PAGT5 TWELVE
VETFOTIT) MATL TRTBrTNTJ, MTCDFOTiD, OHEGOtf. FRIDAY, "AUGUST 12, 1938.
LOVE ON THE RANGE
.irmuMC.ni.
The Slory So Far
Someone l out to butt the
latter T ranch. To help looely
'.ee Trone, "Blur" Ankrom taket
i job there under the name o)
Streeter. A man and woman pu
ma at (riendi of the Tronee art
revealed at tmpoJtorj, and the
man l mtlriaualv killed,
lutchford, the eherifl, it euepi
clout of Ankrom. Then ruitlere
wipe the range clean and Ankrom
Otcoven (he cattle have been re
moved in truekt. Mate Beckett,
the range 6o. It alwayi some
where else when the nulling oc
cur. Chapter 17
New Radge Bose
I'M talkln' fact. Trone. An' I
can prove 'em. I've ot those
'tree men of yours trailin' tire
marks right this minute. They've
(ot orders to And out where those
: racks are headin' (or an' ther to
come back here an' report. Mebbe
when they return you'll know a
little more about what's been hap
uenin' to your cattle."
Dawning belief was struggling
gainst the suspicion and incredu
lity in Trone's eyes. Ankrom
hooked his thumbs in his belt and
waited for the rancher to speak.
"By golly," Trone said at last,
"It could be done."
"It's being done. They've been
rustlin' steers by truck in Colo
rado for the last coupla years.
Swoop down on a herd of a dark
night an' in the mornin' the cattle
are clear out of the state. Your
cattle are goin' either by truck
alone, or by truck an' train."
"How come Alkali didn't see no
truck then? Trone asked.
"If by Alkali you mean that
puncher that fanned in here with
the news, he did," Ankrom stated.
"He also tells me one of the other
boys mentioned something about
tire tracks crossin' the trail of one
of your herds several months ago
one of your rustled bunches. Al
kali says Hackett fired the man the
same any he made the crack about
seein' those tire marks. Does that
mean anything to you?
"Are you tryin' to tell me Hack
tt's crooked?"
"I'm lettin' Hackett's actions an
wer that," Ankrom said. "He's
eomin now.
Mose Hackett, followed by three
punchers, was dismounting.
"Never mind unsaddling that
pony," Ankrom said. "Mr. Hack
ett isn't staying long."
Hackett swung round with a
hard stare. "Huh? Who are you to
be sayin' what I'm genna do or not
gonna do?"
"I'm the new range boss," Ank
rom told him. "You can come up
to the office an' get your time.
We've got no use for double
crossin' polecats on the Rafter T.
Those men of yours can come
along an' get their time, too. We
won t be needin' 'em any longer."
The three men mentioned turned
startled glances upon Ankrom,
then looked at Hackett inquiring
ly. Hackett's face was livid as he
ripped out a lurid oath. His burly
figure slid into a crouch and his
riKht hand hune poised and talon
like above the bone-handled gun
protruding trom his holster.
But Ankrom's soft laugh
mocKea. wasn tnat war paint on,
sonny. You're dealin' with a man
that s got your measure,
Hackett a hand stopped where
It hung above the handle of his
pistol. His lips twitched spasmodi
cally, yet no Arords left his mouth.
"If you're tryin' to have a fit."
Ankrom said, "you better have it
'Rustlin' Snake'
HACKETT'S belligerence
drained from him. The spot of
color staining either cheek spoke,
as did his twitching fingers, of a
morale that was cracking. He
licked his lips. Twice he cleared
his throat before the stumbling
words came out
' What . . . what's wrong?"
"Hackett " said Ankrom, "when
a man finds a sidewinder In his
blankets there's only two things
t. nn A Al It 1111 It
"Why why.
what do you
"You can write your own
ticket"
"You're makin' It pretty boggy.
Can't you ride that trail again?
"I said you can write your ticket
the way you like. I'm leavin' it up
to you to say what I ought to do
with the rustlin' snake I've cor
nered." Hackett started like a man
smashed unexpectedly across the
mouth. The burning spots washed
out of his checks. His voice was
hoarse, "Hustling . . wh what
you mean?"
"I'm calling you the sidewinder
that's been tipping oil the rustler
fraternity to the best time an'
place to strike the Hafter T You
are the leak them rustlers been
dependin' on. Hackett" Ankrom's
drawl grew low and cold, "you're
not a snake you're a dirtu slink
in' skunk"
Hackett's eyes bulged wide and
the pallor of his face betrayed his
fear. He threw his glance about
him with the desperation of a
trapped rat. But always it came
back to Ankrom's face.
Hackett's three companions, now
equally pale, began to edge away
from hli proximity. Their rms
went above their heads In token
of the peacefulness of their inten
tions. Hackett cursed them round
ly until his glance crossed Ank
rom's once again. Hardly con
scious of the fact, he Joined the
backing movement
"Exit Io bratios," Ankrom
Jeered. "Four, coyotes In eagle
feathersl"
Slowly - Hackett backed away.
He moved haltingly foot by foot
At last he felt his horse behind
him and sent his left hand quest
ing upward for the horn. He
seemed afraid to take his eyes from
his accuser, ,
Ankrom's voice reached out'
with cold authority:
"Get off this ranch an' don't
come back. That goes for all four
of you. From now on the Rafter T
is going to take open season on
skunks and other varmints. Get
goin'."
A scowl creased Hackett'i ugly
features. His poised right hand
swooped downward ana got his
gun. Ankrom's turning body did
not stop but whirled clear round
with the speed of light
Too late Hackett saw the leveled
gun in Ankrqm's hand. His own
was half-way out when Ankrom's
roared Just once. Hackett seemed
to bend forward to meet that leap
ing spurt of flame. For a moment
then he hung poised in an awk
ward bow. His knees gave way
and spilled him forward.
"Geezl" the exclamation burst'
from one of Hackett's men.
Cold Are smouldered now in
Ankrom's gaze. "Anyone achln' to
take up where Mose left off?"
Hastily the men denied their interest.
"Fork your broncs then an' keep
on travelln'," Ankrom advised,
"An' " he added softly, "be right
careful our trails don't . cross
again."
'Powerful Tal' Brags'
IN the days immediately follow
ing Ankrom's fight with the
crooked range boss, the surface of
life at the Rafter T flowed on with
no ripple. To bt sure, Trone's beef
had apparently vanished from the
face of the earth; the three men
Ankrom had set trailing the marks
left by the trucks had returned
that very night sheepishly con
fessing the rustlers had eluded
them. The tracks, these men
claimed, had iust plumb petered
outl"
Sheriff Ratchford had left the
ranch before Ankrom's set-to with
Hackett. and he had not returned
since, though he had told Trone
upon leaving that he would soon
be back to wind up the matter of
Kelton Drean's killing. One of the
Rafter T hands reported having
seen the sheriff one night In Peso
Pinto roaring drunk.
Me was makin some powerful
tall brags," the hand Windy
Jones told Ankrom confiden
tially. "Ratchford is a lot smarter
than most folks gives him credit
for. He was drunk, I'll concede you
that But he was sure doin' some
awful plain talkln' Allowed as!
how he s g-goin' to cinch that tin
horn's killin' onto that Arizona'
gun-slick, Ankrom. I ain't ac
quainted with the gent but from
what I've heard about him, I'd
sing low was I Tom Ratchford."
He looked at Ankrom specula-:
tively.
Ankrom grinned. "By that re
mark. I Judge yru think he's got
some sort of evidence against
Ankrom.
The puncher rasped his law.
"Well, if he ain't he s sure gettin'
uncommon careless. 1 don't think
he cottons to you, Streeter."
1 expect there am t much
chance of us gettin' on huggin'
terms," Ankrom said. He did con
siderable thinking about Windy
Jones' remarks in the days that
followed. He felt certain the sher
iff knew about his gunning of
Hackett for he'd sent Alkali in to
report the man's death. The coro
ner and one of Ratchford's depu
ties had come out asked a few
questions and taken the body back
to town. Ankrom had a feeling
that the incident was no more
closed than was the business of
Drean's death. Ratchford. he de
cided, was merely biding his time.
but with what object? Ankrom
could not guess.
Nor could he guess why the girl
calling herself Betty Strutheri
continued her visit with the
Trones. Following her inquisition
by the sheriff, Ankrom had ex
pected her to back her bags. She
remained on the Rafter T, how
ever, and often sought htm out at
the home ranch.
Lee Trone, on the contrary.
avoided him and took pains to
show him that the avoidance was
deliberate.
Not that he cared, he told him
self. The less they saw of each
other the better it would be for
both of them. He could not risk
many close contacts with a girl of
Lee's magnetism. He could not af
ford to fall in love. That the fact
was not entirely his fault made no
difference. To a man of his adven
turous breed the better things in
life must needs be barred. That
was Ankrom's way of looking at
it
tCetmeti. Mm C. Syt ,
Betty makes a play for An- f
krom, tomorrow.
LADY ON DUTY AS
II
BIO APPI.KOATE. Aug. 12. (PpU
The thrill of blng on of th rant
army of nentlm-l guard Inn; Ihe na
tion's forrst from (lira OeloiitfS to
Mrs. Jnrk Crump this werk. who was
left In charge or Clnnthar lookout
utatkm Wednesday In the ibwnce of
mr huvtband w ho was called as a
wet ton bona on a large fire In the
Smith river Motion near Oftaquct. Al
oprt Young from Star ranger at
tlun also was called a a division boas
and 4 CCC men and tw.i foremen
from Cmp Applcpate were taken for
duty. Mrs. Crump will be compe
tent lookout, having been on the poet
wllh hrr hn;l)und oil summer, wherr
ah received tnUuinc la locating od
reporting fires and giving weather
reports.
At Whiskey Peak a new lookout
waa put on duty Wednesday. Ruasel
Mitchell of Steamboat, who succeeds
Lawrence Kaiser. Mr. and Mrs Kaiser
and son, Dickie Franks, have gone to
Cold Hill, where Mr. Kal-er wna call
ed In connection with his teiichlng
profession which he will assume there
next month. Mr. Mitchell is a former
college professor from the Unlrerslty
of Oklahoma, -and has been In the
Applcfinte section for several years
for the benefit of his health.
Democrats Gain In
California Registry
BAN TOANCIHCO, Aug. ; 11.
Democratic registration In California
Is seven and one half per cent higher
tv the August 80 primary than It
waa the 1936 general election while
the Republican figure la slightly low
er, an Associated Presa survey showed
today. .
Ilia tout rtitnUka uC ,M7;ttf
STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX
Tot farther proof address the author. Inclosing a itatnped envelope for. reply. Beg. TJ. 8. Pat Oft
ONLY
HRfM OUT frit UH UNt"
-femsiije church humn.
VrfW WRITTEN lM5AfA47tf
inches vu wiwm&mh
OFFICIAL 9C0RER TbiMT AlUKToRAtf.
Netf Bertt.N.C.,
Coastal Plain lea&ue)
bJ fblAR PEARS poNoJ
5WIM WUH 1HBIK
m
- Vr-
S
I
WW ENcycloPEPA&rs in m,
"20 YEftRS LPiftR WERS foWVlo
j urv Pi'iun i v' hi i
mkiTCMM Dirtf fit 0CDxi7k.i
UMT u'lii niV" af '
llMIri vm-! OoMi Adf riO
4 $,000,000 'fofrieiR
EncycInpedlH oil Httlkr
Back at the turn of the century.
California land promoter 'ound on
his hands worthless trat of land
which would not "turn over." At the
same time, a New England jjubllsher
found on his hand several thousand
editions of the Encyc-opedla Brltan-
nlca -and few buyers.
Fate threw the two together; tliey
exchanged "hard luck" stories. Pin
ally a bargain waa struck. For a price
of $300.00 they decided a "California
seaside lot" could be given away
as a premium with a set of encyclo
pedias.
'16-I2-3S
In this manner 35 lots In the tract,
each 20 by 90 feet, were sold In 1900.
The lots were not seaside tots but
today are Included wHhln he limit r,
of Huntington Beach.
Twenty years later J. H. Macklln,
on oil field gauger, saw bubbles ris
ing to the surface of the Pacific off
Huntington Beach He know at once
that the land contained oil Falling
to Interest 'the oil company he work
ed for, Macklln set out on his own
to buy the titles of the property
for $5.00 per lot.
A search of the county records
amazed him; owners were listed In
Salt Lake City, Chicago, New Eng
land and France. A few neld out,
but most of the property owners were
willing to sell; they thought that
nobody would be r Id t cutout enough
to offer only $5.00 for a lot on which
he thought there was oil.
Test wells were sunk, ana oil fin
ally waa brought In. The tract be
cume famous as the "Encyclopedia
Wells" district. The few derd owners
who held their titles oecame rich be
yond their wildest dreams Ovan
$5,000,000 hus been produced since In
the Encyclopedia group.
la the highest In the history of the
suite and 183,421 more than for the
presidential ejection two years ago.
The Democratlo registration reach
ed the record total of 3,023,726, a
gain of 140,713. A loss of 105 dropped
the1 Republican figure to 1,234.402.
These figures wero complied from in
formation obtained from officials In
all of California's 58 counties.
r Manufacture of shoes In this coun
try Was begun In 1629 by Thomas
Beard.
BOY GETS LIFE TERM
FOR MURDERING CHILD
CINCINNATI, Aug. 13. Py Llnd
berg Trent, 15, confessed slayer of
six-year-old Shirley Ann Woodburn,
was convicted by a three-Judge court
of first degree murder and sentenced
to life Imprisonment.
Young Trent pleaded guilty to two
Indictments charging premeditated
murder and murder In the course of
attempted criminal attack.
Shirley Ann's body was found In a
wooded tract on Decoration day, some
20 hours after she disappeared while
at play.
Parrot Ban Tight
ALBANY, N. Y. ( UP ) Pa rrota and
similar tropical birds may some day
be rarities In the United States. A
New York public health regulation,
aimed against carriers of deadly pslt
tscosls or parrot disease, prohibits
Importation, sale or breeding of all
birds of the species.
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
DIFFICULT DECISIONS
wvfn a same Scheduled in FfEEK
MINUTES . UNCLE ED&RR., WHO 15 INCLINED
TO BE PRET1Y -TESfV IF DISTURBED AT HIS
AFTERNOON NAP, 60ES 10 SLEEP ON
'JN10PJS BftlL AND GLOVE
(Copyrlgfrt, 1938, by The BeJ gyndlctle, Ine.)
S 'MATTES POt
Bt 0. M PAYNE
I'j Ce.eTAHy MO.
Like. YeTreACT'CE
ANOTHER 12-01 o
Hfc i(fi-&- P-- (Copyright, 1838. by The Beg BymUeile, fae.)
TAILSPIN TOMMY The Chief Arrives!
By HAL F0RBr'
S-r-tli . COM6 ON.Vlffl&r'S f A LOT TO BETTV' N V 'h 4
HOW LONG W(l.L ..--.-JfcZ BETTY- LOU YVZ&&5 yOU- WONEV, COH ( Poottl' ) V S
IT TAKE TO L " .JV' THAT LL JiM5i , HELPlMG ME TO 2P.K 1 fcx 4fS
3EHV1CS ANO VJfT " wL GIVE U3 (TWSlCfc I SET BACK MY 1 IT 3 V, aJ
v Mvp yy
Wl iltlT, 3100 H Pji..i.l..in.l. 0 MODEL nNS M TOE MUQlM,T,TUIE, fff II IV liWi j ' i-Offx V I VRJ l-C UUtMwM&Tfc
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Dingnosla I
hmmm! just WHAT I
THOUGHT NOT CONTENT
WITH A BROKEN LEG,
YOU'RE COAXIN4 A
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN!
I ,r-
FHMMM! JUST WHAT I f HONEST, "I
I THOUSHT NOT CONTENT I DOC? JLa.
WITH A BROKEN LEG, 4b y
YOU'RE COAXIN4 A f '
NERVOUS BREAK0OWN1 I
VES, AND YOU HAVE TO
TAKE A REAL REST
CURE AT A PLACE IN
THE COUNTRY FAR,
'
I'LL DO
ANYTHING
YOU SAY
tj i vr rsiLcr
BEN, I RECKON MY !Sfe
NERVES. SOT THE 1' SS!Y "w
BEST 0' ME ABOUT
TERRIBLE SOJ
JASON JONES, WE
HAVEN'T EVEN 60T
TIME TO TALK OF
RUSTY J YOU COME
ME
By EDWIN ALOES
THE NEBBS So Unhappy
By SOL HEP
-' ' "y"! VOJDER WHAT 1 COULD I ItXrAv'.t" "i 'T MBE SHE WAS Xvoo'CP Tfa MUCW ikj LOVE RLrr's ' i
HAVE SAID OR DOMeMEuue-U p 4lul euE WASi A B,T r OPSORTs ft BE A Sr' '
yk-Vr 1 TOMSUTl SA-D W f2-v V UK VOU ARE MONW BEFORE WE WERE j '
VFAcefcJ hER I ppgg. WORD5 I I 7 MARRiED.- HE VUAMTED TO HELP ME 4-
Ua Aooro akoomd: Amd COULDmt f ; r-7-?siJrIPT A COFFEE CUP TO MV
I n S0ly'&s I V INTEREST HER 7o i C JS. LIPS TUJO MONJTHS
! " A
VJIU1AM5