Image provided by: Joanne Skelton; Cottage Grove, OR
About Rural enterprise. (Halsey, Or.) 1924-1927 | View Entire Issue (June 24, 1925)
TH EIR NAME WAS LEGION? 6v Courtney Ryley Cooper ¿Ae Ac WNB Servie« (C ontili uad) CHAPTER X T h e S w a y o f J u stic e [ something rar mors important—at least to hlm I When the streets of Bellalue became ablaze again with the torches and gas oline flares of their Illicit occupants, It was with a surcharged air of un certainty that appeared to pervade everything. Bart learned the reason. It was In the figure of a big man who rolled down the center of the sidewalk, a bandage about his head, hla gait and his expression evidence of the fact that the state of Intoxica tion begun the day before had not been allowed to wane. • "What they goln' to do with a barbed wire fence, huh ?” he snei red ns some frightened concessionaire ap proached him. "Answer me that. Put that fat-head mayor and hla tin-horn marshal In it, to we can look at the "It was very evident what had hap pened,” reaumed Mrs. Jordan, "drunk, he had wandered home, they had quar reled and he had killed her. Jim stag gered forth, gave lilmself up to the first policeman he met— and confessed. "It seems that after the arrest, Bartholomew came forward as Jim's friend and took charge of the baby, stating to the court that he was send ing It out West to be adopted by a childless family. Then one night, In the darkness of the Jail someone ■Upped a packet Into his cell. I t con tained saws, money and an address— the name of Frannlston out here In monkeys. That’s all. Forget It — I Wyoming. He sawed his way out of told you that I ’d see you were all the comparatively flimsy Jail and es right, didn’t I?” caped. A week later he presented "Bull” Frannlston had come out In himself to Frannlston here In Bellalne and asked for a Job. He was given the open. No longer was there any one without question. Nothing was concealment about tbe fact that It was said to Indicate that Frannlston he who formed the bulwark upon knew his ft-al Identity, nothing done which rested the hopes of Bellalue's But Bart to show that Frannlston had the slight unwelcome contingent. est Idea that this man was the father walked on, knowing that many men of the girl to whom Frannlston had awaited hla command at the mayor’s given his own name, but whom he had home. They came forth seemingly from a not adopted. So the relationship be gan. Then, a year later, the truth hundred places about the bouse as hg dawned on Jim. Bartholomew showed reached tbe veranda and made himself up In Bellalne, under the name of Bar- known to the sentry stationed there. rows. Frannlston could reveal the A moment later Bud Tarko, appearing true Identity of the girl, and she would taller and slimmer than ever in the be stained with the blackness of be shadows, slid forth, and In muffled ing the daughter of a man who had tones began tbe giving of commands. “Aw-rlgbt, you fellows. Don't wait killed his wife. So he bad Jim In for no orders. Jam a dtp o' cart his power.’’ "But was anything ever said to In ridges In them cannons and fix them bayonets. I ’ve run out o* commands. dicate that? Was—” Hear me? Fix them bayonets I" "Nothing.” They soon were on the main street, Bart Rogers stared nt the carpet. “I t was strange that the officials murchlng toward town, the reflected back East should team of Jim’s where lights gleaming on tlielr affixed bay abouts so quickly—especially when onets, the rifles clicking softly with they had been unable to find him for the Jar of the steady pace. A block more and Bart brought his company yeasa. I wonder If—” to a h a lt Five minutes later, split “Jim says that Qraham was the Jail er back In Alkonla I suppose he was up Into three segments, the work of the night was on. bribed to sneak the saws Into the cell. In the dance halls, pianos ceased Anyway, there was an Investigation suddenly to bang as determined ap afterward and he lost his Job. Then pearing men showed themselves In the ba came out here. So there—” con doorways, closed the places of e x it cluded Mrs. Jordan, “la the story.” and began to sift tbe crowds for the For a moment Bart stood uncertain, persons they sought looking dully out the window, at the The stockade began to fill. Bart caaket-llke boxea which had been piled sought the mayor. on the front veranda. Then, with a "We’ll have to start getting rid of sudden resolve, he hurried up the stair this crowd,” he announced. **Tbla way and to the doorway of the room place'll be Jammed In a minute. Don’t Anita was In. you believe you’d better start court / ’ •It'S Bart,” he announced when her The mayor grinned and turned to two faint answer had come to hit knock, of hla men. “Bart Rogers. May I talk to you a “Get me a table somewhere and con moment / ’ fiscate a couple of those gasoline Assent came from within. Bart torches. We're going to start building opened the door, and walked Im a new city halU" pulsively to the quiet, white-faced girl Court proceedings were simple l by the window. “Guilty or not g u ilty /’ “I Just wanted to tell you that I ’ve "Not guilty, your honor." beard—the whole thing,” be blurted. “All right. Go back there In the stockade aod think It over." Then he cocked hla bead toward the heavens "Sorry we haven't got a roof there. Looks a little like rain.” ”Er— er—guilty, your honor/ “Thanks. Always liked hoftesty. Just for that. I ’ll let you off with a hun dred and costa. Pay the gentleman with tha alx-ehooter here and get out of town on the 1:23.” “Tea, sir, your honor." "Thanks for tha donation. We’ll put your name In the corner-stone of the new city hall and Jail. Mr. Clerk, call the next easel'* Bart laughed, Joyonaly and happily, and moved on. But at tbe corner he baited. Up In tha office of “Bull" Frannlston a lamp was burning. Two men were there—Bart could not see their forme —but the shadows against tbe back wall and celling were evident. It was "Bull” Frannlston and tha man who cared to ba known to the world only I as Leon Barrows. Plainly, from tha shadows, tha men were quarreling. “Give me back that memorandum I" shouted “Bull.” "Bear me? Give me back that memorandum 1” A second'« pause, while the other He man apparently pleaded for restraint. "I’ve Heard— the W t > ' * Thln0.' "Bull” flnng wide hla arms. Blurted. From across the street Bart Rogers "And that I don’t care w»ho 7°»r ta saw the rrest form lurch forward. A tte r Is or what ha'a done <7r~ ° r ,n y ‘ big hand went out to grasp about the thing of the kind I T hat r u helD you standard of tha old oil lamp Then In an»««ray yon say and t h *t 1—1 110 with another cursing demand, the proud (b know you as |t! you were— giant form of "Bull" Frannlston swerved forward, the lamp swinging were a queen 1" Then Just as sudden!/ • • he h*d high over his head as he raised It spoken, he was silent ag-'ln> wlth • to send It erashlng toward bis unseen strange, boyish bashfulneaa. , A second visitor. Higher, higher went the flam- mdfc add hd’ Hsd closed tb J door b«f- th'g thing, farther tra^?!«d* theaiever tin * bbn end was harrying 'down the like arm ae it summoned every atom hall, seething Inwardly at hl« coward of lta strength, then— ice—for Bart, as ho ,h a d . hurried up A crash! A popping, puffing ex- the stairs, had intended j^o Jell he» of “Bull" Franniatou's office. The ancient bolt broke under the preeaure; an Instant later Bart tumbled Into the room, to rush toward the writhing, flame-wrapped being which struggled against the wall on the other side ef the room. Barrows was gone— a glance toward an open window leading to a lower roof told Bart the method of exit. He finally succeeded In enveloping Bull's hejd and shoulders In the heavy cloth. A second more and steps sounded on the stairs. Bart, struggling to evade and fight the flames at tbe same (ime, turned excitedly. "Quick, men!" he shouted, "hold that stuff In front of you— and rush hlm l" They finally succeeded In smother ing the flames and the parte of the room that were abiaxe. Then Bart turned to the injured man. His face was swollen and distorted, his hands clutthed and grasped in agony. Mum bling words came dlsjolntedly from bis blackened lips. “He’s got the combination— he’s got the combination— ” Then, slowly, gaspingly, “Bull” Frannlston lapsed In to unconsciousness. Bart Rogers rose. “Try to make some sort of a stretcher out of these blankets,” be JU N E 24. IW5 W hy suffer from headaches? YOUR EYES PARAGON CAFE ALBANY Examined G E O . M- G IL C H R IS T F. M. French & Son Jewelers, Optometrists A lb any, Oregon died him, both hands prying at the tight, clenched Jaws, to free the pa per enclosed there. A moment later he gained his objective and rote. “Help me get him to the hotel," be ordered. “I t ’ll be easier if we do It before be regains consciousness.1' The aide obeyed. Ten minutes latdr, stretched upon a bed of tbe hotel, Leon Barrows opened his eyes to find a doctor, summoned from tb e room of "Bull” Frannlston. examining the bul let-fractured ankle. At the other end of the room Bart Rogers was reading “ PLATES THAT F IT ” Orowne, bridge work and fillings. It wl(l pay you to get my prices oo your dental work, Cusick bank building, Albany a crumpled paper : “AG REEM ENT “Bellalne. Wyo., “July 8. 1821.” “In consideration and In payment for the transfer of certain oil properties, rights and privileges underlying tbe laud contained In the northwest quar ter of section 94, township 8, range 74, said land known as the Rogers ranch, tbe undersigned, Leon Barrows, does hereby agree and promise to pay Eg bert Frannlston of Bellalne, Wyo., the sum of »190,00000 (one hundred thou sand dollars) upon the satisfactory evi dences of the presence of oil, and agrees also, In consideration of the transfer of fhese rights, to deliver to ordered. “Then carry him up to the the said Egbert Frannlston any and hotel and get a doctor as quick as you all letters, papers and Incriminating evidence of whatsoever sort Implicat can. Im afraid he’s done for.” Bart foUowed the careful litter car ing him In the deaths of Martha U. riers to a corner a block away. But Morrison of Springfield, Ohio, und there he swerved, and, colling a strag Franklin Rogers of Bellalne, Wyo.” gler from an arresting detachment as “What’s this mean?” Bart asked In It passed, he drew him aside. a voice suddenly hoarsened. “What’s—“ “Come with me," he ordered briskly, “It's all a lie. He made me sign and, edging across the street, sidled to that thing—I don't even know what the stairway of Frannlston’s building. It’s all about I —” Bart crept up the stairs and Into the “Stop that talking!” shadows of the office. For Bart’s steady gaxe had again “Take that corner over there," he centered upon the crumpled lines of commanded. “Don't move until I give typewriting : the order.” His aide crawled cautious “As a guarantee of the above, I, ly to the blackness of a cubby-bole Leon Barrows, at one time known as formed by the jutting end of a desk. Mason Bartholomew, hereby declare A closet wag near by. Bart entered and affirm that I am equally guilty It, leaving the door half open. Then with Egbert Frannlston In tbe deaths he prepared to wait— bow long, or for of the persons above stated, and that whom he did not know. An hour this statement la made to assure ttie passed, while the street outside grad ■aid Egbert Frannlston that the In ually quieted and the sharp, barking formation In my possession shall nut orders of raiding Legion men grew be used against him for the purpose fewer and fewer. After a long time of defrauding him of the rights and the night train whittled in, and re privileges of the above-mentioned mained at the station far past Its lands to be obtained under tbe will usual departing time—all for the good of Franklin Rogers, or to avoid pay reason that men and women, convinced ment of the guaranteed »100,000.00 at last that their presence no longer as above stated. was desired, were departing by the “Signed, this 8th day of July, 1021. wholesale for other fields, where, per "LEON BARROWS.” haps, they might be welcomed. It “Ton killed my father!" Bart's brought a sense of relief to Bart voice was hoarse, unnatural. Tha Rogers, a sense of victory and of— Of tensity! For with tba “high thin hands of Leon Barrows writhed ball'' whistle of the engine as the train la terror. left the little station there esme a “I did not. I ’m telling you! I did ■craping sound at the rear of the lung not I He made me sign that thing— office, foUowed by the stealthy form of I was afraid of him— I —” a tall, thin man at he clambered over " I’ll see about that myself. Give the window ledge and crept toward me the combination of that safe. Be the aafel quick about It—otherwise I'll go through It with an acetylene torch !” The teeth of Leon Barrowa sud CHAPTER X I denly began to chatter. “I t ’»—It’s all a lie.” “ B u ll” C o n fe s s e s “Very well, then, prove It. Are you A muttered curse came from the going to give me the combination to shadowy figure that had entered, then, that safe?” consulting a memorandum, he resumed “Six— ” tbe man was staring at the hts task of robbery. celling and talking between dry, white Tbe flashlight was laid on tbe floor lips—“one turn to the left to four, of the safe, as both hands were occu then twice around— ” pied In holding, for the moment, the “W alt a minute. Mark that down, desired thing, found at last. After will you, doctor/’ that, tbe paper was folded and Jammed "Eve already gotten 1L" Into a pocket, the flashlight was ex "Good. Oo ahead.” tinguished; the man rose and— When be bad the combination Bart "Up with your bands 1” Bart had ran out, and over to the office of Leon leaped from the closet and was cover Barrowa. It waa locked, but the shoul ing the shadowy form with his re der of Bart Rogers was strong with a volver. From the other corner of the new strength. One lunge and the door room tbe aide came forth, bis rifle lev yielded. He went to the safe. An hour later— eled. “Up with 'em, Barrows I” The room of "Bull" Frannlston was The man in the shadows whirled. He dodged and twisted, then with one dim with Its shielded light—and with approaching death. writhing leap made for the window. " ’Bull,' " he said quietly, "I've gotten Rart'a finger cramped on the trigger. There was a flash of yallow flams and hold of your confession.” “My w h a t/’ than tha wriggling form of a man on "Your confession to the murder of tha floor. Across the room the legion naire had lowered hla rifle, and. his old Jim's wife back In Illinois and to the killing of my father. I caagbt bayonet ready for action, bad raced Barrows stealing it out of your safe." to a position In front of tha wounded "He worked the combination, e h /' man. “Stop that crawling or I ’ll run you The whisper came with a great effort ¡through with thia bayonet I Mr. — an effort that waa heightened by a “What’s—wbat'e—he Rogers! Oome here, quick 1 He's try sudden hate. say?" ing to stuff something Into his mouth! “That you forced him Into making He's trying te swallow something!” that a g rv S m a n tw lth y o u j^ th n t you Quickly Bart went forward, elahblng threatened to kill hlm, anji-^-” lila revolver and stunning tha fallen “Did he say anything-about the cy man with a sharp bl<u*. Leon Bar- anide—” Tbe man strove to rise. aod ■ rows sank moUualM« add Bart strad- PAGE 3 I ( you enjoy a goad meal, .ind kaow a good meal whan you get it. You’ll be back, tor yoa’ll not forget it: Our aim is to please you. Have Dr. C. FICQ , Dentist plosion. A roar which turned sud denly to an agonized ecream. The lamp had traveled too far to the rear The hand of "Bull” Frannlston had crashed It against the wall, and now he stood, a transfixed thing of scream ing, horrible fear, while the burning oil enveloped him In a creeping mantle of death t "Blankets!” Bart Rogers roared the order as he raced across the street. "Blankets— canvas— anything?" A careening tent of a deserted "doll- rack" stood near by where Its owner had left It to travel to the stockade. One great wrendh and Bart had torn balf Its side away, and leaping up the stairs, crushed against the locked door RURAL E N T E R P R IS E “ Did He Say Anything Cyanide— 7“ About the dropped panting back to his pillow— "the cyanide that he bought for me to give— to give to Rogers? Eh? Look It up. Make ’em show you the poison book at the White Cross store In Cheyenne. That's where he got It— he'd have to sign for It, You'll know his writing— even If he used a false name— Did he say anything about—" "Cyanide/* Bart had motioned the doctor closer that he might serve ns a witness. "What was it for?" “For— Rogers, I told you." “You killed him, then?” “Barrows— and I — yes. I did It ac tually. But he was the man who—’’ “W h e n /’ “The afternoon the oil came In. 1 telephoned— telephoned Barrows. He — he said you were In town and to go — to go ahead. I hurried to the house —and— and made him swallow a five grain capsule. He— he hardly moved." Bart Rogers, white, trembling wltb tbe surprise of the confession, rubbed a band slowly over his eyes. “Then—you'd planned for this— this o i l / ’ "Yes— Barrows. He knew the geol ogist." "And you tricked my father Into making that will?” “He thought— lie thought It was a mortgage. We got him to sign It Just after be had hts first stroke, and then dated It back three weeks. He could still use hts right hand then—and we held It for him to sign. His eyes were bad. He could hardly see. We cut off a mortgage bloak an Inch from the bottom and magnetized— magnet ized the paper with the will on— with the will on It—on the other—other aide. It's easler'n it sounds. Friction, you— you know. Any—any kid can do It. He thought he waa signing—sign tng the mortgage. He signed the will His eyes—his eyes you know. Bar- rows did It all — he framed — he framed every bit of It.” "Tben It was tric k e ry /’ "What else— what else do you sup pose?” “There was a copy of It In hla safe ty box.” “Ransom—Ransom the clerk— was In on the deal. I stole the old man's key long enough for him to open the box. He used—used to work for Bar- rows. It cost—cost »1,000.” “And the signatures— / ’ “Graham’s been— been one of our bunch—ever—ever since he came out here after the—after the Morrleon trouble." "Send—send for the district attor ney !" Bull ordered. "Send—send for him. I'U tell the trpth 1” I t was late the next morning that Bart Roger*. tired, yet strong, with a nervous energy which recognized nei trlct attorney just telephoned me thafl he'd quashed a frame-up charga against Tarko and that he'd gotten a telegram from Illinois that the old In dictment against your futher had beta destroyed. He wasn’t guilty.” The girl sighed—the quiet, heartfelt sigh of a woman from whose ahoulderg had fallen a tremendous, galling load. Bart went on. “Barrows confessed, too, about ari hour ago. There wasn't anything els« for him to do after tbe district attor ney had read him 'Bull's* statement. I t ’s rather a raephtato-llke story ta revenge. Ho waa your mother's suttot —Bartholmow." “Yes, Mr. Jordan—” "His apparent friendship bad beert a mask. When— when you were born, he thought that he saw a chance to cause trouble and tent that anonymous letter. He hadn't looked for anything more than to disrupt the liapptneea of your father and mother. Then, that afternoon he heard your father wan drinking and that he had bought a re volver. Then the whole, grewsome, horrible scheme came Into hla head—« and It worked I" "You mean—" “Frannlston waa a gangster, an ex- convtct whom Bartholomew bad been protecting. He got Into communication with him und bribed him. Then he In veigled your father to hla house—and tha drinks which be gave liltn, con tained chloral. Your father went to sleep In the house of Bartholomew, noc to awaken until he found himself la a half-atupor In hla own home, with hla revolver clutched In hla hand, one chamber empty, and your mother stUl In death. 'Bull' Frannlston had taken him there—and 'Bull' Frannlston had fired the shot. Into tha aleeping man’s hand he put the revolver and thereby- condemned a man to tlie belief that he waa a murderer.” "The fiend 1” “No”— Bart «hook hla head—“ha was only a brute. The fiend was tha man who worked on your father’s fears and your father's Imagination until he Instilled Into bis mind tbe de sire to escape. The fiend was the man who arranged the Jail break, then who naw that your father was transported to the pluce where 'Bull* Frannlstou bad taken refuge, out here In Wyo ming. The fiend was the man who fol lowed. who changed his name, who leered and sneered at a man who wr.e forced to go through life, beltevlnj lilmself a murderer, unable to reveal hla own Identity to hla own daughter, even while he watched that daughter, mistreated. Insulted, beaten by a brute, knowing that the moment he objected, tbe moment he rebelled against the earthly Inferno into which he would be thrust, not only be would be con demned as a wife-slayer, but his daugh ter branded as the child of a murder er. And that fiend was Batholomew, better known as Attorney lAon Bar rowa 1’’ The small hands of the girl clenched. She walked Silently to the window. A t last— "Poor old Jim.” Bart moved closer to her. "We’ll try to make It up to him— Anita.” •'I—I— hope so, Bart.” He touched her arm. “Old Jim told me something one night—Just before I waa rebbed of tha power to—to try to carry out what be gave me the hope of doing. He told me that he'd—he'd help me. I wish— ” and Bart laughed— “that ha’d hurry back and start helping.” Then It was Anita Morrison smiled, aa she half turned from the window. "Do you think you need hla help, Bart?” she asked. “I — I —“ Bart Rogers, suddenly Im pulsive, ceased to ask questions. A moment later a form, unobserved by the two within, pasted the window, curned, paused, and returned, the •■longated, lanky, freckled Bod Tarko, «ho stood scratching hla head for a moment, tben leaned suddenly for ward. "For the love of Mike—break I" ha ordered. “Don't you know them ten- minute kisses la b arred /’ [T H E END.] ther fatigue nor sleeplessness, stood In the living room of the Jordan home anxiously swatting a step on the stair. He had won. The town of Bellalne was a town once more, and not a bed lam. Those of Its unwelcome popu lation who were not In the stockade had departed, poorer and wiser— to spread tbe word that the rifles and bayonets of the American Legion, In time of need, would protect the good name and cleanliness of a model oil town, Bellalne. Locked In the bank was some forty thousand, garnered In fines which bad run all the way from a hundred to a thousand dollars, de pending upon the viciousness of the banian coyotes who, at last, had found their way Into the trap of the taw It meant a new City hall, a new Jail— and more worth-while appropriation to ASH P A ID for f s lt e teeth , d en support the city police force which tal gold, platinum anil di»ar<ts4 would succeed Bart Rogers. His work jewelry, Hoke Smelting and Refining was done now—besides, out where be Co,, Otaego, Mich, once bad labored, on tbe ranch, a for tune awaited him, retnrned to lit rightful owner through the confes sion of a dying murderer. Over In Mannington, a sheriff's chair was va cant, as was the post of a aafety-bux clerk In the bank. Both now reposed In the stockade, their first stop on the Efficient Service. Mdtor Hearse. long Journey that was to end— In com M d y Attendant. pany with the lean-faced Harrows— Ilrow n avillc... . . . . . . . ......O r a g im ' when the heavy gates clanged behind them upon their entrance to Rawlins penitentiary. And It waa with this knowledge, thia security of thought w . I_ W R IG H T that Bart Rogers awaited the sound Mortician & Funeral Director of the step on the stair, A moment Halsey and Harriabnrg JaJer he -moved to w a rd the door, his Call D. T a rto n , Halsey, or Sands extended, lit« eyes beaming. W, L. W a io HT, Harritbueg “I've got a bit of good new« fo^ you, A n ita.' They've— let Jim go The dis C D ELB ER T ST A R R Funeral Director and Li censed Embalmpf