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The Signal, 1930-2-20, Page 7THE SIGNAL, GODERICH, ONT. THE. BRANDON DAILY SUN Thtlriday, Irebruary 2O IIS 1—T HAPPY DUST HER arrival in the uld minion town of San Juan Bautista was, so far as young Redding could determine from his carefully casual inquiries. quite free from mystery She had come by stage- no tram deigning to detour so far into the pest smartly and inconspicuously dressed, bringing a well -travelled suit- case and bag and • portable type- writer Garcia of the Hesston Huu.+e stated that she had engaged his largest room with bath without inquiring the rate. Redding. registering only halt a page beneath her (business had evi- dently not been very brisk). noted • tiny hole before her name. "Yeah." the proprietor nodded. "started In with a D. crossed it out. signed and then borrowed my pen- knife and scratched It out like she was kinder sore. Middle name begins with D ---see' Guess maybe she writes It that way sometimes." Redding. without further manifesta- tion of interest, began to ask ques- tions about the price of property In the vicinity Presently he strolled out Into the square Instantly his mind was aware 1st walking backward Into another ern, The tiny town. remote from the rad - road. lived persletently in Its yester- days The young woman who had signed herself Mas Maude D. Harper, and whom .e strongly suspected of being Daisy de Long. alias Rota Manning. alias Mrs Parley Hudson, alias Coca Cora. one of the most spectacular fig- u res In the western counterfeit and dope ring. was sleeted on the steps of the small pavilion And drinkinjt fountain. There wU a book 1n her lap. but she was not reading The whole scene seemed to shimmer and swim In a hexa of summer heat. and she was basking Like a lizard in the sun. - There were buildings on three sides orf the plaza. and Redding halted be- fore the mellow old Mission of Saint John the Baptist, with its crumbling palter. worn 111e■ and long promenade leader the arches when the uneven mossy bricks were eloquent of the years Was the quiet figure out there as • ware of him as he of her' Was It Coca Con' The department. to Its Intense chagrin. had neither photo- graph nor finger -prints. but several of the operatives had seen her at close range and Redding had been well coached "But listen boy." 01d HennWey had waned him. "she's always the little lady when she's on the job. You've heard the boys raising Casey about tke way hs fell for her when ws raided that joint at Alviso' Want- ed to tette her right home to his mother. the poor fish!" Redding thought It would seem rea- sonable. after his sight-seeing. to walk toward the centre and have a look at the fountain Miss Maude D. Harper was reading bier took. but the young man felt sure eh• was taking definite note of his presence The thing the fellows hadn't pre- pared him for In spite of all their priming was the wholesome young - toms of her The creature must have eltmbed straight from her cradle into oilme' That face. that look of clean young freshness. were worth a million to her in her line had rounded the corner even more swiftly than they had—"dusty!" "Yes," she winked rapidly, and he was obliged to note that her lashesflooded Into her face. "So that's what were long and decorative. but I tike you're after!" she flung at him- "Pre - It, don't you It seems, some way, tending to buy pear orchards! Oh, you such happy dust!'' cheat! I came back to get a sweater. They reached the plaza and strolled Garcia tried to stop me on the stairs; to the entre of it. exchanging coin- but I never dreamed. Leave my room miseratlons on the Incongruity of the instantly!" She took one forward step but Redding /lung himself in front o/ her. -Hands up, Gnini!" bad modern fountain In the heart of Redding was on his feet. Garcia. the the mellow past. She talked well, and bungting fool: But even If he had walked well, the jade! He wondered stopped her she'd suspect. The fat what had given her the Initial shove would be in the fire. Well, there was downward—heredity, environment. ex- nothing for It now. He would arrest ettementesating' her and send for Hennessey; at least, Hennissey's answer was waiting at he had her. He walked toward the Hollister for him. "Listens like C.C. door and she stepped aside, thinking. all right," the chief wrote. His or- apparently, but Inconceivably, that he dere were to stay on the spot. to watch was going to obey her; but he shut her like a kawk. to remember that he the door, locked it. and put Ute key In was up against the slickest one In the his pocket. game. "And remember again—" There was a sudden panic In her Hennissey concluded—"if she gets face quickly overlaid with furious any U, see 1t. If she sends any anger. "Unlock that door!" mall, It." He shook his head. "No, Miss Daisy Three olden sunny dust -blown days de Long, alias Rose Manning. alias and thew soft black velvet nights. Mrs. Parley Hudson, alias Coca Cora, Redding had talked pears with every not till I've tied you up securely!" adult citizen of San Juar., and every He pulled the brown silk cord from second cltise• at least had asked him her bathrobe and advanced upon her. if he knew that the original "Roes There wU genuine tear 1n her eyes of the Rancho" was buried over at the then. mission. /Every other night there was "You're Insane!" she gasped. "Gar - a picture 1n the tiny tin theatre. an- eta! Help! Garcia!" Cent and spotty (time, to which Miss "He won't come. He has his orders " Harper went with an engaging young How she struggled and fought! He enthusiasm. and Redding followed. was overpowering her. of course, but sitting near the rear. The defective not easily, for she was both strong films. het told the hotel keeper 1n her and frantic with fear and rage. bearing. bothered his eyes: sometimes' ••It's your own fault 1f I hurt you," they made him dizzy and faint so that hs bad to make a bolt of it. That. he figured complacently. would satisfy her If she leaked back and mis&ett him. The third evening they walked down to the little toy playhouse to- gether and he yielded to her Insistence on paying her own way; he had a feel - Ing that It was hardly cricket to make a lady your guest and then rob her room He dropped Into the last seat and the girl went forward. She liked. she had said. to be right in the front- line trenches. Posing as a Writer? REDDING stepped past the glrl with A lifted hat and a murmur of apology, went back to the mission and was guided through by the chatty old resident priest. manifesting proper enthusiasm over the last resting place of the maid who w•u the Inspiration for "Rose of the Rancho." and did not see the young woman again until luncheon. when he chose a table rea, sonably near and was edified by the He Searched Her Room E waited only "nlil the story was Inca) doctor nn pear culture. Miss I••I well under way. then slipped Harper gave hm a brief Incurious quietly out. walking briskly back to , glance, the feint civil nod of one t6Ur• the hotel with a hammering heart. It let to another had been necessary to take the Amazed In the afternoon he drove eight and Indignant Garcia partially Into his miles to the town of Hollister, where confidence—to tell him at least that he was to receive his mall, and wrote he had authority for investigations Hennlayy in detach stopping oft on (the badge brought up from the trouser his return to consider pear propoal- pocket. cupped In the palm. just as Hong and give color to his presence he had sero Hennessey do It') so he in the vlclnity. He dist not see the would not be disturbed, but he found girl again that day, b• her room himself ennrmously excited. it was was next to his In the second storey the that time he had ever swuhg a of the historic adobe, and he heard jab elan.• and he knew the fellows the click of her tiny typewriter until were quite as anxious About him as he nine -thirty when It ceased discreetly. WAR about himself. There was n beg Posing as e welter' Reports. per - buy on. that they knew, a deal be - haps: correepondenee with the ring. (ween San Francisco and Loos Angeles There was s rumor that ehe had guar- agents of the dope ring, and the girl's releA with Garinl. that theirs AAA • continued presence In San Juan made business affiliation only. at the mo - them certain the delivery was to be mens. made in the meek little old mieston He could not rid himself of the con - town. But they wanted copies of her t inuing marvel of thie feminine gang - lettere to and from Garinl. h taken amazingly —By Ruth Comfort Mitchell Illustrated by HUC:H HUTTON Revs that Coca Cora was on the spot It was intolerable to run away by. 1n the mission town, so that the de- if that was the only way to serve.* livery would be made there. Hennis- she ata ed up h slope. sey and his crew would be on hand, VW" approved huskily. of course. with an augmented force, "Thanke! Aad thanks for—every- and they would stake a dazzling clean- thing—thesepperfect days! Quick, up of the. r*lipped She stood still on the mou Days slip ld by—sot, sunny. erring path. to oak and listen. She could ands of golden d Just.o Mies or ing clearlydiscern an object in the sky and young Reddinglong took lung min the rapidly nearerand the sound walks, spent long atternuuns in the coming P S' was noisier and more Inalatent. "Diana' Whet are you thinking of'" "No! 1 won't go! When they slip a wom.n with you they'll thilk 1l.` drowsy plaza. lung evenings in the tiny tin theatre tahclent and unsteady films giving him no further trouble) And talking together on the long up- per veranda of the hotel. all right. I'm Ceara!" rds were wrung from him as M chief crashed harshly into the idyll. threw the gasoline "n g the dead rase C. C. had snitched. She had come And ignited It. In the sudden &crow good and plenty. Notes were Wa- enclosed. The sale was to be made mination she saw his white young at San Juan on the third night rot- I face, frightened. grim. resolute. She lowing at two a.m. when the moon stepped ,loser to him au that their was full. The sellers would come from shoulders touched and pressed to - Los Angelesin •n aeroplane. the buy- I gather, comradely, gallant, game ers would rooter down from San Fran- The pilot cut off his motor and the coca in an armored car, with a ma- silver night seemed sweetly silent chine un. again. as the little plane glided easily R to a landing. "I wish," young Redding told Diana The man in the passenger'■ neat earnestly, "that you'd go up to town leaned over the xldr. vLo, Cora P' he or down to Carmel fora few days un- called in a low tune. til it's over." The girl shot an arm straight above She stared at him. "What'." her head in hall and greeting and her He repeated his fervent desire. other hand gripped hard on her There was no danger to her, but— father's cane. She shook her head. "Never! How can you ask such a preposterous thHinge'."erd tell her nothing further: ?+ HERE was a tense second of *Ml- le him be able to look his chief in the 1 nes. and then the man leaned eye and say that no one knew the final nearer. "What's matter with you' details. But she wasn't going to leave . the scene of action. that was that! They passed a nervous high-keyed day, and eventually the hour. Inched by and it was evening. She was sure, from the leashed anxiety in his eyes, Cane Smashed Propeller Talk!" He reached out an arm. "Come here!" He spat out his words venomously "Nix on that--" She took one forward step but Red- ding flung himself In front of her. "Hands up. Garinl"' that the federate had' not come. She With all her passion for drama and tonged ardently to know the details the urge to set her memories In or- e( the plan: would they come early derly procession for lifelong keeping. and hide' Would they follow the car of the San Francisco gang'. The Boat Drew Near REDDING bade her good -night M eight o'clock and hoped she would rest well. Rhe thanked him end went obediently to her room and wrote flue word and I can hardlj expect you to letters which had been on her con - take that after what I've done to you science for weeks and rend three meaty —but—" he plunged a hand into a and nourishing essays Ina enlist book. As he filially reached the top steV trousers pocket and brought a1 cup- and then (lung herself, fulldressed, upon the hed. Marini,Wide-eyed for an he heard Garcia's voice: "No, I guess ped in a palm. his badge. hour at the chinks of moonlight In the he's not crazy, but he's -a kind of a She ecrutlnized it with deep respect. old-fashioned shutter. aSlumuttrred word she detective. Anyhow. he's got a badge ••But I do believe coo, of course." she sprang up, polled a dark seer:+tri over he fleshed on me. But don't you be said. What she privately thought scared, Miss Harper. I'm running a was that there we. something very high-class respectable hotel and I'll eft engaging about hint. not to say en - you get justice! Our marshal—" he dearing--rather like a grave and earn - broke off at sight of Redding and est little boy absorbedly playing stood Aside to let him go Into the Indian. room As for the young man. he thought Miss Maude D. Harper was wrench- her the kindest, most generous and Ing at her bonds. but she stood ■1111 magnanimous and sporting person he'd and gave him a look of proud defiance. ever known. and he tried to tell hie "If you can explain this outrage—" •c In a good deal of pink embarrass - He had thought her pretty and mento He was very much worried .f or charming to look at. but now he found fear she might feel faint after all she had been through. and wants. to have that she was stunningly e "f Garcia order tea for her—or hot milk can explain," he said misseraablblyy.. set- perhaps' ting to work at once to undo the Diana Deering said that suggestion knots, "and apologise. and ask your pardon. most humbly and sincerely: left her goofs cold. "But what i should adore would be to go down to the but I know you can never forgive me." She twisted about to stare at him. "You are mad." she paid. "No." He looked up and saw the irate presence of the proprietor in the doorway. "That wi" do. Garcia." he add. with what dignity he could sum- mon. "You may go now." "You will please watt within call," the girl ordered Imperatively. "You bet I wpro l!' the an promised heartily. J A Big Dial in Dope REDDING stood back from her. watching in shame and cont tion as she chafed her reddened wrists. "There Is a ing deal on In dope." he he warned her. pinioning her hands behind her beck. tying them. making said. "a big buy between San Fran - knot after knot, fastening her securely cierwt end Los Angeles rings. and we to the knob of the bathroom door.delivery 1 t b d "Now, then! There you stay till the federate come. and. meanwhile—" Someone was hammering on the door. "Telephone, Mr. Redding," said the proprietor's voice. "Long dis- tance. San Francisco. wants you." "Explain This Outrage" �Q]EIAT luck! Henntasey on the ti phone' Not a second lost! He charged the red-faced and indignant Garcia in the name of the law to guard his prisoner. sped downet,airs to the booth in the hotel office. "Hullo," said Rennissey's voice. "That you, Redding' Say, listen, we "No: young C.C.!" breath "Hello! Making you listen to me tint!" the man exulted. "I've got her! He hadn't realized how march the struggle hed taken. Did you get that'. I was a search and she crania in on her head. tugged a close black hat over her baha took from the closet the again and the plane began to rise. walking•stick which had been her She heard a dreadful ery wrung from father's and went always with her on Redding but she did not think ha was her gurneys and .Aventures, slipped wounded • It was rather the unbear- downstairs and went out, hugging the I able pang of failure and frustration. shadows. shunning the bright areas, Recklessly she stepped forward. to be silent on robber soles. Flattened against the mission wall she stood still. catching her breath at the sheer loveliness of the scene It we. light enough to read print and the plaza swam in a sea of quicksilver. It was too utterly beautiful s page out of the past to be the scene for ugly modern violence. No tiniest sound broke the ■ilenre. Diana leering was never able to soffit and regulate the time and the things which happened In the next wild too- ment. Redding's shot. Garinl'e shot, the whine of bullet( the boy's en- deavor to shield her with his own body, a sudden stinging. scorching pain nn the top of her right shoulder. So, this wen being shot'—wounded'— dying perhaps' It wasn't so terrible —and your whole life did not pas. be- fore you in review. Tou thought in- stead with hot. and bitter rebellion of the future you weren't going to have: you hated with a fierce and burn111g hatred the sinter force In the plane; you loved the gallant figure before you. barricading you from death. There was the roar of the motor beslde him In that black moment. He put nut a hand. an arm. to push her behind him again and touched her father'■ rosewood walking stick. wrenched it from her grasp, sprang toward the plane and threw It Into the propeller. There was the most fright- ful noise, the most unspeakable racket she had ever heard, the most sicken- ing crash Into one of the ancient pear Wh-re were they ■11' Where was trees the padres had planted. Jim Redding' She found 1t unendur- Garinl must have been standing up. able. this blank waiting, this madden- leaning over to aim. for he had Ing Inactivity. She crept. wall out pitched out upon h14 head and lay of the radiance. until she came to the utterly Mill. She abood transfixed. fourth side of the square --the one The pilot WAR making a hideous groaning sound And there was a gnarled branch sticking up ludicrously through the rigging. "'That pear tree le over a hundred years old." she heard herself saying In a light conversational tone. "Is that right'" said Hennlasey. Hennlstey was there and there were others with him and she heard broken sentences about being run Into a ditch and the machine gun. and the deuce of a scrap. and poor Casey—but the only thing !tint registered was the old chief's hand on young Rodding's him shoulder and the old chief's voice: the dim and sinister interior. Even "Go hark ' he ordered and then "'Atte boy! Atte boy'!" the geraniums growing in dented. sharply: "Something'. happened. They It made her remember her own rusty cans on the window sills hed a haven't come—Henniesey and the boys shoulder again. And then Redding was rakish slant. After they were settled —and Gerinl's due any minute. her `-ing her up the path. bin arts In their places he asked her what she Mb• listen "' he held up a hand. what her. had meant that day they barged Into •.Hear It' You must get hack t :... "Diane, Are you hurt' peares(, are each other round the corner, about hotel!" - non hurt— "happy dust." There was a feint throbbing In the The thing seemed to nettle Itaelf "Oh. yes You see. I'd been living air very simply between them; there was so tong In a place drenched In Ing Tamale Parlor and have hot tamales. which fell away with a sharp drop to a much lower level -a wide spreading I're been longing to go every night, plain where had been the original but it has a sort of fifteen -men -nn -a• Camino Real dead -man's -chest look and I thought There was it solitary figure down I'd better not. by myself." there which after a moment's 'scrutiny she knew to be Redding. She made the descent, welting and watching to see if he were In communication with unseen companions. He looked neither to right nor left. but stood with his heed flung beck. sranning the sky. It was ten minutes before eh. left her ronceeling Ahadewe and epnke to Coca Coral Told THEY went at once. passing the disc gruntled Garcia. who was waiting faithfully et the foot of the stairs for her cry for help. and presently faced each other serors a battered table in "•Garinl. Only four or rive -miles no question and no answer that either that everything about this place looked away -they'll be here In es many, min- of then could ever recall. It seemed believe the a very s u e made happy in the sun. even the dust." uteri!" He took out hie revolver. ex- to h• the feeling that two people who "Happy dust." h: told her, was ane amined It carefully, replaced It 1n his could ,.band by each other Tike that— here." Hennlssey would have broken of the names for dopeIn thejargon pocket, took mit A perks[ of matches Felt the poignant intolerable thought him on the spot, but he was past mind- of criminals and walked over to A pr.fl kept sweeping over nrdding. insulting Ing a thing like that. The only vital He was engaging, she told herself! "What In that In the bucket'•• him "You might have been killed' matter In the world at that moment Frank Merrlwell! Bang. bang—and ••Gari line I'm to pour it out end You might be tying there now --like was to redeem himself in the outraged eighteen more redskins bit the tiust! set It ablest. to show them where to Gertni -" • Old Hennissey came down from town land. Diane -will you Ro"" They were apposite the ..hell of the eyes of this girl. '•I thought you were a week later to give him final Inetnu•- "Ho, man)- will he with Garinl"." old cloisters. nrllow• in the moonlight. the most spectacular feminine figure tions. COCA Cora. the old operative ••Htmst l( and the pltnl.'• end the mission brooded. Ancient and In the whole western rings a woman said, was beginning to give up, a little. "Tums of them -one of gnu!" wise. history a,.IPPA beneath its tiles. He figured she'd come through still The throbbing In the sky was grow- "Like her!" she said pointing toward who's been mixed up in every big Job better pretty soon. though she was Ing louder and more definite. "Diana.' the tomb. "Like the Rose of the on the coast for three years. There game. He had to hand it to her she he said desperately, "If you won't go It:onrhn!" She lifted her face. gay. isn't a picture or a finger -print of her would write the. messages to Garinl to your room If you want to help me daentle•as. tender. "Mit she Is happy nn record. She's called COCA Cora. which would be forwarded to Redding —nun up to the highway corner And dust!" but she has half a dozen aliases and to be mailed from San Juan The play welt, and when they come mend the He keenest her. rl Hil(iji! duet!' w^ts to make hath buyer seller be- boys dawn hero the l" pY g she's the cleverest, moat ruthless. dar- Ing criminal at large -mor was, for they've just caught her this side of San Francisco." She drew herself up and looked at him steadily for an instant, and then curiously enough gave herself a. care- ful scrutiny In the mirror. When she spoke It was in slow, measured syl- lables. "And do f look --like A creature—of one, so, of course. I had to tie her up. that sort When can )'nu get here'." Young Redding swallowed. "Fm He thought he heard. At the other afraid --I thought you did!" end of the wire. and aside to someone "Goody!" cried Miss Harper, look - nearby. what sounded like laughter. ing at hetself again with marked 1n - He went on with his triumph. "She terest and approval. "Oh, goody! put up a terrific fight!" You know, I've always thought I had "Well, boy. I guess the dame's got such a brood pudding suit of fare!" a right to. at that!" the chief's voice. He thought at fired that Ate must sounding (Idly choked, came to him. be hysterical--smisll wonder -after her "Whoever she Is.'• experience. but she we. emillnR In'the "What'" sanest ind jolliest fashion. "We got Coca Cora here. Yeah, "Don't look /to desporktely remorse - Now, who do you figure your girl ful," she urged him brightly. "It was friend might be'" There was no doubt the most thrilling experienee—and ex - about the mirth thin time. But Hen - put are my meat and drink. I Mosey controlled himself presently put them in stories, you ase. and never and gave him orders. He WAR to stay in my wildest imagining's dist I hope where he was and mail out the corn - of be nrreeML fir the queen of a gang muniratlonA whlrh would be sent ro of cranks Which reminds me—I may as well make my own (gni..Anion' I'm him. Cora Cora had actually been on not Maude D. Harper. My name la her way to San .Tuan Bautista when Diana Deering and--" Casey new her and raptured her; Ifs was Attiring at her "Then—you* none of her gang knew of her arrest: wrote Smock and Sandal' And that's lettere would roma for her there, and why you started to sign the register If wad the ehlef s firm conviction that with D and scratched it out!" CC. might he persuaded to give them ..You RAW that' I rams here under ray, carefully lifting the edges of messages to send to Garinl. primly -folded underthings In palest "And. say. listen," Hennlssey added pink milk. At the very bottom, a brief- at the end. "When you get around to case! He got it out without disturb- It—no rush, of course—you might turn Ing the order of the other contents, that girl loose!" unbuckled and opened It and had his It seemed fn .Tames Morton Redding fingee4 on the papers within when the utterly Impnasihle that he should he door opened and Miss Harper stepped able in mount the stairs and re-enter Into the room. No 20. which hed. 1t now appeared. Rho gave a small stifled cry and a perfect right to look like the room of a genUewomaa. Ater. She must ave good care of herself, forsworn slHe unlocked the door of No. 20 with dhoti- Garcla's pees key and stepped In. mations and right thnA. exercised, ed 10 Everything WAR In dainty order --the Jame the thingn It seemed to room Otte would say, of a gentle• James Morton Residing that her •Ie woman. That. once again, steeled his of vlctue made her actual vice more arm and stiffened his purpnae. In - despicable tells ence, education. surface refine - They met And n&y and "van" times ment at Least. and yet she deliberately on the following day ain the fore - hose to be •crook. Let her take the noon of the next ramp suddenly face consequences. to face and almost collided round • No letters, no papers on the table, In sorrier. the bureau. He knelt beside the sult- ^Oh-sorry!" she said erI&ply. "I'm sun we're tqe only persona who ever went at such • pace 1n the annals of San Juan Bantle&!" So, she wan going to be chatty' He nhawged his direction and fell Into step Mn1Ae her In the brief Klock 10 Me plaza "Delightfully dreamy and drowsy old puce. Isn't it'" he met her advance In kind "But" --he clutched by • bi t hack from the Ubiquitous brows, warm and dust -hides, which stared at klm, then the bot blood an assumed name, to be quiet end fin- ish my new book. There's been e good deal of advance publicity and there's a rather awful 011 family sim- ply petrified with fear. And twice they've tried to steal the manuscript, and that's what I thought you were at fleet, and, then 1 Houghf you were quite mad!" "And now • he said humbly, "now What do you think? You've only lay end on run 'Nee 1111111 There you Nay IUl Ida Federate tome, and ne easss.AY.-- '