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