KASTF.HX CLACKAMAS NEWS, THl'HSDAY, NOVKMMKH 17, 1927 Page 2 A i ^ A A T c A Novel from the Play S TO R Y FROM T H E S T A R T D e f y i n g all efforts to capture him, a f t e r a lon g series o f inur- derH and robberies, a super- crook known to the police only as " T h e Hat” hns brought about a ve ri tab le reign o f terror. At his w its ’ end, and at the man’s own request, the ch ie f of police assigns his best operative, A n ­ derson, to g e t on the trail of the Hat. Wi th her niece, Dale O g ­ den, Miss Cornelia Van Gorder Is liv in g In the country home of the late Courtlelgh Fleming, who until his recent death had been president of the Union bank» wrecked because of the theft of a large sum o f currency. Miss Van Gorder receives a note warning her to vacate the place at once on palp of death. j By Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood VVNU Service “ Th e Bat.” copyright, 1920. by Mary Roberta Rinehart and Avery Hopwood. shoot yet but she say she going to soon.” “ But, good heavens, Hilly— shooting what?” “ Shotting pistol,” said Billy, his yellow mask o f a face preserving Its Impish repose. lie waved his hand. “ You go srubbery. You see.” The scene that met Dale's eyes when she finally found the “ srubbery” was Indeed a singular one. Miss Van Gorder, her back firmly planted against the trunk o f a large elm tree CH APTER II— Continued and an expression o f Ineffable dis­ — 3—— taste on her features, was holding It was true. The room In which out a blunt, deadly looking revolver she stood, while comfortable and at arm’s length. It’s muzzle wavered, charming, seemed unusually acces­ now pointing at the ground, now at sible to the night prowler. A row of tiie sky. Behind the tree Lizzie sat French windows at the rear gave In a heap, moaning quietly to herself, upon a little terrace— below the ter­ and now and then appealing to the saints to avert a visioned calamity. race the drive curved about and be­ neath the billiard room windows In As Dale approached, unseen, the a hairpin loop, drawing up ngaln at climax came. The revolver steadied, tiie main entrance on the other side pointed ferociously at an Inoffensive o f the house. At the le ft o f the grass-blade some ten yards from Miss French windows (If one fuced the Van Gorder and went off. Lizzie terrace, as Miss Cornelia was doing) promptly gave vent to a shrill Irish scream. Miss Van Gorder dropped was the alcove door she spoke of. tiie revolver like a hot potato and When open, It disclosed a little al­ opened her mouth to tell Lizzie not cove, almost entirely devoted to the to be such a fool. Then she saw foot of a flight o f stairs that gave Dale— her mouth went Into a round direct access to the upper regions o f O o f horror and her hand clutched the house. The alcove Itself opened weakly at her heart. on one side upon the terrace and up­ on the other Into a large butler’s “ Good heavens, c h ild !” she gasped. pantry. The arrangement was obvi­ “ Didn’t Hilly tell you what I was do­ ously designed so that. If necessary, ing? I might have shot you like a one could pass directly from the ter­ rabbit!” and, overcome with emotion, race to the downstairs service quar­ she sat down on the ground and ters or the second floor o f the house started to fan herself mechanically without going through the living with a cartridge. room, and so that trays could he car­ Dale couldn’t help laughing— and ried up from the pantry by the side the longer she looked at her aunt the stairs without using the main stair­ more she laughed— until that dignified case. lady joined In the mirth herself. The middle pair o f French windows “ Aunt Cornelia— Aunt C orn elia!” were open— forming a double door. said Dale when she could get her Miss Cornelia went over to them— breath. “ That I’ve lived to see the shut them— tried the locks. “ Humph! day— and they call us the wild genera­ Flim sy enough!’’ she thought. Then tion ! Why on earth were you having she turned toward the billiard room. pistol practice, darling— hns Hilly The billiard room, ns has been said, turned Into a Japanese spy, or what?” was the last room to the right In the Miss Van Gorder rose from the main wing o f the house. A single ground with ns much stateliness as door led to It from the living room. she could muster, under the circum­ Miss Cornelia passed through tills stances. door, glanced about the billiard room, “ No, my dear— but there’* no fool noting that most of its windows were like an old fool— that’s all,” she stat­ too high from the ground to greatly ed. “ I ’ve wanted to fire that infernal encourage a marauder, and locked revolver off ever since I bought It tiie only one that seemed to her par­ two years ago— and now I have and ticularly tempting— the billiard room I ’m satisfied. Still,” she went on window on the terrace side o f the thoughtfully, picking up the weapon, house. Then she returned to the liv ­ “ It seems a very good revolver— and ing room and again considered her shooting people must be much easier defenses. that I supposed. All you have to do Three points o f access from the Is to point the— the front o f It— like terrace to the house— the door that this and—” led Into the alcove— the French win­ “ Oh, Miss Dale, dear Miss D a le !” dows of the living room— the billiard came in woebegone accents from tiie room window. On the other side of other side o f the tree. “ For tiie love the house there was the main en- o f heaven, Miss Dale, say no more but trance, the porch, the library and din­ take It away from her— she’ll have ing room windows. The main entrance herself all riddled through with bul­ led Into n hall— living room, and main lets like a kitchen sieve— and me door of living room on the right as too— If she’s let to have It again.” one entered, dining room and library “ Lizzie, I’ m ashamed o f you I” said on the left, main staircase In front. L izzie’s mistress, briskly. “ Come out She sat down once more, and taking from behind that tree and stop wall­ u pencil and a piece o f paper, drew a ing like an automobile siren. This plan of the lower floor o f the house. weapon Is perfectly safe In competent “ And now I’ ve studied It/’ she hands and— ” She seemed on the thought, after a while, “ I’m no fur­ verge o f another demonstration o f Its ther than if I hadn’t As far as I powers. can flgure out, there’s so many ways ‘iMiss Dale, for the dear love o’ fo r a clever man to get Into this house G«xl, will you make her put It aw ay?” that I’d have to he a couple o f Sia­ Dale added her protestations to mese twins to watch It properly.” L izzie’s. “ Please, darling, If you Hut o f course she was not entirely want to practice, Hilly can nx up some phut off from the world, even If the sort o f target range— but I don’t worst developed. She considered the want my favorite aunt assassinated telephone Instruments on a table near by a ricocheted bullet before my the wall, one the general phone, the eyes I” other connecting a house line which “ W ell— perhaps It would be best to also connected |vlth the garage and try again another time,” admitted the greenhouses. The garage would Miss Van Gorder. Hut there was a not be helpful, since Slocum, her wistful look In her eyes ns she gave chauffeur for many years, had gone the revolver to Dale and the three back to England for a visit. Dale started back to the house. bad been driving the car. Hut with “ I should never have allowed Lizzie an able-bodied man in the gardener's to know what 1 was doing,” she con­ house— fided in a whisper, on tiie way. “ A She pulled herself together with a woman Is perfectly capable o f man­ jerk. aging firearms— hut Lizzie Is really too nervous to live, sometimes.” “ Cornelia Van Gorder, you’re go­ “ I know just how you feel, darling,” ing to go crazy before nightfall, if Dale ngreed, suppressed mirth shak­ you don’t take hold of yourself. What ing her as tiie little procession reached you need Is lunch— and a nap in tlie the terrace. “ Hut—oh,” she could afternoon If you can make yourself keep It no longer, “ oh— yon did look take it. You’d better look up that re- funny, darling— sitting under that \«ilver o f yours, to«), that you bought tree, with Lizzie on the other side when you were going to take a trip «>f it making banshee noises and— ” to China. You’ ve never tired It off Miss Van Gorder laughed, too, a yet. but you've g«>t to sometime today little shamef:u*e Children Cry for "Oh, He’s All Right," She Said. But then I’m old-fashioned. W ell, dear, I won’t keep you. Run along— and If you want an aspirin, there's a box In my top bureau drawer.” “ Thanks, darling. Maybe I ’ll take one and maybe I won’t— all I really need is to lie down fo r a while.” She moved on up the staircase and disappeared from the range o f Miss Cornelia's vision, leaving Miss Cor­ nelia to ponder many things. H er trip to the city had done Dale no good, of a certainty. I f not actually 111, she was obviously under some consider­ able mental strain. And why this sud­ den Interest— first In the Bat— then In the failure o f the Union bank? Was It possible that Dale, too, had been receiving threatening letters? •Til be glad when that gardener comes," she thought to herself. "H e 'll make a man In the house at any rate.” When Lizzie at last came in with the lemonade she found her mistress shaking her head. “ Cornelia, Cornelia," she was mur­ muring to herself, “ you should have taken to pistol practice when you were younger— It Just shows how children waste their opportunities I" C H APTE R III The Storm Gathers. The long summer afternoon Wore away, sunset came, red and angry, a sunset presaging storm. A chill crept Into the air with the twilight. When National Emblem of W ales Is Red Dragon W hile the hnrp Is a Welsh national Instrument, It is not recognized ns the national emblem. The national em­ blem for Wales Is the red dragon of Cadwallader, the Inst o f the Welsh kings. T ills emblem hnd n place In the royal arms o f Great Britain ns n supporter In the reign o f King Henry VII, but that king, townrd the end of his reign, changed the supporters, which were the two white Hons of March, to the Welsh dragon on the dexter side. With the white greyhound on the sinister. The latter emblem was representative o f either the I'e Renuforts, Ids own ancestors, or * Nevilles, the ancestors o f Uls wife, both o f these families using the white greyhound ns a fam ily badge. In 1328 Ids son, Henry V III, used for support- night fell, It wns not n night o f stiver patterns enskied, hut a dark and cloudy cloak where a few stars glit­ tered fitfully. Miss Cornelia, at din tier, saw a hut swoop past the window o f the dining reom. In Its scurrying tllght, nnd nurrowly escaped overset ting her glass of water with a nervous sturt. The tension o f waiting— wult- Ing— for some vague meiiuce which might not materialize after all— had begun to prey on her nerves. She suw Dale olf to the Country club with re­ lief— the girl looked a little better a f­ ter her nap, hut she was still not her normal self. The house was queer. She would not have uduiitted it to Lizzie, for her soul’s salvation— hut, for the first time in her sensible life, she listened for creukings ot woodwork, rustling o f leaves, stealthy steps outside, beyond the safe, bright squares o f the win­ dows— for anything that was uctuul, tangible, not merely formless feur. “ There’s too much room In the coun­ try for things to happen to y o u !" she W hy do so many, many babies o f to­ confided to herself with a shiver. day escape all the little fretfu l spell« "E ven the night— whenever I look out, and Infantile ailments that used to it seems to me as If the night were worry mothers through the day, and ten times bigger and blacker *hun It keep them up hnlf the night? ever Is in New Y o rk !" I f you don't know the answer, you T o comfort herself she mentally re haven't discovered pure, harmless Cas- hearsed her telephone conversation o f toria. It is sweet to the taste, and the morning— the conversation she hnd sweet In the little stomach. And its not mentioned to her household. At gentle Influence seems fe lt all through the time It had seemed to her most the tiny system. N ot eveu a distaste­ reassuring— the plans she had based ful dose o f castor oil does so much upon It udequnte and sensible, In the normal light o f day. But now the good. Fletcher’s Castorla Is purely vege­ light of day had been blotted out, and with It her security. H er plans seemed table, so you may give It freely, at weapons o f paper against the sinister first sign o f c o lic ; o r constipation ; or diarrhea. O r those many times when might o f the darkness beyond her win dows. A little wind walled some­ you Just don’t know what is the mat­ where In that darkness like a beaten tes, F o r real sickness, call the doc­ child— beyond the hills thunder rum­ tor, always. A t other times, a few drops o f Fletcher's Castorla. bled, drawing near, and with It light The doctor often tells you to do Jimt nlng and the storm. She made herself sit down In the th a t; nnd always says Fleteh eB T chair beside her favorite lamp on the Other preparations may be Just Tls center table and take up her knitting pure, Just as free from dangerous with stiff fingers. “ Knit two— purl drugs, but why experiment? Besides, tw o— ” her hands fell Into the accus­ the book on care nnd feeding o f babies tomed rhythm mechanically— a spy, that comes with Fletcher’s Castorla Is worth its weight In gold ! peering In through the French win dows, would have deemed her the pic­ ture o f calm. But she hnd never felt less calm In nil the long years o f her life. She wouldn’t ring for Lizzie to come and sit with her— she simply wouldn’t. But she was very glad, nevertheless, when Lizzie appeared at the door. 'Miss N elly." ‘Yes, L izzie? " Miss Cornelia’s voice wns composed, but her heart fe lt a throb o f relief. “ Can I— can I sit In here with you, H O T S TA S H E S and other symptoms o f H igh Blood Pressure are quickly relieved Miss Nelly, just n minute?” Lizzie’s by MENOIDS. J1 fo r trial. Clove, ('hem . Co., voice wns plaintive. “ I'v e been sit­ 801 Flood Bldg.. Pan Francisco, Calif. ting out In the kitchen watching that F IN O N N l’TS— Send 35e and we w ill mail Jap read his funny newspaper the you one pound postpaid. W rite fo r partic­ ulars on N a va jo Rugs. Matehln & A m ­ wrong way nnd listening for ghosts till brose, Indian Traders, Crownpolnt, N. M e*. I’ m nearly c ra z y !” “ W hy, certainly, Lizzie,” said Miss MAKE VOIR OVj/N -/PORI HAT Cornelia, primly. "Y ou can alt he rem­ So simple a child cah do It. Make your own 100$ all wool fe lt hat In and help me work the oulja-hoard. fifteen minutes and save from 82to That will take your nfind off listening $3. 10 latest Paris styles and pic­ tures and complete instructions for for th in gs!” making with each order. State color desired or send sample o f shade. Lizzie groaned. “ You know I’d SKND NO MoNHY. Pay postman on arrival II for material for ono hat rather he shot than touch that nn- or |2 fo r material for three. ennny on O le!" she said dolefully. “ It H A R R Y r i l I E l > A CO. 141 F if t h A ve«. N e w Y o r k C it y gives me the creeps every time I put my hands on It I” MATPRIAl ANO COMPLETE c1nu "W ell, o f course, If you’d rather sit IN/lRliiMION/ Pi V I PAIO” y l In the kitchen, Lizzie— ” “ Oh, give me the o u ljle !" said L iz­ zie In tones o f heartbreak. “ I ’ d rather be shot and stabbed than stay In the Use Hanford’ s Balsam of Myrrh kitchen nn.v more.” Money back for flrat bottle if not suited. All dealers. “ Very well,” said Miss Cornelia, “ It’s your own decision, Lizzie— remember Optimist Points Out that." Her needles clicked on. ‘T il Just finish this row, before we start,” Silver Lining to Cloud she said. “ Yon might call up the light Barney Oldfield, the famous auto- company In the meantime, Lizzie— mobltlst, said on disembarking at there seems to be n storm coming np New York from his European tour: nnd I want to find out If they Intend ‘ W e are capturing more and more to turn out the lights tonight ns they o f the European automobile trade. did Inst night. Tell them I find It In London, Paris, everywhere, you most Inconvenient to be le ft without see thousands o f American automo­ light that way." biles. Some people sny that our “ It's worse than Inconvenient," mut­ trade is going to suffer tn Europe tered Lizzie, "I t ’s criminal— that's now on account o f hard times and what It Is— turning off all the lights In so on, but fo r many reaeons 1 don't a haunted house like this one. As If accept that view. I’ m an optimist spooks wasn’t bad enough with the there. lights on— ” “ The fact Is, I ’m an optimist every­ “ L iz z ie !" where. A ll things, I claim, have their “ Yes, Miss N elly— T wasn’t going to bright side. sny another word.” She went to the ‘Take, for Instance, the old saying telephone. Miss Cornelia knitted on— that few people practice what they "knit two— purl two—’’ In spite o f her preach. That Is very sad, o f course, experiments with the ouija-honrd she but how much sadder it would be If didn’t believe In ghosts— nnd yet— we all preached what we practice I” there were things one couldn’t explain by logic. Was there something like B oy o f T en B usy Crim inal that In this house— a shadow walking Police officials o f New Brighton, N. the corridors— a vague shape o f evil, drifting like mist from room to room, Z „ are searching for a ten-year-old till Its cold breath whispered on one’s boy, who wns a model pupil during hack nnd— th ere! She hnd mined her the daytime and a cracksman at knitting—the Inst rows would have to night. A fte r he was arrested and hnd be ripped out and done over. That confessed to 22 crimes. Including 7 o f came o f mooning about ghosts like a breaking Into and entering stores, he ninny I disappeared. She put down the knitting with az exasperated little gesture. Lizzie hnd K n o ck o u t Im m inent lust finished her telephoning and was Peaceful Old Lad y— W ill you two hanging np the receiver. boys stop fighting If I give you ten “ W ell. L izzie? " cents each? "Y es'm ," said the latter, glaring at T h e Stronger Boy— Make It a quar­ the phone. "Th at's what he sa y»— ter for the winner, Indy. they turned off the lights Inst night because there was n storm threaten­ What Is n parngrapher doing In his ing. He says It bums out thetr fuses Idle hours If he can’t keep up with If they lenve 'em on tn a storm.” current literature? “ H um ph!" said Miss Cornelia, “ 1 hope It will be a dry summer.” Her hands tightened on each other. Dark­ ness-darkness Inside this house of whispers to match with the darkness outside! She forced herself to speak In o normal voice. “ Ask Itil.’ y to bring some candles Lfz.zle— and have them ready." M Million, rely cm HILL'S to mi Lizzie had been staring fixedly ai W £old* U» a,day and wsrd off W Gripp. and Flu. N o q u ic k « the French windows. A t Miss Cor remedy for you. nella’s eommnnd she gave a little Jmn) o f terror and moved closer to her nils Be Sure Price3Qc tress. “ You're not going to ask me t* ft cut In that hall, alone?" she salt! lr Got Rod Box with portrait a hurt voice. ers to the royal arms the golden lion on the dexter, while the red dragon of Wales, which his father had used on the dexter, he relegated to the sin­ ister side. These supporters continued In use until the accession (In 1003) of Jnmes VI o f Scotland ns James 1 of Kngland. James kept the golden lion on the dexter, but changed the red dragon o f Wales on the sinister to the unicorn, as In the royal arms of Scotland— nn emblem o f purity. T aste N ot in M on ey Taste, runs the saying, flaunts no dollar sign. One can spend a million dollars nnd have a hideous home, and vice versa, one can spend but a few dollars and achieve good taste In the home with simplicity. Taste ts more than a question ot education, It is more than a question of breeding. Some few have It to b e gin with, more achieve It and a greal muss o f people have It thrust upon them, fortunately. W e sny fortunate ly for the m ajority o f home owners are content to let those who have taste design and decorate their homes for them. Great peat pngs In northern Japan are fast disappearing owing to rec tarnation of the land. To Cool a Burn STOPS __»LDS MINE • to as cosiisusovi I *