4
PAGE SIX
THE NEWS AND THE HERALD, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON
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SERIAL STORY
MYSTERY AT
BY CLARKE NEWLON
fBT n CHARACTER!
I, NIKKI JKROMK. kerjlitl
" lo, (lopnlnr. tmgmgrt to ala-
. rnol, hfark-aalrfd
NTBVn MAI.I.OI1Y, ro taa
? ' ari-ontpaarlna- krr i 'P
Mkkl'a mint and unrlr on a w r-
lnir lnl rnncn. Nlkkfa fmker,
, PKTKIL JKHOMCB, l a wealth
t'"HI lfork Jrwtl merchant.
I
li Ytr4aTl Th atranirrr f
7 ; ' trodarra hlmarlf nncrot and
I" tarn adrlara an. derided
V I to Wj-drain, too, tot a Ta
lk , callon '
tl. CHAPTER III
i(S U7HEN tha train pulled Into the
." little station Aunt Amy was
Is it the bottom of the steps to wrap
t;.:Nikkl in a thoroughgoing cm-
' trace thnt left them both breath-
; less and laughing.
. i Then Nikkl introduced Steve to
& ' her aunt, who kissed him, and to
4 ,. her uncle, who welcomed him
" largely. Nikki saw out of the cor-
p ner of her eye that Bancroft and
i r. Sarto were standing several yards
5" away by their luggage, waiting for
Mhe family group to break up.
Steve hadn't seen them. Uncle
i Jim finally walked over to them,
t -shook hands and brought them
i back.
. "Atnv" i anM MthpM 0ente-
alt
v rmen
are Mr. Bancroit ana ir.
Sarto. They figure on going out to
rrjthe Lazy R for a spell. Reckon you
tjmust have met on the train," turn
i.ing to Nikki and Steve. Nikkl
i.; nodded. "We met," said Steve
"t; briefly, without looking at Nikkl.
.. I "Come on, then," said Uncle Jim.
i , Things have shore changed, Nik-
J .' kl, Remember the old truck we
' used to cavort along tot Well, we
' got one of them new station
wagons now. It was Amy's idea,
t! but It certainly does the business.
' ' Why you can haul a doien people
f In this thing, with all their bag-
: gage."
,v tie kept up a cheerful, noisy
3 : , conversation all the IS miles to
J,5 the ranch, telling Nikkl and Steve
'about the Improvements and some
ji. ! of the guests already there. He
tt included Bancroft and Sarto in
his conversation with a casual
4 i j wave of his hand and a turn of
s? bis head. .
"Hey Ranee," he yelled a the
S station wagon came to a stop In
i ' i the drive before the ranch house.
$'' "Here's Nikkl," and a tow-headed
lit; young man in khaki trousers and
shirt came strolling up from the
i-i corrals.
T "Ranee," said Ntkki, and kissed
I him enthusiastically. Ranee drew
' '.back, completely covered with a
, ": fine cloud of pleased confusion.
t C : "Looks like a lot of kissing goln'
z on," observed Uncle Jim. "Ranee,
your ears are redder than that
,eow barn."
"Hush," said Aunt Amy. "Ranee
and Nikki were practically brought
up together," she explained diplo
matically to Steve. "They're just
like brother and sister. Hey Bill,"
she called to a wiry young man
crossing the yard. "Come and take
'these bags up to the porch." She
turned to Steve who was watch.
ing Bill's approach. "I can't get
used to seeing men around in
chaps again. But the easterners
want Hair pants and hair pants
they get Don't mean you, o'
course," she added, remembering
that Steve, after all, was an
"easterner" too.
As they walked up to the ranch.
house Nikki was amazed at the
changes. The old house had a new
wing on the south which almost
doubled its size, and a wide patio
ran completely across the front
She saw several men in ten-gal'
Ion hats, high-heeled boots and
bright neckerchiefs over brighter
shirts.
"Your hired hands certainly
have changed," Nikkl said to her
uncle.
"Lord, Nikkl, them aint the
hands. All the old boys are guides
, now. They're around in back.
These new whippersnappers are
just the atmosphere. They can all
ride, though, and they look like
cowboys. When you see one kinda
hefty around the middle you'll
know he ain't atmosphere. He's a
dude."
fJNCLE JIM pointed out the
cabins to her. Thpm
of them.
"Four we built Just to accommo-
IJSi? two pePIe each.M he said
"ier iwo will hold as many
ikB as six. They're for the family
FLAPPER FANNY
COM. 19 BY NCA SERVICE, IMC.
"Jtuce you to the end, Chuck ? And last one through has to
... . stsv and. finish the macticinje."
THE LAZY R
COPYHIOHT. 105"
KM IHVICt. INC.
groups. All with hot and cold
running water," he added grandly.
Nikkl learned that the new wing
held several private rooms and a
big dining hall.
Uncle Jim dropped back to ex
plain something to Steve. Aunt
Amy was taking Sarto and Ban
croft in to register and to get them
settled. They had preferred one
of the cabins. Ranee fell into step
with Nikki.
"It's awful nice to have you
back again Nikki," he said gently,
and Nikkl knew that Ranee loved
her just as he always had loved
her and that he probably would
never dream of telling her. Ranee
was the son of an old partner of
Uncle Jim and when the partner
nd his wife had died, Uncle Jim
and Aunt Amy took the boy into
their own home, reared him as
their own and sent him away to
the State University.
After one year Ranee returned
to the Lazy R and said he would
rather go to work than to school,
and after a while Uncle Jim made
him foreman. Nikkl always
thought that Ranee would like to
have continued school, but that he
felt his foster parents couldn't af
ford the money to send him.
Nikkl breathed deeply and
turned her eyes to the purple
fringe of mountains to the west
She let her gaze linger over the
distance and lost her troubles.
Nothing very wrong could happen
In such a setting.
"We've just time to change and
have a short ride before supper,"
she called to Steve. "I'll beat you
dressed. Ranee, may we have a
couple of horses? How about Mar
quis and the Palamino?"
"Both a little old," said Ranee.
"Remember it's been five years.
But I've got a couple of good ones
saved for you."
rpHEY returned from an hour's
ride ravenous and after dinner
Steve suggested a walk. The sun
had just set, a huge orange circle
that left the indescribable beauty
of a soft western dusk. They were
both still in riding togs. Nikki
linked her arm through Steve's
and they strolled silently, both
lost in the magic loveliness of the
twilight The dust of the yard
padded their footsteps. There was
no sound except the faint notes of
radio music from the background
of the ranch house, framed against
the darkening sky.
They stopped at the corral fence,
their figures hidden by the shadow
of a shed. In a swift motion Steve
took Nikki in his arms and their
differences vanished like the out
lines of the distant hills fading in
to the lowering night They stood
thus for many seconds, their
bodies locked, oblivious to the
ranch and to the world. Then they
heard a man speak and Nikkl
stepped back.
Bancroft and Sarto were stand
ing not more than 20 feet away,
unable to see them because of the
shadow of the shed. The first
words they heard were Sarto's.
"I know you're the boss, but
I'm tellin' you this is no spot for
us. -Let's get away."
Steve started to take a step out
Into the light and reveal their
presence, but a warning pressure
on his arm from Nikki stopped
him. This was no time for ethics.
Bancroft was answering in the
same low, smooth voice, 'but the
undertone of metallic hardness
was rising.
"I know what I'm doing. The
girl saw the money, I tell you. I
don't know how much she knows.
Suppose she wires old Jerome.
We've got to keep an eye on her."
"Is that the only reason you
want to keep an eye on her?"
asked Sarto sarcastically.
"Wouldn't you like, maybe . . ."
"You won t say any more." said
Bancroft and Nikki shuddered at
(he way he said it. "You're not
smart, Sarto, but you're too smart
to say any more. And don't think,
either, Sarto. Don't even try. I've
ilways done the thinking. I'll keep
on doing the thinking in the Je
rome affair."
He walked away. Sarto followed
after a moment. The magic of the
night had changed and become
strangely sinister.
(To Be Continued)
By Sylvia
T. M. Cfc V. t- PAT. OFF.-
OUT OUR WAY
2
MYRA NORTH, SPECIAL
LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE
it couLwrr wwe
BEEN HELPED. JACK-HONEST-
IT WAS
AN ACCIDENT -TH
HOIST BROKE AND
LET TH WHOLE WORKS '
DROP- IT GOT HIS
-W?L7lf f SMOKE A PIPE, STOGIES, YA SHINES ABOVE, X'M W HIM LIKE AWV PAME CA B-6-&UT I A BE ATI WO vj iuu V
-IkViM OR CI3ARS? PLEASE' U'iA THROUGH X CAN'T f-' WOULD TO A GUY WHO f I DOM'T )( AMD HE 7 LEAP IKJ TH
WllM frtAf,LL IAAKE'JtA RUIN YO LIFE5 JM HOLDS A EOVAL FLUSH M -DR.WK COLLECTS X tRK HE p L
MM HOW OUTSTOKENWW -? Si THERE, MOW, GIVE UT- f V THAT BABV'S J ( MATTRESS.'
ifeMl flASM.LE M.SV
i-t2J55ar?fc mWur a mm mm m milium iiii i.ji sz. i-vrs js m wn wfhj
pt fill "ILL. 1
Nt. w. wca u s- tat, err. iww w w - : -7 t- --- y
I STOP THOSE FIRE OOfJCS, BS I f
I FOOL-UEVOU-T WAHTTHE U
WHOLE HAZBOB. VOWAf mmSX. O
whose y
SI
-5 Tf I
FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS
f What's the V
A BUSLE FOR, y EVERY KID IN! .
PORKY ?X DONT CAMP IS SUPPOSED TO
B. RECOSNIZE TUB J LIME UP ON THE BEACH
SCALL VFOR SWI.
WASH TUBBS
CAM YOU BEAT THAT, TAUMTLESi ? f SAY, VIRGINIA, ( DO VOL! RPAI I V S
( THE GREYS HAVE MENDED EVERY ) HOW'D YOU LIKE V Tail u vr9 T 7 J
SOCK AM' SHIRT 1 OWN. 1 JUST S TO 60 TO THE VW6ftN '
50T TO THINK OFSOfAE -- MOVIES WITH MjmSi-Q
XAY TO REPAY THEhA ) fAE TONIGHT? WFTt
BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES
GEE.!
lt.Kn VT iUSEW,?)ASESVWi CAWyfOL
BE-OOC
)-1?OL,lAVi OOWT
AM MO OVit VAWX. GOt'b'b
l IITV'M
aw' j
if OH, ARTHUR, CANT VOL) XliM BY TW MOOM THAT Y i J NOW SKJUOOL.E UP TO ):W' WE TAKE f H&
NURSE
COME OK, BOO
GET BOCCO OUT
THE OMLY OWE
WAVELENGTH OF
ACE'S -
1
KNOW HOW BAD IT
IS -THEY
JUST GETTW HIM I
LOOSE -
LIFT TH
TRUCK
V.t AMYVKi&
MRS,
BY J. R. WILLIAMS
WE'VE GOT TO
Op THERE-HE'S
WHO KMOWS THE
THE MVSTER.V
SHIPS PEAAOTE
DONT
WERE
HAD TO
WHOLE
-
DO WE ALL
SO IN WITH OUR
PAJAMAS ON?
VJROTE. VOR.
Sl.'&btMWVON'i)-
V CALL THE L,
(I DOCTOR. I
U BRtNQ HIM fc
I INTO THE M
XI
,WOtE6
OUR BOARDING HOUSE
ngOCCO SPEAK t
DO iOU HBART!
n an if 1 . 1 ir- a i niwir i
Afi CHIEF -THAT 5HOCT (T-yM A
4mrA rfA CIRCUIT WVS A J J 4
rEAJ
TOUGH LUCK.
ACE -THE DOC
WILL BE HERE
IN FIVE MINUTES
ME
THIS
TAKE IT AS
I'M
EASY AS YOU
ON
CAN, PAL
.
Ttp ; 11 3 b- -li
CAMP CUSTOM .' SOME OF
THESE5 KIDS WOULDN'T
CHANGE THEIR PAJAMAS
UNLESS TWEt WERE
FORCED TO (
s , .r j-.
J ' - Jl
11
o -.
OF COURSE
I MEAN IT.
AV0,VOR.l,.''i'r
C'MOKS.CiA'e.e
V,T'& X OOT
(ft!
V INLAND SAKES! BUT WHAT V
, X-
PLEASE, J ENGAGED TO?
VyYJC" I
Or rt'b'c VAWA
TV. "XOWOR.ROVO
aaaaaaiiaialaalBiriiii lliil l laTai Ilia H , T 'M'.xa OTPR, i
-mi'H.'illll l?i '.I BVICf . INC. T. M HtO
BY
I
I-
DONT "PAL"
- AND
DONT THINK
I M
MEANS
THROUGH
THIS JOB- i
MAN
mm
Andihis e One way
OF MAKING SURE THEY
CHANGE I HEM
AT LEAST t
KiaTaaarimijii
ONCE A I WHERE'S
- 1 . . r- n 1 T
-ZL-S DONT SEE? .
V Zrim UM AROUND
Vm,nmismi.iii.'V ; -i . .'.. ;-Mi.'f SlJV J (
BUT SHE S
OVER IN
EUROPE. 6EE
V ABOUT THE GIRL THAT
WIZ , MRS.6REY,
SHE DOESM'T
EXPECT WiE
STAY HOkAE
EVERY
NIGHT,
19211 HY f)CA SERVltfC. INC. T. M, HLC. 1J. S. PAT. Orr.ff V. ATfi- J
n
AViQ-Wta TRWM OR OOT
9111 BY
With MAJOR HOOPLE
UUOW
THEY'LL
SCRAMBLE
TO SEB
WHO CAM
TAKE IT
AWAY FEOM
HIM "
V ft I'Af.
THOMPSON AND COLL
MCAKIVJMLE. l 7HE LOCMCD
THE LIOHTS WEWT
'w (Jl SMELL SAAOKb
'. . B SOMGTHIHO'S
BY HAROLD GRAY
iV THE LIOHTS WEWT I I
1 OUT Ak)D I r'l. I
iJI. I
IT ONLY GOT A PIECE OF MY .
FOOT- I'LL BE O. K. SOON - AND
STICKING HERE TILL THE
A
DAY I BEAT YOU INTO
ADMITTING I'M A BETTER
THAN YOU ARE-
BY BLOSSER
DO I WAvE TO
GO (N TOO ? CA.-4T
I just let 'em
WALK DOWN &Y
THE?M;Five; ?
,. 1 VI
IL J
BY CRANE
OF COURSE VIRGINIA MAY
GO. OH, MR. TUBBS .YOU
HAVE NO IDEA UJUA.T
THIS MEANS TO HER THE
POOR CHILD HAS HAD SO
TO
LITTLE FUN. WHV TUIS
TO THfc rIKbT DATE
OF HER LIFE !
BY MARTIN
' r 1
Ill' ITaiillll iaa.na'
Oft,NT TW J0"bT TOO
TOR V40O4V.
HgA HltRVICt, INC T. M. WKO, U. 9. PAT. Wt