HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1927. PAGE THREE ! CHAPTER XI. A Bargain for a Woman At last Edna spoke in low, even tones. "What do you expect to do with me. please?" , "We shall have to do whatever is best for yourself," I managed to an swer. "That will be determined when v.e reach the stage line, I suppose." inarm you! Once at the stage line and I shall contrive. You must htve no thought of me. I understand very well that we should not trave far in company and you may 'not wish to go in my direction. You have plans of your own?" 'None of any great moment. Ev erything has failed me, to date. There is only the one place left: New York State, where I came from." "You have one more place than I," she replied. Her voice had 3 quality of definite estimation which nettled, humbled, ana isolated me, as u I lacked in seme essential to a standard Bet. "Well at home you will live com fortably. You will need to wear no belt weapon. The police will protect you. You can marry the girl next door or even take the chance of the one across the street, her parentage beir.g comme if faut. Your children will love to hear of the rough mule whacker trail yes, you will have great tales but you will not mention that you killed a man who tried to kill you and then rode for a night with strange woman alone at your stirrupl Your course is the safe course. By all means take it, Mr. Heeson." "That I shall do, madam," I retort td. "The West and I have not agreed. I wish to God I had never seen it I did not conceive that I should have to take a human life become an out law in the night, riding for refuge " And I choked passionately. "You deserve much sympathy," she remarked. I lapsed into a turbulence of voice less rage at myself. For a time our mules plodded with sundry snorts and stares as if they were seeing portents in the moon shine. Eventually their imaginings dulled, so that they now moved care less of where or why. I could not but be aware of my companion. Her hair glinted palely, for she rode bareheaded; her Mor mon gown, tightened under her as she sat astride, revealed the lines of her boyish limbs. She was a woman, in any guise; and I being a men, protect her I should, as far as necessary! I found myself wishing that we could upturn some thing pleasant to talk about! The drooning round of my thoughts revolved over and over, and I dozed, and kept dozing, until she spoke. "Hadn't we better stop?" That was a curious sensation. When I stared about, uncomprehend ing, my view was shut off by a white ness veiling the moon above and the earth below except immediately un derneath my mule's hoofs. "What's the matter?" I asked. "The fog. I don't know where we aie." "Oh! I hadn't noticed." "1 don't think there's any use in riding on," she said. "We've lost our bearings." "Yes, we'd better stop where we are," I agreed. "Then in the morn h.g we can take stock." She swung oft before I had awk wardly dismounted to help her. Her limbs failed my own were clamped by stiffness and she staggered and collapsed with a little laugh. "I'm tired," she confessed. "Wait just a moment." "You stay where you ore," I or dered, staggering also as I hastily landed. "I'll make camp." But she would have none of that; pleaded my one-handedness and in sisted upon cooperating at the mules. The animals were stuked out, fell to nibbling. I sought a spot for our beds; laid down a buffalo robe for her and , placed her saddle as her pillow. She sank with a sigh, tucking her skirt .under her, and I folded the robe over. Her face gazed up at me; she ex tended her hand. "You are very kind, sir," she said, in a smile thut , pathetically curved her lips. There, at my knees, she looked so worn, so slight, so childish, so in need of encouragement that all was well and that she had a friend to serve, her, that with a rush of sudden sympathy I would indeed I could have kissed her, upon the forehead, if not upon the lips themselves. It was an impulse well-nigh over mastering an impulse that must have dazed me so that she saw or felt, for a tinge of pink swept Into her skin; she withdrew her hand and settled composedly. "Good-night. Please sleep. In the morning we'll reach the stage road and your troubles will be near the end." 4 Under my own robe I lay fora long time debating over what she might have dono had I actually kissed her to comfort her. Daniel had been disposed of, Mon loyo did not deserve her; I had won her, the could inspire and guide me if i stayed; and I saw myself stay ing, and I saw myself going home, and I already regretted a host of things, as a man will when at the forking of the trails. When I awakened we were still en shrouded by the fleece of fog. As I gazed sleepily about me I could' see Edna's eyes were open. She looked at me. "Sh!" she warned, with quick shake of head. The same warning bade me listen. In a moment I heard voices, They were indistinguishable except as vocal sounds. "I've been hearing them some little while," she whispered. "Adam's men trailing us?" "I hope not," she gasped, in sheer agony. "If we might only know in time!" Suddenly the fog was shot with gold, as the sun flashed in. Gradual ly the earth appeared in glimpses. "There!" , she whispered, pointing. "Look! They're Indians. We must get away before they see us." We worked rapidly, bridling and sddling while the fog rose with mea sured steadiness. "Hurry!" she bade. The whole desert was a golden haze when having packed we climbed The fog lingered in patches. From patch to patch we threaded, with many a glance over shoulder. At last we came to a rough out crop of red sandstone, looming rud dily on our right. Edna quickly swerved toward it. "The best chance. I see nothing else, she muttered. "We can tie the mules under cover, and wait. We'll surely be spied if we keep on." In a moment we had gained the ref uge. The sculptured rock masses, de tached one from another, several jut ting ten feet up, received us. We tied the mules short, in a nook at the rear; and we ourselves craWled in un til we lay snug against the shadowing buttresses with the desert vista open ing before us. We had been just in time. Round ing a knoll there appeared a file of mounted figures, Indians unmistak ably. "A war party! Sioux, I think," she said. "Don't they carry scalps on that first lance? They-ve been raid ing the stage line. Do you see any squaws .' ' 'No," I hazarded. "All warriors, I should guess." All warriors. But squaws would be worse." On they cantered; indeed, seemed to be diverging from our ambush an.d making more to the west. And I had hopes that, after all, we were safe. Then her hand clutched mine firm ly. A wolf had leaped from cover in the path of the file; loped eastward across the desert, and instantly, with a whoop that echoed upon us like the crack of doom, a young fellow darted from the line in gay pursuit. Away they tore, while the file slackened, to watch. Our trail of flight bore right athwart the wolf's projected route. There was just the remote chance that the lad would overrun it, in his eagerness; and for that intervening nion-ent of grace we stared, fascinated, hand clasping hand. He s found it! He's found it!" she announced, in a little wail. In mid-career the boy had checked his pony so shortly that the four hoofs ploughed the sand. He wheeled a pivot and rode back for a few yards, scanning the ground, letting the ulf go. The youth flung up a glad hanc and the band galloped to him. Yes, he has found it, she said. 1 "Now they will come." 1 11 do my best, with revolver," I promised. "Yes," she murmured. "But after that?" I had no reply. This contingency we two facing Indians was outside my calculations. "Shall we make a break for it?" 1 proposed. "It would be madness on theee poor mules." She murmured to herself. "Yes, they're Sioux! I must talk with them." "But they're coming," I rasped. "They're getting in range. We've got the gun, and twenty cartridges. May be if I killed the chief" Ere I could stop her My Lady had sprung upright, to mount upon a rock and, all in view, to hold open hand above her head. The sunshine glinted upon her hair, a fugitive little breeze bound her gown closer about her slim figure. They had seen her instantly. The :hief rode forward at a walk, his hand likewise upheld. "Keep down! Keep down, please," she directed to me, while she stood motionless. "Let me try." The chief neared until we might see his every lineament a splendid man, his eyes devouring her so covet ously that I felt the gloating thoughts behind them. He called enquiringly: a greeting and a demand in one, it sounded. She teplied. And what they two said, in word and sign, I could not know. Then hi cantered back to his men, while Charter No. 11007 Reserve District No. 12 REPORT OF CONDITION OF THE Farmers & Stockgrowers National Bank AT HEPPNER, IN THE STATE OF OREGON, AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MARCH 23, 1927. RESOURCES Loans and discounts, including rediscounts, occeptances of other banks and foreign bills of exchange or drafts, sold with indorsement of this bank $207,820.41 Overdrafts, unsecured 687.58 U. S. Government securities owned: All United States Government securities (including pre miums, if any) 7,700.00 Other bonds, stocks, securities, etc., owned 10,814.92 Furniture and fixtures 2,719.27 Real estate owned other than banking house 17,067.20 Lawful reserve with Federal Reserve Bank 18,780.76 Cash in vault and amount due from national banks 50,703.35 Checks on other banks in the same city or town as reporting bank 227.40 Total of last two items above $50,930.75 Miscellaneous cash items 1,007.91 Other assets 4,134.05 Total $321,552.85 LIABILITIES Capital stock paid in $ 50,000 Undivided profits $5,110.79 Less current expenses paid 3,123.26 1,987, Amount due to national banks 158. Cashier's checks outstanding 3, Total of last two items above '. $162.05 Demand deposits (other than bank deposits) subject to Re serve (deposits payable within 30 days): Individual deposits subject to check 205,524. Certifiicates of deposit due in less than 30 days (other than for money borrowed) 62. Total of demand deposits (other than bank deposits) subject to Reserve $205,577.17 Time deposits subject to Reserve (payable after 30 days, or' subject to 30 days or more notice, and postal savings): Certificates of deposit (other than for money borrowed) 11,606. State, county, or other municipal deposits secured by pledge of assets of this bank or surety bond 7,700. Other time deposits 44 519, Total of time deposits subject to Reserve $63,826.10 ,00 Total $321,562.85 State of Oregon, County of Morrow, ss. I, J. W. Beymer, President of the above-named bank, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. J. W. BEYMER, President. ' Subscribed and sworn to be fore me this 4th day of April, 1927. JOS. i. NYS, (SEAL) Notary Public. My commission expires June 8, 1927. CORRECT Attest: J. D. FRENCH, J. G. THOMSON JOS. M. HAYES, Directors. Edna stepped lightly down; answered my querying look. "It's all right. I'm going, and so are you," Bhe said, with a faint smile, oddly subtle a tremulous smile in a white face. "Where? We are free, you mean? What's the bargain?" "I go to them. You go where you choose to the stage road, of course. I have his promise. No, no," she caid, checking my indignant cry. "Really I don't mind. The Indians .ie about the only persons left to me. You can go home, and I shall not be unhappy. Please believe that! The wife of a f-reat chief is quite a per- Modern taste revels in the goodness of Camel SMOKERS of today the most particular and hardest to please -find their smoking -wishes realized in the mellow goodness of Camels. They demand the choicest Turkish and Domestic tobaccos, and find them in Camel gloriously blended. Modern smokers put Camel ahead of all other cigarettes. You should know the mildness, the mellowness that brings enjoyment to present-day smokers. You'll find it in Camel every good point that could be looked for in a cigarette. It's the modern favorite. "Have a Camel!" O 1917, ft. J. Remold. Tobtm Company, Wiiuton-Salam, N. C 1 u n rjrv-a GILLIAM & BISBEE Our inventory shows an over stock of Sperry's Mill Run Linseed Oil Meal Alfalfa Meal which will be sold at re duced prices. Machinery and repairs for all kinds of farm work. We Have It, Will Get It, or It is Not Made. GILLIAM & BISBEE HEPPNER, ORE. son age he won't inquire into my past. But if we try to stay here you will certainly be killed, and I shall ftuffer, and we shall gain nothing. You mint take my money. Please do. Then good-bye. I told him I would come out, under his promise." (Concluded next week) Conyrij'r.t by Kdwin L. Sabin. A Smart Maid He kissed the parlor maid and the girl screamed. The wife came in nad looked about suspiciously. "Fifi. why did you scream?" "Through joy, madam. The master hao j'i"t doubled my wnpeg." WHAT MAKES 'EM LAY? MODEL STRAW-LOFT CHICKEN SHED CH-200 2020 ft. 100 Hens GH-30O 30x30 ft. 250 Hens This chicken shed Is similar to the "Wash. State College Straw-Loft Poultry-House" or the "Missouri" type shed. Good Chickens Will Do Their Part. Build a warm, sani tary, convenient, well constructed chicken shed. We furnish complete plans No guesswork Including designs or self-feeders, nests, roosts, etc. "Materially Yours TTJM-A-LUM LUMBER CO. "Plans St Materials for Homes 4 Farm Bldgs." ClL 0 W Credit is Expensive -so we have 'decided that CASH is the best for us andforourcustomrs.Our sale taught us that there plenty of thrifty people who would rather pay cash and buy at cheaper prices. jz?To those cash customers we want to offer high grade goods at the lowest prices, meeting the cash prices of the large chain stores. Friday & Saturday, Apr. 8 & 9 WE OFFER YOU THESE EXCEPTIONAL VALUES: COUNTRY CLUB COFFEE I WORK SOX 1 -lb. Cans NOW 50c Men's Black and Brown, 2 for Good Bulk Coffee at 40c 25c Solid Pack Royal Red SARDINES, while they last TOMATOES, 6 cans for $1 2 for 25c ALL CANNED GOODS ACCORDINGLY r- RFniirrinN qhopq men's dress shirts B.g REDUCTION on SHOES Reg $, 25 NQW $ , 0Q BE THRIFTY AND INDEPENDENT. PAY CASH W. P. PROPHET Heppner, Oregon