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
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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
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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