HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1929.
PAGE THREE
FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT
I followed the direction of her
glance. The dresser was bare, save
for toilet articles.
Maryella looked at me, panic
stricken. "Why, where are they?
Will you look In the drawers?"
I did. They were not to be found.
"Possibly Mrs. Lillielove picked
them up," I consoled. "I'll ask her."
When Mrs. Lillielove was sum
moned she disclaimed having seen
the Jewels at all the previous eve
ning. "That thief must have taken them
then!" decided Maryella firmly.
I recollected that In order to get
to the door Julius had been forced
to pass the dresser on which the
pearls lay. It was perfectly possi
ble for him to have picked them up
unobserved as he went by.
"What shall I do? I can never
look Mrs. Hcmmingway in the face
again if I have lost them! They
were very valuable. What shall I
do? What shall I do?"
"I'll get them back," I declared
heroically, not knowing into what
depths my statement might lead me.
"Oh, will you, Tom?" Maryella ex
claimed, dragged from the slough of
despond by my confidence. "If you
do, you can ask anything of me you
want!"
My heart thrilled at the promise
in her voice. With such a reward
in sight I would have entered upon
the labors of Hercules without a
doubt in my own mind of accom
plishing them.
I didn't know exactly what she
meant, but I thought I would take a
chance even though Jim Cooper had
said they were engaged.
There was no time to be lost.
Leaving Maryella to dress, I went
down stairs to organize a posse to
go in pursuit. My announcement
that I was going to lead another
party to recapture the escaped con
victs met with scant enthusiasm on
the part of the old soldiers. One
and all they politely declined. Even
the sheriff did not respond to the
Idea with any zest.
"How can we catch them?" he
objected. "We've got to follow on
foot and they've got my horse."
"From what I've seen of your
horse," I replied. "I don't think we
will have much trouble In beating
him In a race."
"He is a good horse," the sheriff
argued truculently, "and he Is only
nineteen years old, come next May."
"Well, let's go," I urged. "Even if
you and I have to go alone."
The sheriff looked at his watch.
"They are clear in town by this
time," he observed, "and they'll be
taking the 0:36 train out. We have
n't got a chance. We'd have to get
there in twenty minutes, and that
ain't possible."
I groaned. It was only eight
miles. There was no way of making
the distance except by an aeroplane
or
There was an alternative. The ice
boat! I ran to the window. It was still
on the lake where I had seen the
boys rig it the day before.
I told the sheriff my plan. He was
doubtful.
"I wouldn't trust myself on one
of the dog-gone things. Terra cotta
is good enough for me any time."
"Won't you go?" I asked. "I need
some one to help me sail It"
"No sir-ree! Not for a thousand
dollars."
I turned to the rest of the men.
"Who will go with me on the ice
boat to intercept our escaped pris
oners before they can catch the
9:36 train?"
My- proposal was received with
absolute silence.
"I will," said a voice from the
stairs. There stood Maryella, vivid
with restored health.
"You're on!" I said. "Hustle.
We've got only eighteen minutes
now."
At my suggestion Maryella put on
a pair of trousers over her other
clothing and borrowed a man's coat
and overcoat.
Thus equipped and accompanied
by the protests of our companions,
we hastened down the hill. It was
snowing again, but there was a gale
of wind back of it.
It took me probably a minute to
get the sails hoisted. At any rate,
we had less than ten minutes In
which to make town. Fortunately
the wind was on the quarter and I
knew what an iceboat was capable
of when crowded to its utmost.
Maryella had sailed a regular water
craft before so she knew how to
handle a jib without Instruction.
I shoved off. She started very
slowly. At first I feared that pos
sibly she was too heavy for the sail
expanse.
As soon as we go out in the lake,
however, away from the protection
of a wooded point of land that pro
jected from the bank near the insti
tution, a heavier gale of wind struck
us and with a leap like a frightened
horse the ice-boat jumped it.
For the most part the Ice was
black and clear. Occasionally there
was a small drift When we struck
them the rigging would rattle and
we would slow up. But we went
through every time, and out in the
middle we struck a clear space,
smooth, unbroken and hard.
A sudden squall of snow came
with the wind, obscuring every
thing; but I knew how to steer from
the wind. As long as I held her
where she was we would reach Fair
Oaks on one stack. The cold was
stinging and the snow beat upon our
exposed faces. My fingers were
numb from holding the, tiller, and
so were Maryella's where she grasp
ed the Jib sheet
But the exhiliration made the
blood pump faster. The terrlfflc,
staggering speed, the hiss of the
runners, the whine of the wind In
the rigging and the occasional flap
of the mainsail when I pointed up
too high were music for my ears.
We seemed not to be touching the
ice at all; and indeed there were
moments when we were running on
only two runners. Maryella's weight
was not sufllcient to hold the wind
ward shoe on the ice, and often it
would jump a foot or more from
the surface.
I looked at her inquiringly the
first time it happened to see if she
was frightened. She read the ques
tion of my glance.
It's all right," she shouted. Ill
take a chance!"
And so we did. I held the ice-boat
with all sail set at the point where
she went fastest.
Suddenly out of the white flurry
loomed a black shape. It was one
of the fishing shanties that dotted
the lake. I tried to swerve and miss
it but it was too late.
Crash! The front end of the main
beam went through it breaking our
forward stay and the jib halyard.
The jib Itself released, fluttered
down. The ice-boat staggered and
almost stopped.
Then, slowlv. she recovered neaa-
way, the wind filled the mainsail,
and by holding a little harder on
the tiller I discovered that l couia
still keep on the course.
Fortunately the mainmast was
strone and even without the for
ward stay it held. I doubted ser
iously whether we could come about
and go on the other tack, but as
long as we kept in tne direction we
were going there seemed every rea
son to sunnose that we would last
to the end of the trip if nothing I
further occurred.
A sudden cessation of snow flur
ries revealed the town to us and
with it the train approaching the
station on the other side of the lake.
Maryella looked back to see if I
had observed. I nodded and held
her up a little higher.
Neck and neck we approached the
station. I prayed for more wina,
and when it wouldn't come I swore
under my breath.
The train was nearly at the sta
tion. Then came a squall. The ice-boat
leaped forward once more with
creaking mast. Our speed doubled.
As the train pulled in I swung the
ice-boat around sharply and abreast
of the station.
As she came about the mast went
over with a crash. Fortunately
Maryella leaped clear of the rig-
ging; and without any further par
ley we raced up the bank. We got
there while they were still unload
ing baggage.
On the platform, smoking a huge
cigar in obvious contentment, was
Julius. He had not seen us, and
when I laid a heavy hand on his
shoulder he looked up startled.
"I've got you," I exclaimed.
He made no reply to my obvious
statement.
"See if he has got the pearls,"
panted Maryella.
It was a good suggestion. I has
tily went through his pockets much
to the amazement of the loafers at
the station. He had nothing In them
but some money and a knife.
"Where are the pearls? I de
manded.
"I ain't got any pearls," he replied.
"Yes you have," I insisted. "You
stole they from the dresser in that
room where you hid!"
A crafty look came to Julius's
eyes. He pondered a moment.
The train whistled.
"All aboard," yelled the conductor.
"Will you let me go free if I tell
you where the pearls are?" Julius
asked.
I debated.
"Say 'yes,' Tom!" urged Maryella.
"I must get them back at any cost."
"Yes, I'll let you go."
Julius moved toward the platform
of the car which was getting under
way.
"I'll tell you as soon as I am on
the train."
Not quite understanding, I never
theless ran on beside him and al
lowed him to mount the first step.
"Now where are they?" I demand
ed. The train was moving faster. I
could not keep up much longer.
"They are on this train," said Ju
lius, and then seeing the question
ing look on my face he added, "I
sent them to myself by parcel post
They are In the mail car."
I dropped back, and the train
pulled away. Julius waved at me
from the car steps.
CHAPTER XIV
On the Mail Car.
I gazed stupidly at the departing
platform.
"Where are the pearls?" asked
Maryella, joining me.
"On that train," I explained. "He
put 'em in the mail and sent them
to himself, parcel post"
"And you let the train go off with
out you!" she reproached.
"He didn't tell me until it was too
late for me to get aboard." I defend
ed my action, or rather inaction as
best I could.
While we looked at the receding
train it came to a gradual stop. I
looked for the cause and noticed a
water tank beside the track.
"Good-by," I said, with hastily
formed resolution, as I left Maryella
and sprinted down the track.
I caught It No need to go Into de
tails of the red spots before my
eyes and the dry throat that burned
me as I ran. As it pulled out I
swung on f the rear platform.
I went Into the car and went to
the forward end where I could look
into the coach beyond.
Yes, Julius was there, finishing up
his cigar all unconscious of my pre
sence. I decided it would be just
as well not to make a scene on the
train, but to follow him to his des
tination and get the pearls when he
claimed them at the post office.
So I sat where I could see the
platform and note when he got off.
After all I was redeeming myself
for any blunders I had made in the
past
"Tickets," said a voice.
The conductor had entered the
door just in front of me.
I had no ticket and explained it
to the official.
He looked at me suspiciously. My
clothing was a trifle nondescript
"I had only just time enough to
catch the train without stopping at
the station," I offered.
My short-winded condition bore
out my statement
"All right. I don't care," he re
plied. "You'll have to pay a little
extra, that's all, by settling with me
on a cash basis."
While he was asking me where I
wanted to go I reached in my pock
et for some money.
I found nothing but a hole. Up to
that moment I had forgotten that I
was wearing Comrade Dreyen
furth's "other" pants.
It's a terrible thing to be without
money among strangers. I know of
no sensation akin to It.
"I left it in my other clothes," I
said weakly.
"Is that so?" said the conductor
scornfully eyeing me with a prac
tical gaze. "Don't try to kid me.
You haven't any other clothes."
I was indignant, but what was
the use?
"Cough up some money," said the
conductor crossly, "or get off." He
reached up suggestively for the bell
cord which signals to the engineer.
(Concluded next week.)
SAVE
YOUR GRAIN
GRAIN PRICES ARE
GOING UP
See the Combine-Harvester
Level at Your Dealer's.
New York Life Insurance Co.
NOT A COMMODITY BUT A SERVICE
W. V. Crawford, Agent
Heppner, Ore.
John Day Valley Freight line
(Incorporated)
Operating between Heppner and Portland and
John Day Highway Points.
DAILY SERVICE
Prompt delivery, rates reasonable
plus personal and courteous service.
$10,000 cargo insurance.
CITY GARAGE, Local Agent, Phone 172
"Move Your
Future Forward"
That fa ti ttu of
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which the "Northwert-
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eeekins budneae train
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end be somebody. J net
write ui e. line, end
It will come to yon by
return mail. The coupon
below Is for your eonTenknce In replyins
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Broadway and Salmon
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PretOUnt
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STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
Heppner Gazette Times, Only $2.00 Per Year
Gentlemen : I went
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NAME
ADDRESS
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JULY, 25, 26, 27
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Here they are RED HOT food specials! These outstanding values are
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APRICOTS Fine Fancy Fruit $T1.19
Just Right for Canning. Per Lug 11
CANNING BERRIES
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Phone 1082
STONE'S DIVISION Hotel Heppner Bldg.
OPEN EVERY EVENING UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK