THE GATE C IT Y JO U RN AL |iilliiiiiM iiii»M M :>;t»<m iiiim iiiniiíihiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim iim im iiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiii|iiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiíiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiu iini>iim M tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiiiir) T H E H IG H G R AD ER B y W m . M acLeod R aine ■ ------------------------------------------- 1 --------------------------------------------B C op yrigh t b y O. W. D illin gh am Co. |iiliiiiiiin iiii)iiin iiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiin iiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin iiiiiiiiiiiiiin iiiiiiiiiiiiiin iiiin iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin iiiiiiiiiiiiiiin i iim n f C H A P T E R X I I I — C o n tin u e d — 13— 8h . laughed. “ I did thick perhaps you knew where he was.” “ Well, I don't—and I (ftrn’t want to,” he snapped. “The less I see of him the better I’ll be satisfied.” The superintendent of the Verlnder properties had found a note addressed to him In one of the sacks of quartz taken from Kllmeny. The message, genial to the point of Impudence, had hoped he had enjoyed his little expe rience as a holdup. To Bleyer, always a serious-minded man, this levity had added Insult to Injury. Just now the very mention of the hlghgrader’s name was a red rag to his temper. It was bad enough to be bested without being Jeered at by the man who had set a trap for him. It was well on toward evening be fore Colter paid his promised visit to Miss Dwight. She found him waiting for her upon her return from a ride with Captain Kllmeny, Verlnder and Joyce. Moya, as soon as she had dismount ed, walked straight to him. "What have you found out, Mr. Colter ? ' "Not much. It rained during the night and wiped out the tracks of wagon wheels. Don't know now far Jack got or where he went, but the remains of the wagon are lying at the bottom of a gulch about two miles from the Jack Pot.” "How did It get there?” “ I wish you could tell me that. Couldn't have been a runaway or the mules would have gone over the edge of the road too.” He stepped forward quickly as Verlnder was about to pass Into the hotel. "I want to have a talk with you.” The little man adjusted Ids monocle. "Ye-es. What about, my man?” "About Jack Kllmeny. Where Is he? What do you know? I'm going to find out if I have to tear It from your throat.” Verlnder was no coward, hut he was a product of our modern super-civiliza tion. He glanced around hastily. The captain had followed Joyce Into the lobby. Moya and he were alone on the piazza with this big savage who looked quite capable of carrying out his threat. "Don't talk d—d nonsense,” the mine owner retorted, flushing angrily. Colter did not answer In words. The strong muscular fingers of his left hand closed on the right arm of Ve rlnder Just below the shoulder with a pressure excruciatingly painful. Dob- yans found himself moving automat ically toward the end of the porch. He had to clench his teeth to keep from crying out. "Let me ulone, you brute,” he gasped. Colter paid no attention until his victim was hacked agulnst the rail In a corner. Then he released the millionaire he was manhandling. "You’re going to tell me everything you know. Get that Into your head. guarding Jack. What did you do with him?" “It’s a bally He. I didn't stay with Bleyer to guard him.” “That’a right, you didn’t. You came back with the others. But you know what Bleyer did. Out with It.” “I don’t admit a word of what you say,” said Verlnder doggedly. Colter had trapped him Into a half admission, but he did not Intend to say any more. Moya spoke a little timidly. “ Wait a minute, please, Mr. Colter. Let me talk with Mr. Verlnder alone. I think he’ll tell me what you want to know.” Jack’s friend looked at her with sharp suspicion. Was she trying to make a dupe of him? Her candid glance denied It. “ All right. Talk to him all you like, but you’ll do your talking here,” he agreed curtly before he turned on his heel and walked away a few steps. “ You must tell him what he wants to know, Mr. Verlnder," urged the young woman In a low voice. "Some thing has happened to his friend. We must help clear it up.” “ I’m not responsible for what has happened to his friend. What do you want me to do? Peach on Bleyer, Is that it?" "No. Send for him and tell Mr. Colter the truth." “ I’ll see him hanged and quartered first," he replied angrily. "If you don’t, I’ll tell what I know. There’s a life at stake,” Moya cried, a trace of agitation In her voice. “ Fiddlesticks I” he shrugged. “The fellow’s full of tricks. He worked one on us the other night. I'm hanged If I let him play me again." “ You must. I’ll tell Captain Kll meny and Lord Farquhar. I’ll not let It rest this way. The matter Is seri ous." “ I’m not going to be bullied into say ing a word. That's the long and <-hort of It,” he repeated In disgust. “Let Bleyer tell the fellow If he wants to. I’ll have nothing to do with It. We’re not responsible for what has hap pened—If anything has." “Then I’ll go and get Mr. Bleyer." “ Just as you please. I’d see this rufllun at Halifax first, If you ask me." The angry color flushed hlg face again as he thought of the Insult to which he had been subjected. To Colter Moya explained her pur pose. He nodded agreement without words. After two or three attempts she got the superintendent on the telephone at the Mollie Gibson mine and ar ranged with him that he was to come to the hotel at once. A few minutes later he drove up In his car. Moya put the case to him. Bleyer turned to his employer. “You want me to tell Colter what I know?” “ I don’t care a turn of my hand whether you tell the fellow or not,” drawled Verlnder, Ignoring the pres ence of Colter. The superintendent peered at Moya In his near-sighted fashion over the glasses on his nose. “Can’t see that It matters much, Miss Dwight. I’m not worrying a bit about Jack Kll meny, but. If Colter and you are. I’m willing* to tell what I know on con dition thnt you keep the factB to your selves.” “ I'll keep quiet If you haven’t In jured Jack In any way,” Colter amended. "We haven't. He was sound as a new dollar when I left him Tuesday night. Want to hear the particulars?” “That’s what I’m here for," snapped Colter. Bleyer told the whole story so far as he knew It. CH APTER X IV Spirit Rapping "Not Much. It Rainad During tha Night and Wiped Out the '“ racks of Wagon Wheels.” Or, by G—d. I'll wring your neck for you.” The Kngllshman had never before been confronted with such a situation. He was a citizen of a country where wealth hedges a man from such as saults. The color ebbed from his face, then cam« bask with a rush. "Go to the devil, you big bully," he flung out sharply. Moya, tuken by surprise at Colter’s abrupt desertion of her, had watched with amazement the subsequent flare- up. Now she crossed the porch toward them. "What are you doing. Mr. Colter?" "None of your funeral, ma'am,” the miner answered bluntly, not for a m o ment lifting his hard eyes from Verln der. ''Better unload what you know. I've had a talk with Quint Salada.v I know all be knows, that Bleyer and you and him with two other lads held up Jack and took his ore away. The tlLes W ihssu left you nnd Bleyer Farquhar und Captain Kllmeny left next day for another short hunting trip. The captain had offered to give It up, but Moya had urged upon him that It would not he fair to disappoint his companion. He had gone reluc tantly, because he saw that his fiancee was worried. Uls own opinion was that his cousin Jack had disappeared for reasons of his own. Colter did not relax in his search. But as the days passed hope almost died within him. Jack had plenty of enemies, as an aggressive fighter In a new country always must have. His friend’s fear was that some of them had decoyed Kllmeny to his death. The suspicions of the miner centered upon I’eale and Trefoyle, both because Jack had so recently had trouble with them nnd because they knew before hand of his Intention to remove the ore. But he could find no evidence upon which to base his feeling, though he and '“nrly, in company with a dep uty sheriff, had put the Cornlshiuen through a grilling examination. It had been understood that the young women should take a trip through the Never Quit before they left Goldbanks, but for one reason or another this had been postponed until after the captain and Farquhar had started on their final hunting expedi tion. The second afternoon after their departure was the one decided upon for the little adventure. waylaid him . . . and barled him la some old mine.” Moya faced them tensely, a slim wraith of a girl with dark eyes that blazed. She,had for gotten all about conventions, all about what they would think of her. The one thing she saw was Jack Kllmeny in peril, calling for help. But Lady Farquhar remembered what Moya did not. it was her duty to defend her charge against the er rant Impulses of the heart, to screen them from the callous eyes of an un sympathetic world. "You Jump to conclusions, my dear. Sit down and we’ll talk It over.” "No. He called for help. I’m going to take It to him." Again Verinder laughed unpleasant ly. Moya did not at this moment know the man was in existence. One sure purpose flooded her whole being. She was going to save her lover. India wavered. She, too, bad lost color. “But—you’re only guessing, dear.” “You’ll find It's true. We must fol low that pipe and rescue him. To night.” « “Didn’t know, you were subject to nerve attacks. Miss Dwight,” derided Verinder uneasily. Moya put her hands in front of her eyes as If to shut out the picture of what she saw. "He’s been there for five days . . . starving, maybe.” She shuddered. “You’re only guessing. Miss Dwight. What facts have you to back It?” Bleyer asked. “ We must start at once— this very hour.” Moya had recovered herself and spoke with quiet decision. “ But first we must find where the pipe leads.” Bleyer answered the appeal In Lady Farquhar’s eyes by rising. He believed It to be a piece of hysterical folly, Just as she did. But some Instinct of chivalry In him responded to the call made upon him. He was going, not to save Kllmeny from an Imaginary death, but to protect the girl that loved him from showing all the world where her heart was. "I’ll be back inside of an hour— Just as soon as I can trace that pipe for you. Miss Dwight,” he said. "After all, Moya may be right,” In dia added, to back her friend. "It’s Just possible,” Bleyer conceded. WRIGLEYS A fter Every Meal It's the longest-lasting eonlectlon yon can bay —and It’s a help to di gestion and a cleanser for the mouth and teeth. W rfgley*a ■ c a n s benefit as w e ll u pleasure. Verlnder, with the extravagance “The one that ran through the tun that went hand In hand with an occa nel.” sional astonishing parsimony, had or Miss Kllmeny shook her head. “I dered oilskin suits and waterproof didn’t see anybody tap. Perhaps one boots made especially for hlg gnests. of us touched It by chance.” A room was reserved for the young "No. That couldn't be. The tap ladles at the mine, equipped for this came seven times together, and after one occasion to serve as a boudoir I had answered It seven times more.” “ Seven times?” asked Bleyer quickly. where they might dress In comfort. The mine owner’s guests donned, "Yes—qeven. But, If you didn't tap, with a good deal of hilarious merri who did?” "Sure It wasn’t Imagination?” Verln ment. the short skirts, the boots and the rubber helmets. The costumes der suggested. "Imagination! I tell you it was re could not hare been called becoming, but they were eminently suited for the peated again and again,” Moya said wet, damp tunnels of the Never Quit. Impatiently. "Spirit rapping,” surmised Joyce After they had entered the cage It G a th e rin g th e W h ea t was a little terrifying to be shot so lightly. “It doesn’t matter, anyhow, The wheat harvest usually begin» rapidly down Into the blackness of since It served Its work of comforting In June in California, Louisiana, Mis Moya.” the mine. sissippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Caro- "It might have been some of the “Don’t be afraid. It’s quite safe," linus, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky,. workmen,” Lady Farquhar guessed. Bleyer told them cheerfully. Kansas. Utah and Missouri; in July "Must have been,” agreed Bleyer. At the tenth level the elevator in Oregon, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wis stopped and they emerged Into an "And yet—we’re not working that end consin, Colorado, Washington, Iowa, of the mine now. The men had no open space. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New “ We’re going to follow this drift," business there. Odd that It was seven York, New England and Upper Can raps. That Is call for help. It means explained the superintendent. ada ; In August in North and South They seated themselves In ore cars danger.” Dakota. Manitoba and Lower Canada. A bell of warning began to toll In and wpre wheeled Into a cavern light ed at Intervals by electric bulbs. Pres Moya's heart. It rang as yet no clear ently the cars slowed down and the message to her brain, but the premoni tion of something sinister and deadly occupants descended. sent a sinking sensation through her. "This way,” ordered Bleyer. Verlnder sat up with renewed Inter They followed In single file Into a hot, damp tunnel, which dripped mois est. ” 1 say, you know—spirit rapping. ture in big drops from the roof upon Weren’t you telling me, Bleyer, that a rough, uneven floor of stone and dirt where pools of water had occa sionally gathered. The darkness In creased as they moved forward, driven back by the candles of the men for a space scarce farther than they could reach with outstretched hands. Moya, bringing up the rear, could hear Bleyer explain the workings to those at his heel. He tulked of stopes, CH APTER X V drifts, tunnels, wage scales, shifts, high-grade ore and other subjects that were as Greek to Joyce and India. The Acid Test The atmosphere was oppressively close Jacy Kllmeny opened his eyes to and warm, and the oilskkis that Moya find himself In darkness utter and wore seemed to weigh heavily upon complete except for a pinpoint of light her. She became aware with some an gleaming from far above. His head Champion X is 60 cents. Blue noyance at herself that a faintness was whirling and throbbing painfully. Box 75 centa. Only because was stealing over her brain and a Something warm and moist dropped Champion makes two-thirds mistiness over her eyes. To steady Into his eyes, and when he put hlg of all spark plugs produced herself she stopped, catching at the hand up to Investigate the cause he are these low prices possible. rough wall for support. The others, knew It must be blood from a wound. Spending more money cannot unaware that she was not following, bring you greater value Faintly the sound of voices and of moved on. With a half articulate because Champion has re harsh laughter drifted down to him. peatedly proved that it is little cry she sank to the ground. Presently this died away. The still th e better sp a rk p lu g . When she came to herself the lights ness was almost uncanny. had disappeared. She was alone In Champion Spark Plug Co. “ Something laid me out. I reckon. the most profound darkness she had Toledo, Ohio Must have been a bad whack." His ever known. It seemed to press upon finger found a ridge above the temple her so ponderably as almost to be tan which had been plowed through the gible. The girl was frightened. Her thick curly hair. "Looks as though a D e p t a d a b te f e e Emeep Amgsme imagination began to conjure all sorts glancing bullet hit me. Golden luck of dangers. Of cave-ins and explo “ No. I Know Now Who Called for It didn’t finish the Job.” Help. It Was Jack Kllmeny.” sions she had heard and read a good He moved. A sharp pain shot deal. Anything was possible In this there was a big accident there some through his lower right leg. Trying thousand-toot-deep grave. In a years ago? Perhaps the ghosts of to rise, he slipped down at once ft >m frightened, Ineffective little voice she some of the lost miners were sending a badly sprained ankle. Every muscle lo o ,o o o Y d s . R e a l cried out to her friends. a message to their wives. Eh, what?” In his body ached, as if he had been Instantly there came an answer—a Jarred by a hard fall. “ The accident was In the Golden faint tapping on the wall almost at “Better have a look around first,” Nugget, an adjoining mine. The prop her ear. She listened breathlessly, erty was pretty well worked out and he told himself. and caught again that faint far tap— Groping In his pocket, he found a W h ile It la s ts ! has never been opened since the dis tap—tap— tap—tap— tap. Instinctive O ne h u n d re d th o u s a n d y a rd s match case and struck a light. What aster.” R eal gov ern m en t ly her hand went out, groping along B a llo o n c lo th The color had ebbed from Moya’s he saw made him shudder. From the the wall until It fell upon a pipe. Even ledge upon which he lay fell away a F o r t y -fiv e ce n ts p e r y a rd lips. She was a sane young woman D e liv e r e d to y o u r hom e as she touched this the sound came not given to nerves. But she had wor gulf, the bottom of which could only L a st o f th e g o v e r n m e n t s to c k again, and along with It the faintest A c t q u ic k ! ried a great deal over the disappear be guessed. His eyes, becoming ac of vibrations. She knew that some M on ey b a c k I f n o t s a t is fa c t o r y customed to the darkness, made out ance of Jack Kllmeny. This, coming M illio n y a rd s a lr e a d y s o ld body at a distance was hitting the pipe on top of It, shook her composure For that he was In some sort of shaft, B a llo o n c lo t h , as y o u k n o w . with a piece of quartz or metal. Is th e ric h e s t p ie ce o f m a te ria l she was fighting with the dread that thirty feet or more below the surface. Stooping, she found a bit of broken the spirit of the man she loved had Rotten from age. the timberings had M on ey ca n b u y H as a h u n d re d uaes rock. Three times she tapped the been trying to talk with her. slipped and become Jammed. Upon M a k es w o n d e r fu l d ra p e s pipe. An answer came at once. F o r y o u r hom e, clu b , h o te l, th e a tr # Joyce chattered gayly. “How weird 1 some of these he was resting. The Tap— tap—tap—tap—tap—tap-tap I E x q u is ite d re s s e s and w a is ts Moya, you must write an account of sprained ankle, by preventing him F o r w o m e n and ch ild re n She tried two knocks. Again the your experience for the Society for from moving, had saved him from L in g e r ie an d u n d e r w e a r response of seven taps sounded. Four Psychical Research. Put me In It, plunging down the well. F o r w o m e n and ch ild re n S h irts f o r m en a n d b o y s blows brought still seven. Why al please." He held out a silver dollar and B e d sp re a d s an d co u c h c o v e r s ways seven? She did not know, but “Of course. It must hnve been some dropped It. From the time the coin A n d d o z e n s o f o t h e r uses as w e ll she was greatly comforted to know of the men. but I don't see—" took to strike Jack Judged he was a N a tu ra l b a llo o n c lo t h c o lo r A sh a d e b e tw e e n cr e a m an d ecru that her friends were In communica Moya interrupted the superintendent hundred feet from the bottom. R ich , s ilk y , lu s tr o u s , p o n g e e flnisb tion with her. After all, she was not sharply. An intuition, like a flash of The flare of a second match showed F u ll y a rd w id e alone. Send y ou r ord er n ow him a wall ladder leading down, but light, had Illuminated her brain. Or g e t sa m p le fr e e A light glimmered at the end of the “ Where does that pipe run, Mr. unfortunately It did not extend above D o n ’t h e s ita te to o r d e r tunnel nnd moved slowly toward her. Bleyer?” him except In rotting fragments. What A s m a n y y a rd s as y o u w a n t Bleyer’s voice cnlled her name. Pres R ig h t fro m th is ad "Don't know. Maps of the workings had happened he could guess. Sup M on ey b a c k i f y o u a re n o t ently the whole party was about her at the office would show." posing him to be dead, his enemies M ore than a m a zed and d e lig h te d with sympathetic questions and ex had dropped the body down this de "Will you please find out?” S a m p le fu r n is h e d fr e e and planations. W ith o u t o b lig a t io n to y o u “ Glad to look It up for you, Miss serted shaft. Not for a moment did B u t w h a t e v e r y o u do She made light of her fainting at Dwight. I'm a little curious myself.” he doubt who they were. The voices A ct at on ce! tack, but Verlnder Insisted on getting had been unmistakably Cornish, and “I mean now—at once.” S. D. BRILL her back to the upper air In ■-plte of He glanced at her In quick surprise. even without that evidence he would Los Angeles, Calif. her protests. He had discovered that Was she asking him to leave the din have guessed Peale and bis partner as *06 S. Main St. Joyce was quite ready to return to ner table to do It? Lady Farquhar the guilty ones. V a lu a b le Tea Set the sunlight, now that her curiosity saw how colorless Moya was and Since he could not go up he went down, moving warily so as not to Jar was satisfied. A very little of any came to the rescue. A tea set. more than 200 years old. thing that was unpleasant went a long “ My dear, you are a little unstrung, loose the timbers upon which he lay. Is carefully cherished by Mrs. Hamp way with Miss Seldon, and there was aren't you?” she said gently. “ I think Every rung of the ladder he tested ton B. Miller, of Alfred, Maine. Th« something about this underground we might find something more cheer with great care before he put his set Is complete, having 12 of the usual tomb that reminded her strongly of an ful to talk about. We always have weight upon It. Each step of the Jour- | group articles, with the laiger piece ney down sent a throb of pain from | Intact It Is blue-white china, wifh Immense grave. the weather.” At dinner Verlnder referred to the Moya rose, trembling. “ No. I know the ricked ankle, even though he rest- j willow blue stripe and blue polka attack of vertigo. "Feel quite fit now who called for help. It «’as Jack ed his weight on his hands while he | dots all over the surface, and waa lowered himself. From the last rung i originally the property of Mrs. Mer again, Miss Dwight?" Kllmeny.” "Quite, thnnk you.” Moya was a Verlnder was the first to break the —It was by actual count the one hun rill’s great-great-grandmother and has little Irritated at the reference, be strained silence. "But that's nonsense, dred forty-third—he stepped to the been handed down to the oldest girl ground. if each generation on her wedding day. cause she was ashamed of having you know.” Another match showed him a drift given way to physlcnl weakness. “ It “ It's the truth. He was calling for running from the foot of the shaft. was nothing. 1 was a goose. That’s help." all." “ Where from? What would he be Along this he dragged himself slowly, uncertain of direction but determined Bleyer, a guest for the evening, de doing down In a mine?" fended the young woman from her ”1 don’t know. . . . Yes, I do, too," to find out what possibility of escape own scorn. "It often takes people that Moya corrected herself, voice break- j his prison offered. For two hundred way the first time, what with the heat Ing under the stress of her emotion ! yards the tunnel led forward and and the closeness. I once knew a “He hns been put down there to die." I brought him up sharply at an Impasse. • IKWOKWWJ champion pugilist to keel OTer while “To die:’’ Joyce echoed the words A eave-ln blocked further advance. "Check," Jack told himself aloud he was going through a mine.” In a frightened whisper. 6 B e l l - a n s "Were you afraid when you found Dobyans laughed. "This is absurd. I grimly. (TO BE CONTTNITED.) Hot water yourself alone?" Joyce asked. Who under heaven would put him I "I was until you tapped.” there?” Sure Relief In c o n s id e r a te India looked pussled. “Tapped. A second flash of light burned In ! The meanest man in the world Is What do you mean?" upon the girl. “ That man. Peale—and the other ruffian. They knew about the warden who puts a tack in the "On the pipe." 2 5 4 AND 754 RACKAGES EVERYWHERE "What n i n e * ” the shipment Joet sa you did. They | electric chalí.—Bison, »iiysi CHAMPION W h ile I t L a s ts BALLOON SILK Sure Relief FOR INDIGESTION ELL-A N S p * !• » * s .. t f