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The Wibaux pioneer. [volume] (Wibaux, Mont.) 1907-1919, September 25, 1914, Image 6

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85053308/1914-09-25/ed-1/seq-6/

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Good Since 1854
SIXTY SUMMERS have been made
pleasanter by Gund's refreshing
an <* nourishing brews. Their spark
ling purity and cool, delicious whole
someness have made them widely
popular for a long lifetime.
For the family table and home
gatherings or for picnics and fishing
trips
Peerless Beer
stands Supreme as the ideal beverage.
Cools, cheers, refreshes; richly flavored
and of sparkling purity. Always
keep a case in the cellar. Ask your
dealer. Order today.
John Gund Brewing Co.
La Crosse, Wis.
Pickering & Rucker
Distributors
Wibaux, Mont.
(Copyright, 1814, by Harold MacQra-.h)
CHAPTER i, ,

A Call in the Night.
There are few things darker than s
country road at night, particularly i
one does not know the lay of tin
land. It is not difficult to traverse £
known path; no matter how dark li
It. one is able to find the way by th«
aid of a mental photograph taken it
the daytime. But supposing you have
never been over the road in the day
time, that you know nothing whatevei
of its topography, where it dips 01
rises, where it narrows or forks. You
find yourself in the same unhappj
state of mind as a blind man suddenly
thrust into a strange house.
One black night, along a certaii:
country road in the heart of New Jer
sey, in the days when the only go or !
roads were city thoroughfares and
country highways were routes to 11m- j
bo. a carriage went forward cautious
iy. From time to lime it careened i
like a blunt-nose barge in a beam sea
Tlie wheels and springs voiced theii
anguish continually for it was a gooc
carriage, unaccustomed to such ruts
and hummocks.
"Faster, faster!" came a muffled
roice from tho interior.
".Sir, I dare not drive any faster,' |
replied the coachman. "I can't see the
horses' heads, sir, let alone the road
I've blown out the lamps, but I cqn'1
see the road any better for that."
"Let the horses have their heads;
they'll find the way. It can't be muct ,
farther. You'll see lights."
The coachman swore in his teeth
All right. This man who was in such
a hurry would probably send them all j
Into the ditch. Save for the few stars ;
above, he might have been driving
Beelzebub's coafih in the bottomless
pit. Black velvet, everywhere black
velvet. A wind was blowing, and yel
the blackness was so thick that It
gave to the coachman the sensation ol
mild suffocation.
By and by, through the trees, he
Baw a flicker of light. It might or
might not be the destination. He
cracked his whip recklessly and the
carriage lurched on two wheels. The
man in the carriage balanced himselt
carefully, so that the bundle In his
arms should not be unduly disturbed.
His arms ached, lie stuck his head
out of the window.
"That's the place," he siid. "And
when you drive up make as little nols«
as you can."
"Yes, sir," called down the driver
When the carriage drew up at Its
Journey's end the man Inside jumped
out and hastened toward the gates
He scrutinized the sign on one of th(
posts. This was the plate:
MISS FARLOW'S PRIVATE SCHOOL
The bundle In his arms stirred and
he hurried up the path to the doot
of the house. He seized the ancient
knocker and struck several times. H«
then placed the bundle on the stepl
and ran back to the waiting carriage
into which he stepped.
"Off with you!"
"That's a good word, sir. Maybt
we can make your train."
"Do you think you could find this
place again?"
Gold Meddi
FLOUR
For Sale Here
When you buy groceries here
i Cheer S£.*
J Cheer up! Our prices please the purse! Give us a trial and see!
t
Monarch |
FLOUR
For Sale Here
W ood burn's Groccrv Sfo rp We de,iver *° aH p arts ° f the cit *
' You couldn't get mo on this pikt
again, sir, for a thousand; not me!"
The door slammed and the unknov.'t !
sank back against the cushions. He
took out his handkerel.: f and wiped
the damp perspiration iroin his fore
head. The big burden was off his
mind. Whatever happened in the fu
ture, they would never be able to gel
him through itis heart. So much foi
the folly of his youth.
It was a quarter after ten. Miss
Susan Farlow had just returned to th«
reeeDtion room from her nightly tout
"Why, You Cherub!" Cried the Old
Maid.
of the upper halls to see if all hei
charges were in bed, where the rules
of the school confined them after 9:30
It was at this moment that she heard
the thunderous knocking at tlie door
Tho old maid felt her heart stop
beating for a moment. Who could i:
be, at this time of night? Then tbs
thought came swiftly that perhaps tl»
parent of some one of her charges was
ill and this was the summons. Still
ing her fears, she went resolutely U
the door and opened it.
"Who is it?" she called.
No one answered. She cupped hei
hand to her ear. She could hear tits
clatter of horses dimly.
"Well!" she exclaimed; rather an
grily, too.
She was In the act of closing tin
door when the light from the hall dis
covered to her the bundle on tin
steps. She stooped ami touched it.
"Good heavens, it's a child!"
She picked the bundle up. A whim
per came from it, a tired little whim
per of protest. She ran back to tin
reception room. A foundling! Anc
on her doorstep! It was incredible
What in the world should she do? 1
Then she unwrapped the child. I
was about a year old, dimpled anc
golden haired. A thumb was in It!
rosebud mouth and Its blue eyei
looked up trustfully into her own.
"Why, you cherub!" cried the ole
maid, a strange turmoil In her heart
She caught the child to her breast, anc
then for the first time noticed the
thick envelope pinned to the child'i
cloak. She put tho baby into a chat:
and broke open the envelope.
"Name this child Florence Gray,
will send annually a liberal sum foi
her support and reclaim her on hei
eighteenth birthday. The other hal
of the Inclosed bracelet will Identify
me. Treat the girl well, for I shall
watch over her in secret."
Into the fixed routine of her hutn
drum life had come a mystery, a tan
talizing, fascinating mystery. She had
read of foundlings left on doorsteps
—from paper covered novels confis
cated from her pupils—but that one
should be placed upon her own re
spectable doorstep! Suddenly she
smiled down at the child and the
child smiled back. And there wai
nothing more to be done except tc
bow before the decrees of fate. Like
all prim old maids, her heart was ful
of unrequited romance, and here was
something she might spend its flood!
upon without let or hindrance. A1
ready she was hoping that the man ol
woman who had left it might nevei
come back.
The child grew. Regularly eact
year, upon a certain date. Miss Farloxt
received a registered letter witt
money. These letters came from al
parts of the world; always the sam*
sum, always the same line—"I an
watching."
Thus seventeen years passed; am
to Susan Farlow each year seemet
shorter than the one before. For slit
loved the child with all her heart. Shi
had not trained young girls all thest
years without becoming adept in thi
art of reading the true signs of breed
lug. There was no ordinary blood ii
Florence; the fact was emplvasizec
by her es^iuisite face, her small hands
and feet, her spirit and gentleness
And now, at any day, some ore with i
broken bracelet might come for her
As the days went on the heart of Su
san Farlow grew heavy.
"Never mind, aunty," said Florence
'I shall always come back to see you.'
She meant it, poor child; but hov
was she to know the terrors which la;
beyond the horizon?
*******
The house of Stanley Hargreave
la Riverdale, was the house of no or
(Unary rich man. Outside it was sire
pie enough, but within you learnet
what kind of a man Hargreave waa
There were rare Ispahans and Saruk
on the floors and tapentries on thi
walls, and here and there a fine paint
ing. The library itself represented i
fortune. Money had been laid ou
lavishly but never wastefully. It wa
the home of a scholar, a dreamer, i
wide traveler.
In the library stood the master of th
house, Idly fingering some paper:
Which lay on the study table. H<
shrugged at some unpleasant thought
settled his overcoat about his shoul
tiers, took up Ills hat, and walked fron
Ihe room, frowning slightly. The but
ler, who also acted In the capacity o
valet, always within call when hi
master waa about, stepped swiftly t<
the hall door ami opened it.
"1 may be out late, Jones," sail
Hargreave.
"Yes, sir."
Hargreave stared into his face keen
ly, as if trying to pierce the grav>
face to learn what was going on he
hind it.
"How long have you been with me?'
"Fourteen years, sir."
"Some day I shall need you."
"My life has always been at you
i would create a sciudal and hurt th(
I prestige of the school. Some one had
mistaken her select private school
: for a fkrmhouso. It was frightful.
i disposal, sir, since that night yon res
I cued me."
"Well, I haven't the least doubt that
j wben I ask you will give." >
"Without question, sir. It was al
j ways so understood."
Hargreave's glance sought the mir
ror, then the smtleless face of his
, man. He laughed, but the sound con
veyed no sense of mirth; then lm
J turned and went down the steps slow
j ly, like a man burdened with some
thought which was not altogether to
i his liking. He had sent an order for
his car, but had immediately counter
tnanded It. He would walk till he
grew tired, hall a taxicab, and take a
run up and down Broadway. Tho
wonderful illumination might prove dl
verting. For 18 years nearly; and
now It was as natural for him tc
throw a glance over his shouldet
whenever he left the house as It was
for him to breathe. The average mar.
would have grown careless during al!
these years; but Hargreave was not
an average man: ho was, rather, aft \
extraordinary Individual. It was his \
life In exchange for eternal vigilance, J
and he knew and accepted the fact.
Half an hour later he got Into a '
taxicab and directed the man to drive ;
downtown as far as Twenty-third !
street and back to Columbus circle ]
The bewildering display of lights, how .
ever, In nowise sen ed to lift the seusa !
of oppression that had weighed upon
him all day. South of Forty-second
street he dismissed the taxicab and
stared undecidedly at the brilliant
sign of a famous restaurant. Ho was
neither hungry nor thirsty; but there
would be strange faces to study and
music.
It was an odd w him. He had not en
tered a Broadway restaurant in al!
these years. He was unknown. He
belonged to no clubs. Two months
was the longest time he had ever re
mained in New York since the dis
posal of his old home in Madisor
avenue and his resignation from his
clubs. This once, then, he would break
the law he had written down for
himself. Boldly he entered the res
taurant.
Some time before Hargreave sur
rendered to the restless spirit of re
hellion, bitterly to repent for it later
there came into this restaurant a man
and a woman. They were both ev(
der.tly well known, fer the head waitei
was obsequious and hurried them ovei
to tho best table he had left and took
the order himself.
The man possessed a keen, intelli
gent face. You might have marked
him for a successful lawyer, for there
was an earnestness about ids expres
slon which precluded a life of idle
ness. Ills age might have been any
where between and 50. The shoul
tiers were broad and tho hands which
lay clasped upon the table v.-ere sliir
hut muscular. Indeed, everything
about him suggested hidden strength
and vitality. His companion was
small, handsome, and animated. Hei
frequent gostsres and mutable eye
brows betrayed her foreign birth. Hei
age was a matter of importance to nc
one but herself.
They were at coffee w.hen she said:
"There's a young man coming toward
us. He is looking at you."
The man turned. Instantly his face
lighted up with a friendly smile ol
recognition.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"A chap worth knowing; a reportei
Just a HUe out of the ordinary. I'm
going to introduce him. You nevei
can tell. We might need him some
day. Ah, Norton, how are you?"
"Good evening, Mr. Braine." The
reporter, catching sight of a pair o)
dazzling eyes, hesitated.
"The Princess Perlgoff, Norton
j You're in no hurry, are you?"
"Not now," smiled the reporter.
"Ah!" said the princess, interested
It was the old compliment, said in at
unusual way. It pleased her.
Tho reporter sank into a chair
; When inactive ho was rather
' dreamy-eyed sort of chap. He pos
sessed that rare accomplishment o
talking upon one subject and think
i ing upon another at the same time
So while he talked gayly with tin
young woman cn varied themes, hi!
thoughts were busy speculating upot
. iier companion. He was quite cer
tain that the name Braine was as
sumed, but he was also equally cer
tain that the man carried an ex
traordinary brain under his thatch o
fait and pepper hair. The man hn<
written three or four brilliant mouo
graphs cn poisons and the uses o
radium, and it was through and bj
these that the reporter had manage!
to pick up his acquaintance. He livet
wave his hand; atsw also tho open
wonder on the reporter's pleasant
face.
"Who is your friend, Norton?"
Braine asked indifferently, his head
still unturned.
"Stanley Hargreave. Met him in
Hongkong when I was sent over to
handle a part of the revolution. War
correspondence stuff. First time 1
ever ran across him on Broadway at
night. We've since had some pow
wows over some rare books. Queer
old cock; brave as a lion, but as quiet
as a mouse."
"Bookish, eh? My kind. Bring him
over." Underneath the table Brains
maneuvered to touch the foot of Clio
princess.
"I don't know," said the reporter
dubiously. "He might say no, and
that would embarrass tho whole lot ol
us. He's a bit of a hermit. I'm sun
prised to see him here."
"Try," urged tho princess. "I like
to meet men who are hermits."
"I haven't tho least doubt about
that," the reporter laughed. "I'll try;
but don't blame me if I'm rebuffed."
He left the table with evident re
luctance and approached Hargreave
The two shook hands cordially, for the
elder man was rather fond of thia
medley of information known ns Jim
Norton.
"Sit down, boy: sit down. You're
just the kind of a man I've been want
ing to talk to tonight."
"Wouldn't you rather talk to a preb
ty woman?"
"I'm an old man."
"Bah! That's a hypocritical bluff,
and you know it. My friends at the
next table have asked me to bring
you ever."
"I do not usually care to meet
strangers."
"Make an exception thi3 once." said
tho reporter, who had seen Bralne's
eyes change and was curious to know
why the appearance of Hargreave in
tho mirror had brought about that
metally gleam. Here were two
unique men; he desired to see them
face to face.
"This once. My fault; I ought not
to be here; I feel cut of place. What
a life, though, you reporters lead! To
meet kings and presidents and great
financiers, socialists and anarch
ists, the whole scale of life, and to
slap these people on the back as If
they were everyday friends!"
"Now you're making fun of me. For
one king there are always twenty
thick brogans ready to kick me down
the steps: don't forget that."
Hargreave laughed. "Come, then;
let us get it over with."
The introductions were made. Nor
ton felt rather chagrined. So far as
he could see, the two men were total
strangers. Well, it was all in the
game. Nine out of ten opportunities
for the big story were fake alarms;
but he was always willing to risk the
labor these nine entailed for tho sake
of the tenth.
At length Braine glanced at his
watch, and the princess nodded
Adleux were said. Inside the taxlcat
Braine leaned back with a deep, a.ud
ible sigh.
"What it is?" she asked.
"The luck of the devil's own," he
said. "Child of the Steppes, for years
I've flown about seas and continents
through valleys and over mountains—
for what? For the sight of the face
of that man we have Just left. At
first glance I wasn't sure; but the
sound of his voice was enough. Olga,
the next time you see that reporter,
throw your arms around his neck and
kiss him. What did I tell you? With
out Norton's help I would not have
been sure. I'm going to leave you at
your apartment."
"The man of the Black Hundred?"
she whispered.
"The man who deserted and defied
the Black Hundred, who broke his
rows, and never paid a kopeck for
the privilege; the man who had been
appointed for the supreme work and
who ran away. In those days wo need
ed men of his stamp, and to accom
plish this end. . .
"There was a woman," she inter
rupted, with a touch of bitterness.
"Always the woman. And she was
as clever and handsome as you are."
"Thanks. Sometimes . .
"Ah, yes!" ironically. "Sometimes
you wish you could settle down, marry
and have a family! Your domesticity
would last about a month."
She made no retort because she rec
ognized the truth of this statement.
"There's an emerald I know of," he
said ruminatlvely. "It's quite pos
sible that you may be wearing it with
in a few days."
"I am mad over them. There Is
something in the green stone that fas
cinates me. I can't resist it."
"That's because, somewhere in the
far past, your ancestors were orien
tals. Here we are. I'll see you to
morrow. I must hurry. Good-night."
She steed on the curb for a moment
and watched the taxicab as it whirled
around a corner. The man held her
with a fascination more terrible than
any jewel. She knew him to be a
great and daring rogue, cunning, pa
tient, fearless. Packed away in that
mind of h):> there were a thousand ac
complished deeds which had roused
futilely the police of two continents
Braine! She could have laughed. The
very name he had chosen was an .in
solence directed at society.
knew what Braine looked like. ITe
alone remained unknown save to the
man designated as the chief, who was
only Bralne's lieutenant. The mask
was the Insignia of the Black Hun
dred, an organization with all the ram
ifications of the Camorra without their
ng stupidity, From tne as-sassina
tl»n of a king, down to the robbery
of a country post office, nothing was
too great or too small for their nets.
Their god dwells In the hearts of all
men and Is called greed.
The ordinary business over, tha
qhlef dismissed the men, and he and
Bfalne alone remained.
"Vroon, I have found him," said
Braine,
"TJierq are but fewi which one?"
"Eighteen years ftgo. in st. Peters
burg,"
"t remember, The millionaire's eon.
Did he recognize you?"
"I don't know. Probably he did. But
ho always h^d good nerves. He Is
being followed at Mils moment. We
shall strike quick; for If ho recognized
me he will act quick. Ha Is cool and
brave. You remember how ho braved
us that night In Russia. Jumped boldly
through the window at the risk ot
breaking his neck. He landed safely;
^hat is the only reason he eluded us,
Millions—and they slipped through out
fingers. If I could only find some route
to his heart! Tho lure we held out
to him Is dead."
"Or In the fortress, which Is the
same thing. What aro your plans?"
"I have in mind something like this."
And Hargreave was working out his
plans, too; and he was just as much
of a general as Braine. He sat at his
library table, the maxillary muscles
i'i hi s Jaws working. So they had found
him? A\ell, he had broken the law
of his own making and he must suffer
the consequences. Braine, who was
Monshikoff in Russia, Schwartz ir
Germany. Mendoza in Spain, Cartucc:
In Italy, and Du llois in France; sc
tho rogue had found him out? Pool
fool that ho had been! High spirited,
full of those youthful dreams of doln$
good in tho world, he had joined whal
he had believed a great secret so
cialistic movement, to learn that he
iiad been trapped by a band of brll
iiant thieves. Kidnapers and assassi
nators for hire; tho Black Hundred;
fiends from Tophet! For ncarlj
eighteen years he had eluded them
for he knew that directly or indirect
ly they would never cease to hunt fox
him; and an idle whim had toppled
him into their clutches.
Ho wrote several letters feverishly
The last was addressed to Miss Susan
Fallow and read: "Dear Madam: Send
Florence Gray to New York, to arrive
boro Friday morning. My half of the
bracelet will be identification. In
closed find cash to square accounts."
lie would get together all his available
funds, recover his child, and fly to the
ends of tho world. He would tire
them out. They would find that the
peaceful dog was a bad animal tc
rouse. He rang for the faithful Jones.
"Jones, they havo found me," lie
said simply.
"You will need me, then?"
"Quite possible. Please mall these
and then we'll talk It over. No doubt
some one Is watching outside. Be
careful."
"Very good, sir."
Hargreave bowed his head In his
Joined What He Believed to Be a
Great Socialistic Movement.
hands. Many times he had journeyed
to the school and hung about the
gates, straining his eyes toward the
merry groups of young girls. Whicfc
among them was his, heart of his
heart, blood of his blood? That she
might never be drawn into this
abominable tangle, he had resolutely
torn her out of his life completely
The happiness of watching the child
grow Into girlhood he had denied him
self. She at least would be safe. Only
when she was safe in a far country
would he dare tell her. He tried in
vain to conjure up a picture of her;
ho always saw the mother whom he
had loved and hated with all the ardox
of his youth.
Many things happened the next day
There was a visit to the hangar ol
one William Orts, the aviator, famous
for his daredevil exploits. There were
two visitors, in fact, and the second
visitor was knocked down for his
pains. He had tried to bribe Oi*ts.
There were several excited bankers,
who protested against such large with
drawals without the usual formal an
nouncement. But a check waa a
check, and they had to pay.
Hargreave covered a good deal of
{round, but during all this time his
■ight hand never left the automatic In
lis overcoat pocket, except at tli03e
noments when he was obliged to sign
lis checks. He would shoot and make
nquiries afterward.
Far away a young girl and her
lompariion got on the train which waa
;o carry her to New York, the great
lream city she was always longing to
tee.
And the spider wove his web.
Hargreave reached home at night.
He put the money in the safe and waa
telephoning when Jones entered and
landed his master an unstamped note.
"Where did you get this?"
"At the door, sir. I Judge that the
louse is surrounded."
Hargreave read the note. It stated
briefly that all his movements during
the day had been noted. It was known
collected million in
per money. If he surrendered this ho
would be allowed twenty-four hours
before tho real chase began. Other
wise he should die before midnight.
Hargreave crushed tho note In his
Visited the Hangar of an Aviator.
hand. They might kill him; there
was a chance of their accomplishing
that; but never should they touch hts
daughter's fortune.
Jones, you go to tho rear door and
I'll take a look out. of tho front. We
havo an hour. I know the breed.
They'll wait till midnight and then
force their way In."
Hargreave saw a dozen shadows in
the front yard.
"Men all about the back yard,"
wltispered Jones down the hall.
The master eyed the man.
"Very well, sir," replied the latter,
with understanding. "I am ready."
The master went to the safe, emptied
it of its contents, crossed the hall to
the bedroom, and closed the door softly
behind him, Jones having entered the
same room through another door to be
fool any possible watcher. After a
long while, perhaps an hour, the two
men emerged from the room from tha
same doors they had entered. So whis
pered the watcher to his friends be
low.
"Hargreave is gc' j upstairs."
"Let him go. Let him take a look
at us from tho upper windows. He
will understand that nothing hut wlnga
will save him."
Silence. By and by a watcher re
ported that he heard the scuttle of the
roof rattle.
"Look!" another cried, startled.
A bluish glare came from the roof.
"lie's shooting off a Roman candle!"
They never saw the man-made bird
till It alighted upon the roof. They
never thought of shooting at it till II
had taken wing! Then they rushed
the doors of the house. They made
short work of Jones, whom they tied
up like a Christmas fowl and plumped
roughly into a chair. They broke open
the safe, to find it empty. And while
the rogues were rummaging about the
room, venting their spite upon many a
treasure they could neither appreciate
nor understand, a man from the out
ide burst in.
"The old man is dead and the money
is at the bottom of the ocean! We
punctured her. She's gone!"
A thin, inscrutable smile stirred the
tips of the mau bound in the chair.
$10.00 REWARD
\\ iil be gi\.-n l'i r return i f one
blue-grey g'-Miim, weight 1000
muds, with halter on; branded
MB on left shoulder; a so ore
black, long-legged, ii year
old mare, weight 1 100. Clot h
way from my camp about Aug. 28.
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No 8 (N P.idfte Ex.) 4.47 p. m
*No 5 (Western Fxp. ) +4.00 a. n
No 7 (P. Coast Exp.) 0.10 p. u
* Don't Slop for Passengers.
+ Carry l). S. Mail Cars.
B. D McMASTERS-. Local Age u

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