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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1940-02-08, Page 6ILLS OF DESTINY AGNES LOUISE PROVOST 7^* *4* WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES SYNOPSIS Lee Hollister, returning from a trip , abroad to the Circle V ranch, owned by Matt Blair, who for twenty yeans had been like a father to Lee, decides to surprise the family. He sends them no word of his coming and rides over the hills to ithe ranch on horseback. When he finally sees the wide ranch land before him, he is astonished at the unusual aspect of the place. He .is troubled, too, when he meets Slanty Gano on Matt’s land. Then Joey—old prospector befriended by Matt—tells him Matt is dead by his own hand. . . Joey says the ranch is going to ruin under Lawler, manager appointed by Virginia, Matt’s daughter, who is liv ing in New York with her aunt and' uncle in New York—the Archers. Lee goes east and persuades Virginia to return to the ranch to save it .... . There were no cattle in the home pastures now, but in the distance as she rode she could see the scar of the timber slash that Lee had censured. Down .there was Joey’s claim, and in front of the little grey cabin a con spicuously tall young man was just rising from the domestic task of fill ing a coffee pot with water at the creek. Already he had seen her, and Joey from the doorway had raised his thin halloo. “Here’s Lee, Honey! Jes’ .turned up — dogone his ornery hide. Yo’re com- in’ to supper, ain’t ye?” “Glad to see you, Virginia.” Lee held out his hand as a matter of course and gave hers a grip that was some how reassuring. “If you don’t stay to .supper,” Lee was remarking conversationally, “Joey won’t be fit to live with for a week, and I’d counted on bunking witli him for a night or two.” "Oh, are you staying with Joey?” She hesitated. As far back as she could remember, the ranch house had Been Lee’s home. Her father had al ways treated him like a son. “You know, Father would always want you to feel—” ■“Thanks, but I’m afraid that would not do. I’m not a part of the Circle V outfit now. I’ll probably camp somewhere in .the hills while I’m — looking around.” She watched Joey as he bustled about, in contrast to Lee’s easier mo tions. Soon the pleasant smell of ce dar smoke was in the air, the aroma of coffee, the hissing of trout broil ing over live coals. “Supper’s ready,” L'ee called cheer fully. She had forgotten that it was pos sible to eat with such appetite. And she drank coffee from a large .tin cup with, a business-like handle and wond ered, as Lee Hollister neatly. placed TO SET SAIL ON SOUTH SEAS EXPEDITION Hca4cd for & two-year expedition to the South Seas aboard their school- *r, Director 11, are the .Vahnestoclc ianiilyr The voyage, sponsored by the Awerican Museum of Natural History & 'for the purpose of making record1* a fiat stone for a saucer, what her aunt would say if she could see her now, side by side in the dusk with the wizened old. prospector and the young man who had been one*of her father’s “hands,” Lee was quiet, his clean profile showing darkly against the fire. Joey chattered contentedly. , “Lee was sayin'/’ Joey prattled on, “that ye oughta have some woman to come help with the work/ “I’ll think about it, Joey — but I must go now. It’s almost dark." She jumped up with a quick shiver, Night was coming on with a keen tang in the air, and her silk shirt was thin. Lee arose also and disappeared into the cabin. A moment later a man’s coat was laid around her shoulders. “Reckon you forget that this clim ate is half a mile up in the air and gets cold awful sudden/’ he drawled, “I’ll ride back witli you, Virginia?’ She was glad to have him as they left' the friendly circle of the fire and plunged into the deepening dusk. Soon they could see the rafich with its lamp-lit windows. darkness,They rode on in a star-glimmering “That means ‘welcome home/ Vir ginia. And I suppose Curly is round ing up the whole outfit to meet the boss.” “Oh—am I a boss?” She laughed. Somehow it gave her a pleasant sense of ownership that she had not felt .Be-, fore.' t They r6de on in a star-glimmering darkness, talking little. For .two peo ple who hdd quarreled so bitterly, they were strangely: content. Early the next morning Lee rode out of Joey’s ravine just in time to re ceive a sour glance from Lawler and a grinning hail from C.urly and Dar rell, all on their way to the upper range, and turned Up the valley again I S'lugs of music in die South Sea lands. From the LEFT; Sheridan. Fahnestock, skipper;; Mrs. Bruce Fahnestock, only woman in the crew, who serves as dietitian, and Bruce Fahnestock, brother of the skipper^ to the ranch house, He went around back to find Ling puttering with un usual care among his pots and pans, Ling usually clattered. “Missy sleep," he confided amiably. “Bleakfas.’?’ L<?e?" “Had it, thanks. I’ll go in the of fice and hang around?’ ’ It was tire opportunity that Lee had" been, waiting for. He closed the office door behind him. Leaning against the door, he ab sently lit a cigarette and looked slow ly around, There was the familiar armchair, sagging somewhat from long years of accommodating Matt’s ample frame; there was the old oak desk in the middle of the room, on whose surface a boy named Lee Hol lister had burned the Circle V brand one day. The chair in which he had died had been moved from its usual place. Lee crossed the room soundlessly and pu>t it back again. He stood beside it, looking toward the closed door; went over to a. window and looked out; looked back again with thoughtful in tenseness; returned to ithe, desk and softly. stood looking down, at that, puzzling, for the answer .that would not come, Lee pulled out the second drawer of the desk, slid His hand beneath ithe- obstinate upper drawer and gave it a pressure of strong finger tips which brought it sliding out obediently. An old tobacco tin was still there, a few cartridges, some odds and ends of pa per. Nothing very valuable. He bent lower, peering intently, pulled the drawer out,' moving the haphazard contents lightly, pushing them aside and back again. Something caught his eye—a tiny gleam half lost in ithe crack. He took out his knife and coaxed it into clear er view. It was a trifling thing when he had it, a thin, triangular scrap of metal with little enough meaning in a place where odds, and ends had been drop ped for years. The broken tip of somebody’s knife. He laid it on the palm of his hand. “I’d give a lot,” he reflected sober ly, “I’d give everything I own to know just how long you’ve been in there.” He found an old envelope, wrapped the bit of metal in it, stowed it in his pocket and closed the drawer. Then he looked up. There was a light scrabbling of bony fingers on the door panel. Ling stood on the other side. “MisSy cornin’,” he said “You stay bleakfas*, Lee?”* ♦ ♦ Mr. T. Ellison Archer entered his wife’s, room more abruptly than was his habit. The real estate market had receded and left him high and dry. Just now he was said to be “connect ed” in some way with the Bradish in terests, and at this precise moment was prickling with unpleasant appre hension lest he should be abruptly dis connected. “Have you heard from Virginia yet, my dear?” “Only the telegram" saying that she had arrived safely. Why? Has any thing happened?’ “Well, not exactly.” Mr. Archer looked uneasy. “But I have just seen Mr, Bradish, In fact, he sent for me, and. he was quite annoyed. He put it up to me rather bluntly as if Virgin ia’s going were my fault?* “Bitt I don’t see how We could have prevented it! We have done every thing to make Virginia happy here?* “Mr. Bradish feels—** her husband returned nervously th the subject up permost in his mind—“that young Hollister Is trying to influence Vir gin/;# to keep the ranch?* Before his wife’s inquiring eye Ml Archer seemed to feel that further ex* pianatlons were necessary, “Mr. Bradish said that he had felt SO certain that the place would belong tq him in a short time that he had asked the manager to keep him in touch with matters there?' He paused and cleared his throat pepYOhslyf “It will be very unfortun ate if this Hollister does anything to interfere with the sale." “I never liked Lee Hollister?’ .said Mrs, Archer positively. “I never could Understand Matthew’s action in bring ing a child like* that <— no better than a foundling—right into his own home. But there’s only one thing to do now, and that is to get out there and bring Virginia back if I can?’ Mr. Archer podded a relieved as sent, secretly envying a power of de cision that he Had never possessed, Hiss wife went over to' her desk and drew, a telephone from its decorative hiding place. “I think,” she said thoughtfully, “that I’d better telephone Stanley about our plans. He has been really' disconsolate since Virginia left." Stanley Bradish, since the evening when Virginia had left him flat, had been in a bad humor and distinctly sulky. Mrs, Archer's telephone call found him at home and in a state <of bored restlessness. ' He listened warily, but presently with a livelier interest. Why not? Everything was fearfully stale fhere. \ “Awfully good of you to ask me, Mrs. Archer. Are you sure Virginia Won’t think I’m a nuisance trailing along? . . . That’s fine; I’ll take the same train if you don’t mind . . Count on me." . He hung up the received with a knowing smile. He went downstairs better pleased with life than he had been for some days, to be informed- that his’ father was closeted with a caller. Stanley, strolled outside. Voices came to him. He'caught the word Blair. He moved nearer to the window through, which those, subdued sounds drifted. He waited, listening1. Milton Bradish always knew what he wanted and went after it with about as much regard for obstacles as an army tank. It was his capacity for ruthlessness which had brought Bradish where he was. Incidentally it had brought Gideon Morse, the law yer, where he was at this moment, traveling twenty-five hundred miles' for a ,few brief comments which might not prove altogether discreet on paper. “The only obstacle/* he said his his curiously mild, voice, "is this man Hol lister?’ “Get rid of him?’- K “Not so easy," said Morse mildly. “And dangerous.” “I’m not suggesting homicide," re torted his chief brusquely. “There are more ways of getting rid of a man than knocking him over the head. How about bringing him in?” “Wouldn’t come," said Morse lac onically. “He’s like a hound pup witli his ipse to a trail. Probably thinks he has a mission to reclaim the Circle V. You see, he and Matt were pretty close. You might say that he was brought up on the Circle V. Matt picked him up years ago in some din gy hole and brought him home 'be cause he was a likely youngster and hadn’t any folks of his own. You know Matt always had a lot of pens ioners around. Anybody . could go to him with a hard luck story and get a grubstake or a job?’ Milton Bradish could remember a man with whom Matf Blair had shar ed his own grubstake many years be fore. There are some things of which it is not pleasant to be reminded. . “About this young Hollister.’ How is it that he turns up now?” < “He’s been away. He and the girl are together a great deal. Rides — Scenery — moonlight — romantic stuff. Good looking chap, too. And no fool.” The man who meant to have the Circle V pushed back’ his chair, “Break it up." h°c said shortly. “Get something on him. There can always be the other woman." Principal and agent looked at each other steadily. Morse nodded. Outside, Stanley .moved away from , the window* “That old dump must be worth.a lot," he reflected shrewdly, “f. won der what’s up? The other woman! Whew!” ®He grinned. “This is begin ning to look like a pleasant little visit. (Continued Next Week) 3481 MILES BY AUTO AND TRAILER (Continued from Page Three) tying twenty-eight tires. The.se trucks are powered with Diesel motors, haul ing as much freight as you could put on two box cars, and are operated by one man, over roads ‘kept up by the State. How can our railroads compete with this condition? They ^caw’t. From Ritzville west to the Colum bia Fiver, we travelled over a new highway, wider than moat of them. In this desert of millions of acres, men have already started clearing the, land of sage brush and tumble weed. Cult ivation is also under way. On com- * , Dr. W. A. McKibbon, B.A. J. W. BUSHFIELD J. H. CRAWFORD PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Located at the Office of the Late Dr. H. W. Colborne. Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Bands, Investments & Mortgages Ontario Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money To Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Office Phone 54. z 1 ALVIN FOX _LicensedDrugless Practitioner CH£?2E?4AGTIG dkugless therapy * RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Honrs by Appointment. Phone i9x. Wingham Thursday, February 8, 1940 DR. R. L. STEWART PHYSICIAN •z Telephone 29. Wfngham Listowel DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SUFGEON Phone 19. F. W. KEMP LISTOWEL Auction Sales Conducted. Monuments, and Monumental work. 100 Monuments to Choose from.. Phone: 38 or 121 W. A. CRAWFORD, M,D. Physician and Surgeon located at the office of the late Dr, P, Kennedy, Phone 150 Wingham Wellington Mutual Fire % Insurance Co. Established 1840. Risks taken on all Glasses of insur ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont. COSENS & BOOTH, Agents, Wingham. R* S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Mofibn Block. Telephone Nd. 66. pletioh of the great Coulee Dam, this vast area will all be irrigated, then another-prophecy will be ^fulfilled, “The desert spall bloom like the rose”. While driving over , this magnificent Highway.,, I was explaining to my com panion the possibilities of this great venture, not receiving any answere I turned and found that somebody’s Grandma was sound asleep, the soft, soothing air and bright sunshine, to gether with' the hum ’ of pur- Dodge double quartette, was too much for her. Early in the afternoon we reached Vantage, then down for miles along the ledge of the scenic rocky canyon, ■ to the bed of the Columbia. We cross- the bridge then we met with an un expected climb on the other side. Our rad. started to .boil, we were obliged to stop twice to let it cool. After some time we -made foreground.. A .thick smoke was settling far above the foothills, but away over it all, as if to welcome 41s to long “Journey's End”. ' We reached Ellensburg about 4.15, camped for the night. Throughout our trip we always made a point to start in the mornings shortly after 8 o'clock and stop for the night an hour before dark Throughout our trip in most ev ery town, and country places as well, there are all kinds of Service-Stations, Cabins and beautiful Cabin Courts, you would think that 20% of the peo ple had gone mad in reaching to get some of the Motor Tourists.. While coming down grade into El lensburg, I noticed my brakes did not function as' good as usual, upon ex amination, I found the air line be tween trailer and car was broken, rd- pairing this ’delayed us two hours. Now we start on our las!t climb, the Snoqualamie Pas.s. After leaving Ellensburg, we soon come to the place where the E. F, O. camped for .the night on the roadside, back in ‘23. Oh we. go. Soo.n we start ed to climb for some miles, not !too’ bad, then started to go down. (This highway was built in ‘28 and was new to us). What — across the Summit al ready? That one was easy. On down we go bujt what is this climbing again? Stopped at a Service Station and were told the Summit was ten miles fur ther along. . We stopped for lunch. Then up we go and soon we reached the Summit and now we Were at last on the Pac ific Coast.. Down we go over the sceriic pass. Tall timbers, snow capped mountains, waterfalls everywhere, beauty and grandeur on parade. Uncle Sam does most things well. Where the scenery was good he made camp parking space on the side for our en joyment. We swung our Kodak into action. Moving further down to a new scene, it iS only different from the other in glory. After enjoying miles of these sublime sights we passed throu gh North Bend and left No. 10 high way at Falls City. Turning to .the north on a road leading to Monroe we enter a little valley of’green pas tures and still waters, with large herds of fine looking cows. Signs displayed on the farm gates inform us ithey are Carnation farms. Monster trucks load ed with logs from, twenty to forty feet long? are racing day and night with their loads to the mills at Everett. We camped for the night at Sno homish. The scene had changed we Frederick A. Parker OSTEOPATH Offices 1 Centre St, Wiagham, and Main St., Listowel. Liatowe! Days: Tuesdays and Frt- , ' days, OsteopatWc and ICleetrie Tmt- ments. Foot Technique. Pteneffl!..... Wingham were now on fresh green grass. We took a chance» and did not drain ’our rad, it did not freeze, Next morning' W'e proceeded to complete our object ive; ‘ going north through Everett,. Mount Vernon and Bellingham, reach ing Blane about one o'clock, cleared, the Customs, crossed into B. C. where our good Canadian money is worth 100%. We reached our old friends the McClements (18 miles South of Van-, couver) about 2 p.m. Next day we took a bus and went into Vancouver to prepare a place for'parking “Roil lodge” for the winter. Returning to- McClemepts November 20th. Next, morning in a • heavy rain “Rollodge” rolled gracefully into its present rest ing place at 1330 - 16th Ave, E„ in Yancouver’s garden ■ home by the broad Pacific’s sweep where the West leaves off. z Does life begin at 73? i’ll tell ‘emt Driving a distance of 3,481 miles over the roller-coaster, between Kirkland. Lake and North Bay, through most all principal cities en route; some af ter dark and in the rain, some in fog, over mountain passes without a mis hap, pulling a trailer weighing 2,200 lbs- Nothing to it! On the entire trip we used 285 im perial gallons, of gas, at a cost of $77.89;-$6.60 worth of oil; $11.30 for repairs and adjustments to car and trailer; cost of parking $3.00. Average mileage per gallon of gas about 12%. On hills we only got about 10 miles, on some roads we got 14 miles per gallon, When you get to be 73 years young, try it. Yours truly, W. A. Elliott HARRY FRYFOGLE Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director Furniture and Funeral Service . Ambulance Service. Phones: Day 109 W. Night iopj? . . THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD ‘ A, Thorough Knowledge of Farm Stock. Phone 231, Wingham. Consistent Advertising in The Advance-Times Gets Results f -L|'. r L L1 — A. R. & F. E. DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC And ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — Whigham Telephone 300