PAGE ETflHT
2. RPID-flR
6YS0PSI8: The Uontana Km
md Mateo Rubrie, fomnue Uejt
an Robin Hood, have left Brother
Paacval to hold their hone; and
tre at a pattern gate of the tort of
Dureya. itontana ha$ bribed Hoe
Ita, who telle him hovt to tap to
that the pate trill be opened. The
tiro men hope to recover lor Btthop
Emilicno the emerald crown of
Our Lady, which the governor hne
etolen from the church in Vuraya.
Chapter 17
OPEN DOOR
I7HEN they were Handing before
the gate, Montana lifted hla
hand. Rubrls at once stepped up
sgtlnst the wall, flattening himself
against It There be waited while
Montana rapped twice, paused, rap
ped twice again, and then three
rimes, rapidly and lightly.
There was only a moment's pause,
and then a key was heard turning.
Great bolta slid back, one by one,
each making & light clanking sound
as It disengaged; and finally the
heavy door began to sag outwards.
As It opened voices thrust out Into
the night.
"Be tender, Andres."
"Be kind, Andres!"
"Be still, you fools!" panted a
quick, harsh answer from close to
the door.
It yawned wider, until the lamp
light waa glistening over the thick
Iron plates which shod the Inside
of the postern, studded with the
heads of a hundred rivets big
enough to have been worked Into
the aide ot the mightiest of liners,
He who was thrusting the door
span could be seen at the same time.
one of those men who are big from
the waist up and bowlegged be
neath, the legs bending aa though
to support and balance more easily
the top-heavy bulk above.
He wore wrinkled cotton trousers,
but above tho waist, where his body
became more Important, his uniform
grew splendid, also, and wound up
In epauletted shoulders fit to have
graced a major, at the least. He
wore at bis belt a long sheathed
knife and a revolver, and he car
ried a rifle slung over his shoulder,
tor that was the constant rule with
all the men ot that wary old fox,
Beneral Estrada.
"Sellorlta Roslta my dear!'
whispered the panting voice of the
sergeant as he thrust himself at last
through the gap of the opening door
Into the dark ot the night outside.
"Where are you, my sacred b auty?'
The blow that tell on him made a
dull sound, because It struck on
the padding of muscles Just over the
Juncture of head and neck. Even
then, only the extraordinary flesh of
Sergeant Andres prevented him
from sustaining a fracture of the
spinal column or the neck verte
brae, because Rubric had struck
from the side and with much en
thusiasm.
Montana, gliding forward from
the opposite side, received the top
pling weight In bis arms and laid It
In a heap upon the ground.
"Well, close the door, at least,'
aid a voice Inside the door, "o
wo'M have to come and look out,
Andres I"
"We've counted to ten, and the
door Is still not closed. Poor Andres,
Is this our fault or yours?"
The two began to laugh.
"Let me go first!" said one.
"Keep back, you fool! I've started
already."
'TMIEY came, scuffling, and struck
tneir shoulders against the door,
which shuddered open with a slight
groaning of the hinges. Into the
widening shaft of light whlcb was
allowed to escape Into the night In
this manner, atepped the masked
face of Montana, with Rubrls scarce
ly behind blm.
Their leveled revolvers drove the
soldiers back In a contusion. But
they did not actually flee. Rubrls
was cursing them by all the names
of his favorite saints.
"Run, you rats! Run, log-steal-
era! Run, brindled swine and give
me a chance to Jump on you behind
and pull back your heads to cut
your throats the better! Ay, run
tools! Don't stand waiting!"
But they could not run. The husky
sobbing of hla breath paralysed
them, tor he seemed like a man
already drinking blood. -
Montana, unaided, lifted up the
bulk of the fallen sergeant, dragged
him Inside the door, and let his
loosened weight spill dow? on the
floor. Staring at him, he pulled the
door shut again to keep In the tell
tale, broadening arm of light that
advanced Into the darkness.
Montana stepped over hlra and
saw that Rubrls had turned his men
ANOTHER 'OLDEST'
CITY DISCOVERED
ON ANCIENT SITE
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 12 (AP
SelPtitiRt who uncovprM city of
3.3M) B C. a couple of yfun ngo
thought they hid found the world
old ft community, but they've lern.
swl rwently that town was ,itnng"
on lop of Its "duddr"' by eight cen
turies. Thle new "oldest' city flourish
ing some 6.000 yetrs beck was an
nounced In a report from Charles
Ba-che, field director of the Amer
ican School of Oriental research
CnlwaUg q4 pnns)ivftnu Uubeum
ROMANCE BY, EVAN EVAW .
against the wall and bad i .
away their weapons. He was rapldl)
tying their wrists together.
One ot the soldiers was only s
boy. He began to weep in a small,
weak voice, getting out the name ol
a saint or of Heaven every now and
then.
Soldiers? I could make a bettei
soldier out of wet cornmeal!" said
Rubrls. "Such men as these to bs
lo tho unlforma ot soldiers."
Gag 'em," said Montana, and set
to work.
The second soldier began to
scream. He got out one half-breath
ot sound before Rubrii beat out the
voice with a stroke of bis list and
then began to thrust a wadded piece
ot cloth between tbe teeth ot the
guard.
Not too deep and not too hard,
cautioned Montana. "We don't want
to have dead men behind ua, amlgo."
"Will you tell me how to gag a
man?" exclaimed Rubrls, angrily.
"Remember, Montana, that I wis
gagging men while you were still :n
the cradle, and I have gagged them
ever since. If any man In the world
has the touch, I am he."
He finished trussing his man as he
spoke. They turned to the sergeant
Ha was barely breathing. And be
cause of that, Montana took charge
ot the gagging, making sure that the
wad of cloth was worked well Inside
the mouth, but that the tongue was
not thrust back Into the throat, with
a chance of strangling poor Andres.
Now three soldiers of General Es
trada lay on their faces side by side,
each tied to the other, so that move
ment would be Impossible for all.
"How much time has that cost
us?" muttered Rubrls.
"You've promised me," answered
the Kid. "No murder, Mateo!"
"Call It what you want," said Ru
brls, "but the kind God who watches
us knows how much time we've
wasted here In His honor, when we
might have left them still forever,
with a thrust apiece. Come on. 1
know the way. I've memorise., every
turn of every hall In the place!"
HE went on, leading straight up
a flight of stairs which was
drilled through the thickness o: the
great old walla of the tort ot Duraya.
Behind them, all the three men
lay still, but the sergeant was be
ginning to move his Jaws a little.
He stirred them with care, and he
began to push with his tongue
against the base ot the wadding that
kept him from drawing r free
breath.
After a time his tongue seemed
to swell with the efforts he had been
making. His throat appeared tu b
closing, also. He had to . struggli
to get any breath Into his lungs.
Then he could not breathe at all.
With this, In a frightful panic, he
heaved himself to his knees so
strongly that the other two 'were
dragged out of place, also. He tug
ged with all his might The twine
that bound his wrists cut through
the skin like dull blades of knives.
But every effort be made only stifled
him the m-ire.
This he realized.
There were two pairs of hands be.
sides his own, ready with a gesture
to pluck the strangling thing from
his mouth, but all those hands were
helpless as bis own.
The sergeant remembered an old
folk tale out ot his youth. And sud
denly be saw that to struggle waa to
kill blmse.f. It be were to make
headway of any kind, he would have
to relax himself In every muscle
first. Then he might be able to
breathe.
So he dropped down. His face was
In the dust, but this did not matter.
He could feel the pressure of the
blood thrusting up In his cheeks.
His neck was swelling. Even to open
bis eyes wi difficult
He began ' think of death, but
as ha Isuallzed It, and as he deter
mined that he would beat out hit
brains against the rock to shorten
the aguuy, he suddenly discovered
that a needle of coldness waa thrust
ing Into the fever ot his throat
And then be realised that It was s
whiff ot air. It drew In audibly
through the horrible slaver that
filled his mouth. His whole throat
was growing cooler.
And presently be know that hit
life was saved And he could actu
ally breathe. By degrees he was go
ing to reduce the burning agony of
fire In his lungs.
Instead of pausing to thank God
for this ellverance, with toe stub
borness ot a hero, or of a brute, he
Instantly commenced making fresh
efforts to work the gag from hie
mouth.
(Copyright, ItSi, Harper A Brother)
Rubrls, tomorrow, does a dtnef.
Archeologlcal expedition, which be
gan Us work eight years ago.
Digging In the TVpe Qawra, a pre
historic mound In northern Meso
potamia, the expedition discovered
the heretofore "oldest" city back In
1937.
The scientists, however, kept on
burrowing downward, and they have
since unearthed twelve layers of clvU
Uratlon the last few beneath the
silt believed to have been left by the
flood ol Noah's timeand they be
lieve there remain as many more of
those serata.
Delving in the ruins, the archae
ologists found walls of buildings,
household utensils, receptacles for
the beauty preparations of the ivom
en of the day. and other remains of
the people's domestic Hie.
PENDLPrON, C;c rFeb.Ta. iAn
Induins on the l'm.itlK reservat.O'i
today hid completed temporary m
ganiistion of a llventcvk a.vciatii:.
which will ensMe them to exervi'-c
better control over cattle received
Xrom Lbs government).
fedford matl
WATER SYSTEM IS
AT
CCC Men Making Many
Improvements Under
ground Pathway Made
Safer Trail Pushed.
CAMP OREGON CAVES, KERBV.
Ore., Feb. 12. (Spl.) With clearing
weather rapid progress la being made
In the emergency conservation work
program at Camp Oregon Caves. Ex
cavation has been virtually completed
at the site of the 38,000 gallon rein
forced concrete water storage reser
voir being Installed. In connection
with the water system under con
struction to augment the present
water supply to the Oregon Caves
monument.
Nine thousand pounds of steel
have been received and transported
to the site and it U expected that
forms will be set and concrete poured
within the next ten days. Nearly
two miles of three and four-Inch
pipe have been purchased for this
project, delivery of which will be
made the fore part of next week.
Improvement on the trail system
leading to major points of Interest
within snd adjacent to the monu
ment have been surveyed and work
started on the rerouting of the trail
to the Big Fir tree. It is planned
S MATTER POP
' WAT ATVOU (WATC-H.XH. ) I AT5 ) ( 1 ( MAW Y )
(Copyright, 1935, by The Bell 8yndiete, Inc.)
TAILSPIN TOMMY Tommy Overhears a Plot! bj nai furrest
SJMETlMtS WISH W'ljPVlj uiAL,TUEN WS&BE I UT.C f- JUST OVER HEARD. lEI
wommvast-o TTrrSk Ym&$cm i'O pavd morjE Mr coolo cook up (.ksnt a uemabu that Y vou MEAN-M
LTlJ FiSi rWkJ&r aSS nUrmwriOrH-rO ffry)EANIN6 GNOUSH NER.V T6 Y ujok LEADS ME TO dr "THERE'S J ls
GKAS fEQ JHKyV--XMS WAX V?Tf' MY DrWIN' WMAT? ASK THAT SWELL AROUND BEUEVE PRESIDENT Jr'ReTBerL. 5fC ISi
ilr
BEN WEBSTER'S OARER Comfort From Willie" ' " ?nwm A'R '
RiARicrNr - P'eeN,wAi YouwoRRieo about , "V5 F-anp another thing, 6em, i'aasSIIE. ms.. CHIRP SAVS VOu'RtTX,
jzf weVE JUST OOT VZ WHAT MR. WALLOPER WAS SAVIN? I BE6INNIN' TO FEEL A NEW CROVJTW fjfer THE 5WELL6ST PERSON THANK
TO AAAKE GOOD W IF VOU WAS, BEN, OONT DO IT" HONEST, E O' FUZZ ON AAY HEAD I'LL BETCHA I HE EVER MET IN ALL H15 WILL,,E
z elilf FOR, ARCHIE HE'$ I I'M GLAD VOU A1ADE Arte TAME YOU ANYTHING I'LL WILD A 6A IN LIFE, BEN -AND LISTEN BEN- VOUR
-SgE SHIP ONE OF THE MOST SAVED ME FROM CODFt&H CHARLEYI INSIDE O' TWO OR THREE WEEKS- J V I THINK SO, TOO ' A eALL '
THE NEBB3 Is My Face Red?" ' av a, e31
! ' Y HELLO, MR. U) EST, " " MAVC VOL) BEENl f ves, 1M OKJ tuT lOMLVA oD VOU SEG TME' eyPRES-SIOIsJ OM
( IT'S CERrrAIKJLV MICE J WA.TCMINJ3 BOUSHT IOOO SUARES. TuAT SUV'S MUS UJMEM 1 SAlO L
j TD SEE VOU. CARCOSJ ATED H ALWAYS VJAS A PIKER. -) V BOUSUT IOOO JHARE5 ? I KMOCO IT WAS
J ASAW I J 1 . , sevERAGE? iTJjVM SO VE.LLOLU THAT IP A LIS. AKOO 1 MODE. ILL BE. FOftG'VECM BUT
P , K ( V HAD A. siEADyAyOU CLANJTEO ME, I'D ) T- rt4?KOTMA'I SUJEL.L. V
BRINGING CP FATHER By George WcManuj
! r ' ill sereoRisE. her amd surprise .'I ( i vou woold show I i 1
; MAYBE MAGGIES COWEUAMO MEET HEU Ay, I CAME. TO I OH, YEAH P I UP-JUST WM&M I YA Cant
RlUHT ABOUT AT THE LAD'ES' T" JM MEET YOU, (-"!,-, I J IM GETTING IM WIM ' -J.'f
ME A J TEATIME. CLUB L ' S DEAKt ta J WITH THE RiGHT J l 1 J;)-V
,"-;v.S lowbrow r l .jW V-vr X PEOPLE JUs "?VW
! aife m. U
ot-l3j i irin al jzJc v
triboxe, n.t.dfokd.
to have this trail completed within
a month and the other Important
trails completed by the first of April.
Work on Improving the trail sys
tem within the caves la going on
apace. Headroom Is being Increased,
doing away with many "headache
rocks." Drainage system are being
Installed to eliminate sloppy condi
tions u nder f oot . W here nece asa ry
the trail la being widened and steps
are being constructed which, together
with Improved rampways. will pre
vent slipping and make It easier to
climb the steeper portions of the
trail.
The "Devil's Backbone" la being re
moved, thus doing away with one of
the most difficult passageways In
the entire route through the caves.
The water system that runs the en
tire length of the caves haa been
temporarily doaconnected and an air
compressor haa been installed which
la tied Into the pipeline, making
compressed air available for the use
of compressed air tools at all re
quired points.
Fences and guard rails are being
Installed at all points where there
Is any danger of person slipping.
A masonry wall and masonry seats
have been placed in the "Ghost
Room" at the balcony below the
"Widow Maker' to permit of a few
minutes rest for tourists through
the Marble Halls of Oregon. It is
expected that by the end of March
the entire trail system will have been
greatly improved. The caves will then
be open to the most timid tourist,
while at the same time none of the
natural picturesque features will be
altered.
The truck trail being built by en
rol lees from this camp tor the for
est service Is being pushed rapidly
forward and with Improving weather
It Is expected that even better pro
gresa will be made than In the past.
Timbers have been cut, excavations
for footings started and materials
oregon. Tuesday, February 12. 1935
ordered for an 80-foot span timber
bridge across Sucker creek to con
nect the trail with the state high
way system.
Materials have been ordered for s
community house to be built In the
Orayback forest service public camp
ground. Tbe forest camp at thla lo
cation haa been cleared of down tim
ber and dying trees and the whole
site is being prepared for a. large In
flux of summer tourists.
Visitors at the csmp this week In
cluded Major Dark from the Medford
army CCC headquarters on a peri
odic Inspection of the camp, and
"Mel" Lewis, assslstant forest super
visor of Siskiyou national forest, on
a survey of forest service work pro
jects. BIGAMY THREAT FOR
.2
NAPLES. Feb. 13. (AP) Mrs.
Madeline Force Astor Dick Fter
monte waa advised today by her
attorney to leave Italy at once in
order to avoid possible bigamy com
plications. The former social reglsterlte. who
Is the second wife of the Italian
boxer, said that the attorney had
Informed her that she might face
a sentence of from one to five years
for participating In bigamy, since
Italy does not recognize divorce.
Tries Kali Suicide
NANAIMO, B. C (UP) An un
named Nanalmo man was saved from
an unusual suicide by police, Inter
vention, authorities revealed.' Con
staMe Chris Johnson found the man
seated before a mirror, attempting to
drive a nlal in his skull. He wounded
himself seriously In the temple but
will recovery
' , Bv C M Payne
DIFFICULT DEOS ONS ,
A SN6WBALL BATTLE BARR1N6
"WE WAV, AND THE 6:15
ALREADv WmsTUN6
POR THE STATION
HllUAr3S (Copyright, 18M, by Th Bell BjvAief, fac) T.-lL:
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
I