for the Mounties, Maitland found a half frozen figure in a storm, and dis covered it to be Pete, who turned out to be a girl disguised as a man. | NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY TWELFTH INSTALMENT ” Speed waited another instant to watch the door. The fore most of the marshal’s men rushed into view a thaught sooner than he had counted on. Too soon for Lefty, anyway; the door was still shut. Speed raised the gun for a shot that would draw them away from it. The revolver spat flame with a stunning roar. ... r or a priceless second, ne stood dazed and half-blinded, stumbling to keep his balance and conscious of no more than the fact that he was alive. A numbness centered in his arm and hand. As the haze clear* ed he realized that the gun had hlown to pieces. Probably frost in the barrel ... he could have wanned it on the lantern before he left Steiner’s tent. And in that thick of doom, the pack was on him. The last thing he knew was the writh ing twist he gave his body so as to land on his shoulder, and flare of Are in his head. Then the snow went black. He was still on his should er when he became conscious again, but his hands were trussed behind him with a rope, his ankles were bound, he was gagged and lying on dry ground. Gradually a ltturmUr of low voices in the tent became arti culate. He recognized Fallon’s and lay motionless. ”... SO we didn’t find the kid through the winter till Chik Holter located a camp on the Teslin a Ways above where we camped on the Lewes. An outfit was cuttin’ timber there for a raft, and Pete had a job cookin’ for them. Holter pick ed up the mare's trail headin’ west, alone. Picked it up and lost it.” “How?” another voice in quired. ine ouzzara, i reckon. juut I figured the kid was making for the coast. We had to come down for some gear anyway, and we’ll head Pete off here at the same time.” Speed’s ear caught sharply at some hidden implication in the man’s voice. fThe other voice murmured an interruption. “Seems to me like your prisonei’s ears is awake.” “Pm Speakin* to him,” growl1 e4 Fallon. “He likely knows plenty. It always looked to ine like he had somethin’ fifU'fed about Pete, and about Owens too.” ' “Wfeii*, II he won’t explain hfa*if, it’ll be tough. He shot fthd killed a man in this camp, and was charged, legal. He busted pail, stole a gun, and would have done plenty more if the gun died boon good, He ain't a Canadian, We tan the ‘mounties’ we don't figure they Would choose a Mbn of this char-ctfer to ruft their mail. We %hapect he Stole it; he was sfeeh feamWin in a joint with wle mail ih his pocket.” • /n^ough thik talk, 'Speied^s Sslnd had been shutting swift V, trying to weave the full pattern of what it implied. The picture that begin to emerge made him writhe at his bonds and at the gag in hia mouth. “The Golden Pass” at Shag way, under the protection of Soapy Smith, was a lathering vortex of carnival. It had a slick and spacious floor lit by hanging lamps which depended from the cross-beams of the lumber roof. A piano, banjo and accordian were in the swing of what sounded like a musical steeplechase. But they made a spirited noise, and serv ed to indicate that the romping riot on the dance floor was so ciably intended, i In attire, the crowd was va riously informal, mixing cor duroy, rough flannel and heavy miners’ boots with the. “store clothes” of newcomers. The bar hfd its own support ers, who somehow remained au dible. In their rumble of talk there were echoes Of a rumor that a dangerous gunman had broken jail and tried to shoot up the camp. in tne tumult no one, tnere fore immediately noticed that a group of armed men had en tered, pushing before them a hatless captive whose hands were tied behind his back. The leader of the posse commanded attention by the simple means of sending a bullet into the raf ters. “Where’s Soapy Smith?” Fal lon demanded in a voice that made the quiet absolute. No one answered, or seemed to know. One' glance at the posse and the prisoner had sent through the crowd, drunk and sober, an electric sense of what was impending. There was a low drone and buzz of ex citement. They pressed in for a closer view of the prisoner, who was looking at the raf ters. “Ladies and gentlemen,” said Fallon, “the character of this murderous desperado is know ed to ever* miner who was >n the trail in the first stampede [of ’97. He returns with erron eous ideas of terr’izin’ the [camp. Jailed for murder and mail robbery, he breaks jail, 4,te^Js a gun, and is the cause not only of promisc’ous blood shed, but of holes bein’ shot in your tent roofs. We’ve brung him here because this roof has a strong crossbeam. With your will take about three minutes.” As the crowd looked on in dead silence, Speed was pulled across the floor to the further end of the dancing space, near the orchestra, where he was lifted to a table under one of the traverse roof beams. Stand ing there, his feet were quickly bound. One of the posse ex pertly fashioned a halter loop :with nine winds around the shank of a stout pack line; the 1 other end was thrown over the beam, and the noose fitted to the captive’s neck, with the hondo against his ear. I Speed watched these prepar ations with apparent resigna tion. His roving glance came to rest on Fallon, who stood ready to send him clear. “Still figurin’ a play?” his captor taunted. | “Yes,” said Speed . “One. They say a man’s last look sees ! clear, Fallon. I ain’t never tried to figure what lies over the line, but if that’s so, maybe you don’t check me out, complete. If you frame a deal against the boy, my pardner, or lay hands on Pete, by God, I’ll follow you '—dead!” “Damn it, Fallon,” said an old miner, “I’ve seen men hung before, but never in your cold* blooded style. At least they’re given the offer of a last drink or a smoke. Why don’t you do it regular^” ‘i Some bf the old-timers Voiced approval of that. “All right,” Fallon growled. “You can ask him. I’m damned If I will.” The mail put the question. “If it’s a choifce," said Speed, “I’d like to roll a cigarette. I’ve got the makin’s.” His h*mda were untied anq( the bartender told to, “Brin* j a class of th* special, Soapy. ; Gratefully flexing his Wrists,; Speed Milled; a cigarette and was lighting it, whefi the drink artived in a welMllled tumbler. '*1 take this ktnd, Soapy,” he said1, '“but I never liked to drink adbne. You can use my name freely in urgin’ drinks on the house. The marshal has my Wad.” ! This sentiment was most fa 'vorably received' hy a number of the revelers whose thirst had outlasted their means. The discovery that the condemned man’s credit was still good with Soapy,created a generally good impression. Fallon gnawed his cheek. [ Curious newcomers were jamming in through the door way, and Speed paused with the glass halfdrained, at sight of oneof them. Lefty, wearing a look of strongly mingled tri umph and discomfiture answer ed his stare by touching one bulge in the side of bis coat and another in his pocket. Speed resumed his drink with a twisted grimace. So Lefty had his guns and the mail. The money would have been safer in the marshal’s office. With the deft trick of bin. kind' in worming through crowds, the dip drew nearer. The forward press of the crowd had brought Rose nearer too. Speed met her clouded eyes again in a long study, as he emptied the glass and lowered it. Fallon jerked it from his hand. “Any other little thing you’d like?” he inquired sar donically. “They’s one other thing,” ac knowledged Speed, still looking at Rose. “I ain’t heard no mu sic for some time. If the lady will play a song while I finish this ciragette.” Fallon wheeled, but Rose did not see his scowl. A chord as clean and sweet as the tinkle of the wind at twilight through a desert can yon flowed from the strings un der her touch, and shed an al most instant lull on the crowd. Then her voice dissolved into the music—a clear, exquisite contralto, plaintive, strong and deep, like the shore wash that sounded through it, sustaining the rhythmic lapses of the song. in tnat Beguiling, fluently riding spell of sound, the pris oner forgot everything appar ently, but the singers magic. But his eyes drifted to Lefty’s with a sidelong glance at the accordion which dangled in the hands of its owner in the or chestra. Fallon, watching Rose and Waiting for the end of her song, did not notice the invis ible prompting Eyes and wits less sharp than Lefty’s would neither have received the look nor interpreted it; but the dip quietly detached the instru ment from the listless fingers, and before he was aware of what had happened, tossed it to Speed. The pass was hardly Observed before Speed had chimed the accordion with the closing bar of Rose’s song. She looked up in wonder, but continued playing an accomp animent as the accordion re peated her melody. The sudden unexpectedness of the gesture took the crowd’s breath no less than the perfect chording of the two instruments. He lured Rose’s song into a lighter, bris^ ker measure which she instinc tively matched with the guitar until the melody itself was subtly changed. Here was dance music such as few camps have heard, play ed by two artists who had mu sic in their hearts and fingers. And as' Speed swayed slightly with the playing, his eyes evad ing the smoke that curled up from the shortening cigarette butt, his feet were just visibly [weaving too—as it seemed, to [ the infection of his own music, ( but with a crafty, studied strain against the rope. “Come on boys,*' he chanted suddenly. ."Taka your pardners!” ine crowd was almost swept off its feet. In another mo ment the miracle might have been done. Lefty, with a gape of awed admiration, caught the meaning of Speed’s strategy. But Fallon came alive with a roaring curse. “I’ll make you dance, you jiggin’—!” He made a Stride for the ta ble to kick it over. The kick, however, was toot 'completed. The crowd had buckled swayed Inward from tiie door, cleaved 'apart by a powerful pair of shoulders1, and by a dark, youthful bat1 tling head1 Which Speed had never hoped to see again. It was Maitland. There Was a sharp crack of fist against bone, and Fallon was stiffened to his toes by- a terrific driving smash to the jaw. He rocked and went back wards but saved himself from - \ • felling by lurching into the pi ano keya with a loud discord. To the crowd it waa like a gong. A lynching waa one thing; this waa something more; the challenge laced1 their blood with a strong intoxicant. The night had a head of steam. Fallon shook his head grog gily. A movement of one hand to his belt brought a roar of protest from the crowd on their own account no less than that of fair play. But Fallon had no intention of shooting. He pushed the gun tight in the holster, and bracing himself against the piano, leaped for his antagonist. The crash when they met sounded like an impact of bulls. Both men were magni ficently strong, and toughened by the snow trails, though weight and matured experi ence were in Fallon’s favor. He drove in a pounding barrage of body punches. Maitland closed in, trying to smother the assault, but taking meanwhile a thrashing rain of jackham mer blows to the head and bo dy. The instinctive balance which a sailor learns on heav ing decks must have steadied him now; he thrust back of a sudden, and Fallon’s foot, less' sure of the glassy floor, slipped a little. The boy lashed up with a short left that cut the other’s upper lip, and then drove home a full-shouldered right, as Fallon’s head snap-' ped back. He came back with1 a spring that tore through Maitland’s guard by sheer weight and fury. They slipped and came up in a swaying grapple. (Continued Next Week) MAGNOLIA NEWS By MISS MACY COX jj Mrs. Jamie Carlton of War saw and her son, Mr. Elmore Carlton and wife of Raleigh called on friends and relatives here Sunday afternoon. I Mrs. Luther West of New’ Hope Community spent Sunday afternoon with her daughter,' Mrs. 0. M. Willdns. Mr. Jam ie and Miss Letha Blanchard came with her and visited their uncle, Mr. Dave Blanchard. 1 Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tremaini and Miss Dorothy King of Wil mington attended the High School play Wednesday night and were the guests of Miss King's parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. B. King. Mrs. Catherine Gaylor and son, Sam, of Wilmington were guests in the home of Mr. J. P. Tucker Friday till Tuesday. Mr. A'lsa Gavin of Pineland College spent the week-end with his mother, Mrs. Clara Gavin. His guest was his friend, Mr. Ivey Horne of Sal emburg. Misses Elizabeth Gavin and I Alma Baker, with their friends Mdssrs. Hawes of Rose Hill OU’»A EN,° Carnet* Canada’s First Lady ~ OTTAWA, Cnnada ... Above it a mo*t recent plioto of Mrs. John Buchan, wife of John Buchan, Eng lish novelist and member of Parlia ment, and newly appointed Governor General of Canada to succeed the Earl of Bess bo rough. motored to Fort Bragg Sunday afternoon and were dinner guests of Miss Baker’s sister, Mrs. Tom Wilson. Mrs. J. H. Weeks and Ray mond Joyner of Faison spent Sunday with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Joyner. Their sister, Miss Minnie returned with them. Mr. J. P. Tucker has bought the Theo. Middleton Store stock and will continue to car ry about the same line of gen eral merchandise. With his twenty-three years of experi ence in that store, his business ability and kind courtesy to customers we predict for him a successful business career. A great Easter day for Mrs. Lessie Powell Sunday. Her three out-of-town sons and dau ghter with their families came to gladden her heart and have a happy day together. Mr. and Mrs. John Glenn Powell and baby, Jacob Ray, wife and ba by and Arthur of Charlotte, Mrs. Ellis Herring, her hus band and three children of Wilson, her resident daughter, Mrs. Laura Merritt and family her resident son, Claude Pow ell and family, other relatives in town an<j from Wilmington and Turkey gathered at the home Sunday afternoon, and when this writer called, it looked as though they were having childrens Day, mothers’ Day and Father’s Day. Her daughter, Mrs. Lula Spell and 2 children live with her and to gether they gave every one a hearty welcome. Misses Elizabeth Sanderson of Flora MacDonald College, Red Springs, and Louise of E. C. T. C., Greenville, spent the Easter Holidays with their pa rents Mr. and Mrs. L. M. San derson. Miss Mildred Hamilton of E. C. T. C., was the Easter guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hamilton. Ekholm . Wood A marriage of much interest to Magnolia took place Friday at 7 p. m., in Thomasville, when Miss Lucy Ekholm of Maglonia became the bride of Mr Vaughn Wood of Thomasville. The bride is a neice of Miss El la Hall and they came to her home that night and remained till Tuesday. Mrs. Wood has i had a position near Burlington about two yean, here with Miaa childhood and her tend beat wishes, holds a position with asville chair Mn. Wood and tored to Beulaville ternoon to Quinn. Commencement Our commencement exercise, were unusually good. The high school play Wednesday, night, “Here Comes Charlie” was ona of the best ever presented and reflets great credit on Mis* Slaughter who coached th«b and on every one taking part The seventh grade presented a good play “An Indian Fasti* val”, Thursday night, coached by their teacher, Misa Helen Hunt. Friday night the sen* iors gave fine entertainment* their play, “A Bargain’s a Bar* gain.” Thirty seventh gradi pupils were presented promo tion certificates. The fourte graduates were Misses Allih Wilson, Margaret Gaylor, Evv Marable Smith, Julia C. Wilson, Hazel Jones, Myrtle Fope, Dorothy Register, Ophelia Wil* ion and J. P. Tucker, ion Mattis, George Kelly, (Continued on Page Hardware We now have in stock a complete line of Hardware for most any purpose, all reasonably priced. Why delay purchasing that extra piece for the farm, garden or home when our prices are so reasonable? Come in and let us show you our line of LAWN MOWERS - GARDEN PLOWS - HAND TOOLS OP ALL KINDS - MYERS SPRAY PUMPS - PLOW CASTINGS - TIN STRAWBERRY CHECKS AND STEEL DIES Special Prices On HORSE COLLARS AND HOES BACK BANDS FLOWER POTS A. C. Hall Hardware Co. WALLACE, N. C. Universal Car One name comes quickly to mind when you think of “The Universal Car.” The description is distinctively Ford. No other car is used by so many millions of men and women in every part of the world. Everywhere it is the symbol of faithful service. . . .That has always been a Ford funda mental. Something new is constantly being added in the way of extra value. Each year the Ford has widened its appeal by increasing its usefulness to motorists... .Today’s Ford V-8 is more than ever “The Universal Car” because it encircles the needs of more people than any other Ford ever built. It reaches out and up into new fields because it has everything you need in a modern automobile. ... The Ford V- 8 combines fine-car i performance, comfort, safety and beauty with low first cost and low cost of operation and up-keep. There is no other car like it. $495 up, f.o. b. Detroit. Standard accessory group including bumpers and spare tire ertra. Small down pay Easy terms through Universal Credit Company. All body types have Safety Glass throughout at no
The Wallace Enterprise (Wallace, N.C.)
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April 25, 1935, edition 1
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