Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1938)
PAGE SIX mtcpfotcd matl TRTTuryrrc, mepfo"rd, Oregon, Monday, .august. 29. 393a LOVE Oil THE RANGE ; IT MUM c HI Chapter 31 Question Marki THEY were just out of rifle range when Windy, via two wheels swung a corner and put the car on the smooth, wide macadam of the state highway, Ankrom saw him turn nis neaa to voice a question. "Keep your damn eyes on the road or we'll both wake up In helll" Windy's head jerked front again and Ankrom said more softly: "Straight for the ranch. Ratch ford'U probably follow, so keep 'er wide open an watch what you're aoin . we ve got a pretty tair start. He won't be able to commandeer a machine right off, so we're that much to the good see that we don t lose our lead. "What's he up to, anyhow7' "He's after my hide. He's the gent one of 'em, anyways that's Been trym to Dust ine Halter i. Old grudge's still workin' on him, likely. Got a new Inducement too. Some railroad's figurin' to lay track between El Paso and Ama rillo. Have to cross the Rafter T. Ratchford wants to cash In. Windy whistled. "So that's what it's all about. This business sure has had me flightin' my hat. Best thing for you right now is to get :iear outa tne country, natcniora u be after you sure as Gawd makes little apples! He can hate like a injunr "I'm a pretty good hater, my- sen. Ankrom relapsed into silence. Talking was a strain on the vocal chords at the pace they , were traveling. One thing was certain, he thought; regardless of how many different factions were trying to break Trone and get the Rafter T. Ratchford certainly was one) l ucre was no longer any doubt in his mind about it. Ratchford was doing' his damnedest by hook or crook he was set on getting the ranch. And wanted Lee thrown inl Claydcll? Well. Claydell might also be striving to possess himself of Trone's domain, but what was his motive? Claydell was a big rancher and a politician one of the big men in this country. It would be a mighty risk for him to dabble in this business; a much greater risk than was Ratchford s, since he had more to lose than Ratchford. Claydell was suave a cool cus tomer. If he went after something, as Ratchford was going after the Rafter T, his chances of success would be much greater than would Ratchford's, Ankrom thought. For Claydell was a thinker: he had a keener mind and knew now to use it If Claydell checked by a sud den notion, Ankrom's thoughts stopped there. No man, he'd abruptly realized, could be in a better position to start Trone on the down-grade than could Clay dell a trusted friend. Four-Square And Upright LEE had told him of many little things the boss of Swinging J had done to help her father at various times; the man, according to Lee, was four-square and up right. He'd met such prodigies of vir tue before. Usually if one dug deep enough Ankrom softly swore. Claydell was top-hand stuff: there was no sense nor fairness in let ting Ratchford's charges and in sinuations All him with suspicions of the man. Why, at one time and another, so the boys had told him, Lee and Claydcll had been spoken of as a pair who'd soon hitch up an' travel in double harness. Ankrom grimaced. Why, he was old enough to be her fatherl Well, almost, anyway. Yet he had to admit that as a suitor Claydell would be bound to be attractive. Like Ratchford, the fellow was magnetic, likeable; a good catch for any woman. He was successful in his business, he held good prospects for the future. And the fierce vitality of his dark and lean-carved face As a friend, Claydell would be In a strategic position to bring about Trone's downfall. Ankrom scowled. Those insinuations of Ratchford's. He could not get them out of mind. He had thought when they'd stepped from the sheriff's office that this shove against Rafter T was over. He'd bluffed Ratchford to the wall, forced him to step out of offlcj. By all the rules of tradl tion Ratchford should now be hunting himself a hole. But he wasn't! He'd got his teeth In Rnfter T now and wasn't aim ing to lot go till death grabbed him by the ankle. And even then, the burlcy ex-sheriff would likely do some powerful kicking! Ankrom snorted. "He's stubborn enouuh to hang on till hell freezes an' then try an' skate across the ice! But he's out in the open now, an' he won't have the law to back him up." "Who yuh talkln' 'bout?" yelled Windy. "Ratchford. Hey! Keep your eyes on the road'" "I'll bet he's mad enough to chaw the sights off a six-gunl He won't be layin' down again." 'This thing ain't over yet, An krom grinned as he remembered that these had been Ratchford's words. "We're goin' to have to hire more men an' cartridges. Now that this business Ts in the open it'll be shoot first an' ask questions later an' hell for the guy that ain't look in'l It may make Tonto Basin look like a picnic 'fore we shake Ratch ford loose. Now Trone's out of the way an' he's got t taste of blood, he'll throw the hooks to Rafter T hard. We're goin' to play hell with Trone's bank account." "Not much we ain't," snapped Windy. "There ain't no Trone bank account bunch of damned coy otes cleaned the bank plumb out today!" "Whatl" Ankrom half rose from his seat. "I said It. Lee tol' me tonight right after I brung the ol' man in. That's what she was goin' to town for Ratchford sent her word." Ankrom sank back heavily in his seat. Here was a blow beneath the belt! No need to wonder was this robbery just coincidence it happened at much too bad a time for Rafter T. not to have been planned deliberately. This robbery bore the mark of a more subtle hand than Ratchford's heavy paw. This was the balanced stroke one might expect of having emanated from a mind like Claydell's. No Motive ONE thing only kept Ankrom from considering the cold suave boss of Swinging J as the chief menace. He could find no ap- fiarent motive strong enough to ure or force the man into risking all that he now had. He could And nothing which the man might dos- sibly gain that would be commen surate with his losses should he lose. To be sure. Ratchford had claimed to have found that thing which Claydcll was after. But had the former sheriff actually made such a discovery, or was this but another of his smoke screens de signed to further Ankrom's belief in the rancher s possiuie gunir The devil of it was that so much might be hanging on the issue. And upon his correctly gauging it. If Ratchford alone was responsible for the calamities descending so steadily upon the Trones, things ' would indeed De suincientiy Dad. But if Claydell, too, was having a hand in them, one might as well admit that Rafter T was licked. He and the three hands might pos sibly hold off Ratchford and his unofficial posse if it came to an open fight leastwise, as long as their suddIv of ammunition held out. But Ankrom and Trone's punchers could not fight off the whole damned countyl Ankrom s chin sank momentar ily forward upon his chest. It was hard, he told himself, bitter hard to know what a fix Lee Trone was in and to realize at the same time that he could do nothing toward alleviating matters. Then abruptly his chin came ud and out. His grim jaws squeezed hard together, causing the muscles beneath his tawny skin to stand forth like stiffened rones. He could not successfully combat the united forces of this country but he could make a damned good tryl Ratchford, when he had left the Rafter T with Betty Struthers that afternoon, had not gone directly back to town as he had informed Trone he intended doing. He had gone first to the Swinging J. Clay dell had him bndly worried. This, coupled with the humiliation he had suffered before the Trones at Ankrom's hands, had put the man in a vicious temper. He denounced the golden girl for a scheming hell cat, a oouble-crosser. bhc had re minded him that he had no busi ness calling anyone a double crosser after the way he had treated her. Accordingly, when they reached Clnydrll's ranch, neither of them could have been described as being in a jovial mood. Thcv dismounted before the porch. Claydell met them at the door. You came to anoloeize Derham for the accusations with which you connected me with Drcan's death?" With an effort Ratchford Ironed the scowl from his features and essayed an answering smile. Yeah, he said. Tve discovered that it was that Streeter bird who blowed out Drean's light. Miss Struthers, here, saw him fire the shot. Well, that's something." Clav- dell's tone was non-commital. Have you arrested him yet?" "Not yet. But I will soon's I gather me a posse." "Posse? To arrest one puncher?" he drawled. (CttvritH. IMI. Vlil C. tff) Ankrom faces Claydell, tomorrow. Wife Seeks Prison To Soothe Husband LOS ANOELES. Aug. 39. P) It Allen Plrlsyl, up In Polsom prison hears how hard Ms wife, Josephine, 34, tried to get sent to prlaon too, maybe, he won't hate her, at she fears. After PIMgjI was sentenced for ateallng an automobile trailer, his wife ' began to try to get officer to eend her to prlaon "I'm as guilty aa my husband, and If he ta In prlaon and I am not," ahe aald. "t know he will hate me" Finally Mra. PlrlRyl waa allowed to plead guilty to a grand thett charge but probation otflcera tnterventcsl agalnat her to a year In jail. Mra. Plrliry waa angry and disappointed. Illnrked I'rmMlii t'oitly PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 39 lTh-The U, 8. circuit court of appeal! rulno t was unlawful for a freight train to block a crooning In Lancaater coun ty and hold up firemen JO minute while Mr. Mary Peltera h.-me burn ed. The court adjudged the rallmai negligent and upheld a MJM.SS judgment In favor of Mrs. Felter. State Medical Aid For Indigents Near PORTLAND, Aug. 39 iffy A state wide plan for medical service for Ore gon Indigents waa approved Friday by the atate relief committee. Described aa a pioneer move In the United States, the program will pro vide competent medical, dental and hospital aervlce for the needy tinder supervision of t': ' atate committee, with caAra cleared through county relief committees. Counties and the Mate will share the coat. The plan Included a schedule of feeA considerably below the uaual charge made by physicians, dentists and hospitals. Itrnketmin IHrs NEWHKRG, Aug. 30 a William brakeman, was killed Saturday when he fell beneath a train In the yarda here. Hruarri Of rrlnie ASTORIA, Aug 39-t Jl Clarwyn Dlehl. charged with assault with in tent to rob In connection with the shooting last December of John Jack, oon. eemce station operator, pleaded STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For farfior proof aldreii tta author. Inclosing; lumped anrelopa tor. reply. Bog, TJ. B. Pat OB. JUN3LEZ PRUCNfcl,,Z3, ofHeulorkCity, i FlN6RPRINTs . m . a., a- Mk'l 4INC6 JUHt Ve. r RoeiN Sparred WitH fP5 OWN k. R6f UCCTION IN & prnt-fcoapHift ' 3 WEEK'S 1935- MM The Train That GoH THR0U6H A MOUNTAIN m ToCRO$$A0RP6B To 60 THROUGH i ANOTHER MOUNTAIN :&NTKfcURMl.WrSY ' .Ittle Hell Bridge Amazing In the manner In which It overcomea seemingly impassable natural barriers la the roadbed of the Central Railway In Peru, world's hlgheat standard gauge railroad. Winding, creeping, and doubling back over and around proclpltoua cVffa high In the Andes, trains nn this line enter a tunnel that pierces the very heart of a mountain of solid granite. Through the larknesa the train chargea. then suddenly It emerges Into the blinding daylight only to find Itself hurling across the spider web framework of a ateel bridge, spanning a wide chasm through which tumbles a river of icy-cold water. Then, as suddenly, back Intj an other mountain the train puffs, to continue Ita eccentric Journey 'up Into the clouds. The bridge la known as Puento del Inflernlllo Bridge of the Little Hell. Fingerprint Diary Although fingerprint experts agree that there are no two seta of finger prints exactly alike Frank B. Prac nal, of New York City, has a complete file of more tnan 400 seta of prints all the aamo. The prints are his own. taken daily alnce June 34, 19S7, as a hobby. fcNni(M anditm is Prucnal plans to continue taking his prints for the next 00 years. Desert Jungles Strange aa It seems, ait jungles were once deserts 1 Although the present meaning of the word, "Jungle," la a tangled. Im penetrable mass of vegetation, the Sansklrt, "Jangala." from which "Jun gle" Is derived bore the meaning ot a dry wasteland, or desert. Just, the opposite of what Jungle means today. Tomorrow: What two famous ex plorers passed within 100 miles of each other In the "New World" with out knowing the other man exlstedf guilty In circuit court Snturday and was sentenced to five yeara In prison. He was caught In South Bend, Ind.. recently. Joint Fish Hoard PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 39. (IP) The state planning board urged to day that legislatures of Oregon. Washington and Idaho enact com pacts creating a Joint Columbia river fisheries commission In which the federal government also would be represented and which would control commercial fishing. Olrl Whistler Freed PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 39. (Pi Miss Helen Robblns literally whistled her way to freedom. Brought before Magistrate Charles Medwny on a dis orderly conduct charge, she waa ask ed what she did for a living. "I whis tle," she said, and demonstrated. "That's pretty good," said Medway. "Discharged." . i Deny Pastor Called MOSCOW, Idaho, Aug. 39. (P) The official board of the Church ol God here denied today a report the church had Issued a call to the Rev. Charles Buckle, of Albany. Ore., ef fective Sept. 1. The church aald t call had been Issued to an .unnamed California minister. . . HOME FROM CAMP By GLUYAS WILLIAMS ' SWINGS OfT TRAIN ON KPfUHN" IfeuTfcB DOWN PUflWvM, CAS1S AWvlHS 6UNCE AT FT'M CAMP. HOPES THERE'LL "fRVINfe To APPEAR PRETTY OME OF CAMPERS AlRFAW IN Bt NO PI5P1AV OF AFFECTION 6S0WW-UP AND iHDEPENDENf WS MOTHER'S EMBRACE , ' OR KlSSlrte 8,7 FAMILY NEABlMS 6RTES. WONDERS , REACHES SATES. ALL OTMfR. SEE5 THEM COMlKS, WtfOOpS WHY Ht DOESINT SEE HIS PAflEWS THERE BUT H1S.TEUS WV LtflPa INTO MOTHERS FRM1V.V. NOT YrlAT HE HIMSElf HE' 5 6LftD. BUT SUIT- ARMS CARES i Or COURSE CA&E SEEMS SUDDENLY HEAvy (Oopyrigat, 1938, by The Ben Syndicate, Inc.) eiuva. WiUiAfls MATTER POi Bv C M PAYNF TAILSPIN TOMMY The Jump! By HAL FORRF" Re Lett y-lou i.s A WORLDS RECORD PARACHUTE JUMP AT THE MIAMI AIR RACES. FPOM AM ALTITUDE OF TWENTY THOUSAMD F6ET SHE WILL BAIL OUT, FALLING 17,000 FEET, BEFORE PULLING THE RIP , COBO . ON THE VkY DOWM SHE WILL OPEN A SACK. OF "LOUR TO MARK, HER DOWNWARD PATH, FOR THE SPECTATORS BELOW. i A&c&t y m fsrjof) i he bs i r HKj a 'V amb Rendered unconscious er the v -'2-J 'AjmTS. iJbffli f&t fJab1 blow, betty-lOu falls limply Ssqv ;':.W,V ???s S'S I , downward at terrific SPEEOI BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Other Plans! By EDWTN ALGER A?k J fTWO HUNDRED AN' SEVEtT) f SWEUigT (T..AND YOU'RE SURE, Y ABSOIUTELyA I'LL BET THEY DO LIKE THEY DID WITH i'hOW COME,) ' OF 1H AS A 9TARTO?, .-J LETS Sg RUSTY, THE JIPPEMS APE DIDNT I TURKEYS UNDERSELL EVERYBODY S BEN'' JU A BEN MORE LATER! )A UNLOAD S0IN6 INTO THE J SEE THEIR ELSE AND TRY TO DRIVE THEM OUT fe-5 rlkS?pHWSISr3S?mM! ?l CHICKEN BUSINESS, J NEW SIGN? L OF THE MARKET RUSTY, THAT'S OUR fe fe WE'LL LAY LOW UNTIL they DO, AND THEN WE'LL SOCK EM WITH OUR GIANT CHICKENS AND OUR GIANT 1 Ls .L THE NEBB8 The Brats By 80L HEP" ,W WIDOW, HE'LL FAU-YiM ) I RESPeCr FOR AGE. OR W A,R A MOST PERFECT SKATS V ENJEMS J TALKS TO ME VOUt AVWORSe- , IT IS POSSIBLE FOR. J TUiNJX UJE OUST GOT f ' 0eMLXJLGENJCE S V THROOeW PLAVIMG 1 r 1 1 1 n 11 1 1 r in imn 1 ii' in in. -1 rm i la iYi PATSV, HEP, WAITRESS. SAID TO GM HEC TOOAV JUO rt vm 1 -tljim 'NOD ARE ? VOU'CE .iust Tup- .;uAroiii WjgZZ OP KJOTUl'WG UJHAT VOU MPPrr IS A 3, iHw lhhik, M 010 ANJD A 5LAP IfO THE MOUTM IP VOL) DOMT EAT VWHAT5 LAD BEFORE. VOU : 1
