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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1938)
PAGE TWELVE MEPPORD MATL TRFBITNTC, MEDFOTtD, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1938. LOVE ON THE RANGE .irnuiitnt. The Story So Far Trouble it brewing on the Rafter T. Quick-fire "Blur" An. krom, under the name ot Abe Streeter, takes a lob on the ranch to help lonely Lee Trone. He hat a run-In with Che ranoe boss, Moso Ilackett, and meets Batch ford, the sheriff, and CUydell, a neiohbortno rancher. Colonel Strutheri and his daughter Betty arrive for a visit, and Ankrom recognizee Struthere as Kelton Drean, cousin ot the man he killed to avenge his other's denth. Chapter 11 Licking Flame A NKROM threw iwiv his cisa rette and yawned. "You boy (oin' to the dance In Peso fintor "Might if they hev good Ilk' ker." His Dardner grunted. "I don1 like that town. Too crowded an' too partial tuh dudes. I get in I fight ever' time I get within gun1 inot or tne placer Ratchford's lins moved faintly, sardonically, in the gloom. One of the punchers said, timer of you two gents wanta sit in on a game of stud7" Ankrom shook his head. Ratch ford said, "Not me, fella. I've played cards with you before. The two men got up and tramped inside. A moment later Ankrom heard the scraping of a match. A flicker of light came through the window; grew steady ana m-ignienea, rie ncara tne men dragging chairs and, a little later, me nap 01 cards. "Funny Trone never wired any of these buildings but the ranch- "Yeah. Where does he get his Juicer Ankrom asked. "He sent to El Paso for a gen erator an' some other doo-hickies couple years back. Said he might s well keep up to date. I reckon it was bee put the idee In his head. He'd just about cut his neck off for that girl an she for him, Katch ford sighed. "They're pretty close. mem two. "Seen Trone yet?" "No," the sheriff answered. "Reckon it s about time I saun tered over to the house an' had my talk. I been hopin' them friends of his would drift oir to bed. Id prefer to see the Or Man alone. "You'll have a long wait if you're waitin lor Mem to go to bed. City folks sit up all night. They go to Deu witn tne owls, AnKrom said. "Do you think there's anythin' in this rustling talk? Ratchford fingered his chin. "Don't seem to be any other out fits losin' critters. They might be keepin it to themselves, of course. Again, there might really be some atealin' going i an Trone be the only gent that's gettin' hit." With a grunt he rose to his feet, peered down at Ankrom. "You heard what that puncher said. The sound of voices came to Ankrom from the card players. Now that Ratchford was standing, radiance from the lamp illumined nis lace, weariness was written there: in the creases of the 1nwls. in the maze of criss-crossed lines about the eyes. His gaze was mel ancholy, Brooding. "You see. It all ties up with that damn gab that's going round 'bout me bein" out to vretta ine nailer l. "Well, there would seem to be fome substance for the rumor," Ankrom murmured gently. The sheriff stiffened. "Yeah that's why I'd like to get my hands around the neck of the gent that's bnckin' it. Because my or man an' Trone burnt gunpowder years ago folks are willin to swaller any kind of hog-wash that tends to gleture me lookin' for revenge. iamn 'em! I believe in lettin' leepin' dogs sleep!" Sense Of Evil ANKROM watched the sheriff strike out across the yard to where lights revealed the uncur tained windows of the ranch house. As he watched Ratchford's broad back, sharp and black against those lights, conflicting thoughts struggled to adjust them selves upon his mind. There was much about this herifl he did not understand, he told himself. A vital, magnetic fig ure, there was yet something about him, some latent force, some inde finable sense of evil, that made a man hesitate to trust him far or to put faith in his words. Just why this was, Ankrom could not say. But the feeling lingered. He could not shake it. Some way. big and magnetic as he was, Tom Ratchford measured short in An krom's estimation. He wondered if Ratchford had been trying to talk him into some thing: if Ratchford in springing Bandera's name had hoped to take him by surprise. How much did tliis sheriff suspect? How much did he know? Did he really con nect Abe Streeter with the Arizona iniukeroo. Blur Ankrom? Or was he ? "Shucks," Ankrom muttered. "Looks like I'm tryin' to develop a case of nerves." Then he chuckled softly as he recalled the sheriff's statement that Bandera was lined up against the Trones. That would mean that Bandera either was in the country I now or would shortly be coming in. It had been well over a year since his and Bandera's trails had crossed. In old Nogales it had hap pened. He remembered the cir cumstances well. He had taken ma licious pleasure that night in up setting a little deal the Mexican had been striving to bring off. An amusing case of "biter-bit" he'd made it, leaving Bandera seething with fury, swearing revenge by every saint in the calendar. With another chuckle Ankrom rose to his feet, lounged against the shadowed wall while he fished the makings from his pocket and rolled a cigarette. He would have a final smoke, and then go hunt his bunk. His left hand rolled the quirley while his right sought the band about his hat, procured a match and struck it. The bursting flame illumined his face and brought out the sharp angles of it Even as the match burst into flame, another flame licked out from the shadows beneath an an cient pepper tree thirty yards away. The cigarette ripped from Ankrom's mouth, so close had been the miss. A report smashed loudly on the stillness, flattened out across the yard, beat up against the buildings. And on its heels an other, even as Ankrom whirled, his hand streaking to the waist band of his trousers. A blur of mo tion stirred the shadows beneath the foliage: something dropped heavily in the dust. , With gun held ready In his hand Ankrom sprinted forward. He jerked to a stop before the tree as a vague white figure snapped up from the ground to confront him. It was the figure of a girl. Duck Out Of This' 'ITHO who are you?" "Abe. Streeter. ma'am. Was that you doing that shooting?" "No yesl Nol No, of course not!" Desoite the a citation In her voice Ankrom realized that this was not Lee Trone. Therefore, he rea soned it must be the golden-haired creature posing as Betty Struthers. What was she doing hero7 What was that thing in her hand? An krom leaned closer and saw that it was a pistol; he saw also that with her other hand the girl was press ing something to her breast- something that looked like folded papers. What are you doing here?" he whispered. "What have vou got in your hands?" She drew back. The hand with the papers disappeared inside the neckline of her dress and came out empty. Ankrom heard the sound of running footsteps. Peonle would soon be upon them, hurling ques' Hons. "Duck out of this." he said. "I'll see you later. She peered at him strancelv. Then suddenly she turned and ran. A man came Bounding uo. grabbed Ankrom by the arm. "What's goin' on?" ne growled. "What was all that shootin'?" Be fore Ankrom could answer, the man turned his head, bellowed across his shoulder: "Get a lan tern, somebodvl We sot to have a light here!" Ankrom saw one of the running ngures wniri ana retrace its stem. The others came on and grouped themselves about Ankrom and the burly man who held. him. A hand felt down his wrist and closed upon the barrel uf his gun. "I'll take this," the heavy voice said. An krom, recognizing now the sheriff in the man who held him. relin quished his weapon. speaK up, you. Lt s near your name. Ankrom said, "Abe Streeter. Ho felt tho sheriff's erin relax. Oh well, who in hell was vou shootin' at?" I wasn t. Somebodv else was doing that shooting. Ratchford." natchford showed impatience. Is the fella's name a secret?" Reckon so leastwavs. he d dn t leave me any card." "wnere was you standln 7 "By the bunkhouse." Ankrom said. "I was liehtin' a ciearette That shot came along an' snicked it right out of my mouth. Kinda close, ehr "Well. I don't know. The fellow might have been aimln' to have some fun with me. I mean he might have done it on pur pose " "Ain't no one round here could shoot that good." Ratchford grunted. "Excepting maybe Claydell. An' Claydell hasn't got here yet. Prob'ly changed nl mind an' decldec' to postpone his visit till tomorrow" he cleared his throat. "This where vou fig ured them shots come from?" One. anvwav. First one. I think. I ain't sure about the sec ond. When that cigarette went kallv-hootiir I whirled an' saw a blur among the shadows here un der this tree an' came pelting over Hadn't had a chance to make out anything when up comes you an' these others." A bobbing light showed An krom a man runninff toward them with a lantern. Ratchford took the lantern from him and held it high bove his head. In the sand a short three feet away a shape lay mo tionless. fcVW. K!l. Nihn C. Ratrhford swings Into notion, to morrow. EXCUSE FOR IS BUTTE. Mont. (T) A yeat ro. when street clock dtMppctrd myi trrtoiurly from in front of a business NOnblifthmf nt whrre It had ttood for ypars, Clock Watchers, Inc., organised nd the members announced they were campaigning for a new clock to replace the mi wing one. For year they carried on their campaign. They threatened almost dally to the merchant that unlet the clock waft replaced "itepe will be taken." The Clock Watchers finally won their point. "Which mean the Clock Watcher will be mlmia a worn -out excuse for being lata for work," at Id the merchant. FOR FRENCH MOTHERS WASHINOTOrr. Ji Frsnoe la do ing something about her missing population. The American commercial attache In Psrls reports that the Kronen are using a system ot family allotments, to encourage larger families. Under the system, a family's In come Is Increased by specific amounts according to the number of children supported. A recent survey showing that births declined In France by 310.000 between 1930 and Iu37 has led to an Increase In allotments dur ing last year by more than a percent 4 Jras In Germany may not employ In domestic service OenUle females STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, tncloitnf stamped nrelope for reply, Eef . V. 8. Pat Oft PffFeOPNTOF CZECHOSLOVAKIA, m WW KNOWN m vrolni, ' Ae-I&LN MOfcCQ UnUrtTud MtXlCftMSPIflfORflRCWoop frtev PtecoveR root? of ine DESERT MKpUiTE PLftHT , WICK Often $eWS6lrNT . RoolS bO FEET Pom WrYlER Ms chwtXzo Tne f loons of h?r H-room House WITH ?2 MbHY b FEBT WIDE MP MONUMBN& H0NOREP C&l MfM?E OVEr? ZOO RUGS, RfcfWlNG OW ONE'S Pfi Am weftR out.,. gs - WOOD i Rug Maker Women of New England are noted for their thrift, and Mrs. Mar Cor son B6, of Rochester. New Hampshire, la no exception From discarded clothing she has supplied her home with attractive and durable rugs slrico 1877. Not once during the past 6J years has Mrs. Corson spent money for a store rug; yet her 11 -room home Is amply carpeted. Her floors are cov ered with 03 rugs of various shapes and sizes. Some are hooked rugs of Ulcal career, falsified his name seven conventional design; othera are braided, ranging from small mats to six feet across. During her lifetime she has made over 300 rugs Eduard Benes Instrumental In securing the In dependence of Czechiwlovakla after the World war was Ekluard Benes, now president of that republic. Strange as It seems, President Benes, during the .course of his pol- dlfferent times to gain entry Into foreign countries In the Interests of Czechoslovakia. His forged passports carried the names Spolny, Belsky. Berger, Novot ny, Konog, Slcha. and Leblanc. In England he was arrested for forging his papers, but, strange as It seems, six months -later one of his official duties in the new Czechoslovakia n government was the signing of of ficial passports for his country! OF ARE BEING MOUNTED WASHINGTON. (P) Over at Smithsonian Institution, the scient ists are working out their largest Jig-saw puzzle. They are piecing together the fos silized bones of a tttanosauer dis covered last summer In Utah by Dr. Charles W. Ollmore. curator of ver tebrate paleontology. This little fellow was more than one-half block long (170 feet), he probably weighed between 15 and 30 tons, and stood 1ft feet above the ground. He ale only plants. MOVIES GET MOST OF WASHINGTON. (P) Movies draw more family dimes In U. S Tillages and small towns than any other form of amusement. The U. 8. bureau of home eco nomics finds that non-relief families spend 30 cents out of every amuse ment dollar for moving picture shows In typical villages throughout, tho country. In the southeast It's even higher 38 cents out of the dollar. Leaves Out Knots. CLEMSON COLLEGE, 8. 0. (IP) It takes no longer to grow a pine- tree free of knots In its trunk than it does one filled with knotholes. There fore, D. B. Brewster, extension for ester. Is advising tlmbermen to prune their pine trees and produce clear lumber which sells for about twice as much as tho knotty kind. BYSTANDER By GLUYAS WILLIAMS IS AVU51H6 HIMSELF 08 WESlDEUnlK, BIG 60V5 5UPDErJLV SrtOlW l6 1b CHfrSE -THftf R)lA BPLL TEllA THEM -To CHASE IT1hEM5EI.6, HE'S AREP OT SUNN)H6 ATTeRBAUS fORfriEM OtUER BRO-frlERIrlREJrf-EMJ tbOSE FORCE. SfKfA RELUC-fAKlW AFfER frlE BALL STOPS HALWAVTo warn them this is The last bull he is 60IN6 To CHASE lsTOLD1tSfOPAR6U Irte. STARTS ON SLOWlV, AMID SHOUTS To HUR-RYUPAWDSfSPOrllT siu tUJU.li CAU.5) HE CAN'T FIND SEES BALL 8l)T?RETrtDS WATCHES THEM RE BALL AMP RECEIVES HE D0E6N'f. WALKS A- TURN TO 8 ALL Fip-D, EXPLICIT AKP IMPATIENT ROUND IN riRCLESj HEAT) 6WE5 THEM A LOUD, DIRECTIONS OFOUST BENT, HUTU BlC BOVS DERISIVE BIRD, AND WHERE IT UNDED 6ET BALL THEMSELVES DASHES. ?0J? HOME (Gopyriglit, 1938, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc. 3 MATTER POI PAYNF By 0. M. ?V4euu No, TTi SP -And So,t4-e. """ vJ wHaTcJ T4AT '"filT I OokV v Vr- Vir (PlKlEAPPLE'NAPPLi (ihieA"PPi.a'M'APPLaPiE)Av ' r'' r Ioyea flyaillcste, Inc.)'' C-3 TAILSPIN T9MMY-C0I. Hall Acts Confused 1 By HAL FORREP" KM U RfKcSriSMf X APSeilLCLKoTBUT-f ISTfew' 'rr niA -h-hprum! but off wml TMREB-POINT MERCURY ,1 DBACl J I ' I V tSOi A CTAlJriNel &J? M,U-Ki"' COuOMElH MY BOY. I IVEOoA ''Sv is still ooo, awo I - -J ; PTWI? nSmbI xpi? ?r, 5SiJ?UT-TH'NI 'twill voDh Ship to H , ANVOM6 VlrVIO OAVS IT gJ.V' C2 JV , 6Et VV,1, AMO DIDNY KNOWVOO ) BE A GRAND PLY. AMO ONLY ' ' , 'A HrfT IS A ACS J?W' C Sfl QUAUFY. g" THAT J OAY FOR THE AN HOUR TO f j 11 gUALiPrOrm BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER- By EDWIN ALOER BEN'S TAXICAB HOVE IN SIGHT AS WILFRED JIPPEM, RUBBING A VERY SORE JAW, WAS PICKING HIMSELF UP-RUSTy, P10DD1NS AHEAD, WAS HIDDEN BY A TURN IN THE ROAD- ...nu, wkiyck, thaVs not the boy-but stop there for a SECOND, ANYWAY ML : 1 f HAVE YOU SEEN RUSTY MeSURK ALONG HERE? AHA, SO HE'S ANXIOUS I m FMh TUAT RED -HEADED PUHK, 7 tH( I SHOULD J 1 HELP HIM! YEAH, HE WAS BY HERE TEN MINUTES AGO, TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK, AND I SEEN HIM TAKE THAT CROSSROAD" BACK THERE GOIN THAT WAY (JHANKSJ THE NEBBS Whnt Now? By SOL HESS NELUE., WHEM 1 FIRST" 1HE HEAVEMS OPENJEQ UP .ONJ ME UKE RMKJ TO t-:. .hi. S.g.lAi.-J II jnr-z m m'"ss?it ' crv s to j 1v;.m.(:v i ra (.mr. j r f.'i t;:i va w-a wouo ruiirpc-vi ' -a under the age of it. 1
