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The Huron Expositor, 1933-12-22, Page 7DECEMBER 23, 1933. LEGAL: Phone No. 91 ' JOHN • 5. HUGGARD Barrister, Solicitor, • Notary Public, Ete. Beattie Block - - Seaforth, Ont. 1' HAYS & MEIR,. Succeeding R. S. Hays Barristers, Solicitors, Conveyancers and Notaries Public. Solicitors for the Dominion Ba'nk. Office in ,rear of the Dominion Bank, Seaforth. Money to loan. r t 1 h . 7 . ± BEST & BEST Barristers, 'Solicitors, Conveyan- cers and Notaries Public, Ete. Office in the Edge Building, opposite The Expositor Office. VETERINARY JOHN GRIEVE, V.S. Honor graduate of Ontario Veterin- ary College. All diseases of domestic animals treated, ,Calls promptly at- tended to and charges moderate. Vet- erinary Dentistry a specialty. Office and residence on Goderich Street, one door east of Dr. Mackay's office, Sea - forth. A. R. CAMPBELL, V.S. Graduate of Ontario Veterinary College, University of Toronto. All diseases of domestic animals treated by the most ...modern prirciples. Charges reasonable. Day or night calls promptly attended to. Office on Main Street, Hensall, opposite Town Hall. Phone 116. Breeder of 'Scot- tish terriers. Inverness Kennels, Hensall. r A' MEDICAL"' • DR. F. J. R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine; University of Toronto. Late assistant New York Opthal• mei and Aural Institute, Moorefield's.. Eye and Golden Square Throat Hos- pitals, London, Eng. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month, from 1.30 p.m, to 5 p.m. Tib. Waterloo Street, South, Stratford. DR. W. C. SPROAT Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Lon- don. Member of College of Physic- ians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office in Aberhart's Drug Store, Main. St., Seaforth. Phone 90. a DR. F. J. BURROWS Office and residence Goderich Street, east of the United Church, Sea - forth. ' Phone 46. Coroner for the 'County of Huron. DR. C. MACKAY C. Mackay, honor graduate of Trin- ity University, and gold medalist of Trinity Medical College; member of the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. DR. H. HUGH ROSS. Graduate of University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, member of Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; pass graduate course in Chieago Clinical School of Cticago; Royal Ophthalmie Hospital, London, England; University Hospital, Lon- don, England. Office -Back of Do- minion Bank, Seaforth. Phone No. 5. Night calls answered from residence, Victoria Street, Seaforth. DR. S. R. COLLYER Graduate Faculty of Medicine, Uni- versity of Western Ontario. Member College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Post graduate work at New York City Hospital and Victoria Hospital, London. Phone: Hensall, 56. Office, King • Street, Hensall. • . rDR. J. A. MUNN Graduate of Northwestern Univers- Co College ofgDental Surgeons, Toroo, Ill. Licentiate nto. Office over 'Sills' hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Phone 151. DR. F. J. BECHELY Graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's Grocery, Main Street, Sea - forth. Phone: Office, 185 W; resi- dence, 185J. tiJ . AUCTIONEERS HAROLD DALE Licensed Auctioneer Specialist in farm and household gales. Prices reasonable. For date; axid information, write or phone Har- old Dale, phone 149, Seaforth, or ap- ply at The Expositor Office. OSCAR KLOPP • Honor Graduate Careyanus' Na- tional School .for Auctio ng, Chi - cage. Special course to i'h Pure Bred Lire Stock, Real Estate, Mer ehandise and Farm Sales. Rates ie ,keeping with prevailing markets. Sat- isfaction aseured. Write or wire Oscar 1ilopp, 'Lurfeh, Ont. Phew* • TM MON A WESTERN ROMANCE BY CHARLES H. SNOW "Will he pay it?" the girl cried. "Oh, my father will pay anything! He is the richest man in Tatelumne! If you will only take me to him I will see that you get the fifty theu- sand dollars, and no harm will came to you!" Ellery clenched his hands until the nails cut the palms. The mien on the ibunks had swung around and were expectantly listening!, their 'hands close to their guns. Hewer chuck- led harshly. "Don't get any notion like that, woman! When we take you back it'll he after we've .got the money. If we get, it you won't be harmed If we den't-" "Oh, I'm willing to do anything!" the girl cried. "Only hurry, please hurry! I know my father is already frantic!" "He'll likely..'be• more worried be- fore you get back to him, unless you tell us whether he'll pay or MAP "Of course he will pay! Colonel Beaufort will pay every cent he has for me safe, suh!" From time to time Uncle Sim stir- red the fire or replenished it. As the red flames lightened the smoky room the details for the collection of the ransom were arranged.' It was decided that the girl would have to remain for possibly a week, and she had accepted this edict with a stoicism that surprised: everybody ex- cept Jinti'Ellery. 'He, of all the men, had seen what, a thoroughbred she was. "If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I think I shall retire," Nancy said, as if she were in some old Southern mansion with only gentlemen about her. "Hope you thane a good sleep," grunted Harper. , "Good nighty Miss Beaufort" El- lery said, bowing. "I hope you have a most refreshing rest." She gave hima scornful glance, and disappeared behind the blanket curtain, ,Ellery and Uncle Sim had no bed- ding excerpt their saddle=blankets, and no objection was raised when they suggested lying down . !before the fire. Harper spread his bed between the table and the curtain, as if he were to guard against anyone molest- ing the girl. ""Are ynu all right in there, Miss Beaufort?" he called as he lay down. "Very, well, thank you, • sun," Nan- cy called back. She was on the verge of tears. lIt was a sm+al night. The storm moaned through the tree -tops. Snow continued to pile up on the white earth, though toward morning the clouds began to break and thin. From time to time Uncle Sim flung wood upon the embers. • IIt was somewhere between mid- night and dawn when the old man rolled close to Ellery, who had not slept. Snores emanated from the bunks at the end of the ro'om+, and Harper's heavy 'breathing showed he was sleeping. "Hss'st!" Uncle Sim w>hispered•:'H•is bearded lips were near Ellery's ear. Ellery laid a 'hand upon the old roan. "Listep, Jim. I got a scheme fer gittin' one, m'ebbe two. Kin ye watch yer chance and take keer o' the rest?" "Depend on me,' Ellery whispered. He would have said more, but Uncle Sim rolled to his other side an d feigned a snore. Harper awoke before it was light. and roused the other men. While breakfast was cooking Nugget and Arkansaw prepared for their jour- ney. The were to descend to the South Fork of the Stanfsi.aus and work their way down the cannon past Parrot's Ferry and Italian Bar, then climb out of the canyon, and cut across the hills to Columbia. Most of the way would be slow and tortuous, but they would be be- low the snow -link by the time they were half way to the river. Harper told them he would allow them two days for the trip and as much time for the return. They should collect the ransom in a day. It was a longer route than the one over which they had fled, and one so rough that the journey could not be made on horseback. The main advantage in taking it was that two men, apparently miners, trudging clown the river canyon would excite no suspicion, and that there was still the danger that posses would be en- countered if the ridge route were chosen. "Tell°i'his. Beaufort that unless he pays, and pays pronto, he'll never see his girl again." warned Harper as he stood outside giving -the men their final dnefi Tt't"ions. "The girl dies sure if we- don't get the fifty thou- sand accorrlin' to .the directions I give you'. Yeah, let Beaufort know that, if he tries any monkey business Buck Harper'dl come down and get him. too." Soon after daylight the sky had cleared miraculously, even the cloud - ceps from the distant su'mm'its. Nan- cy did not appear until an hour af- ter the messengers had gone. She was smiling bravely as she spoke to the huddled men about the fire. She even said good morning to Ellery. "1 Nape you enjoyed a good rest, Miss Beaufort, Ellery said. "As good as possible," she return- ed coldly. "Thank you." Uncle Sim toasted her some bread, and she sipped her black coffee as ,sloe absently ate it. Her 'face show- ed plainly the strain under which she laboured, and her smiilewas forced as 'she replied to the remarks of Tex Harper and Hailey. Rugg was sul- len hut vigilant. "Seems to me this 'd be a powerful fine mornin' to git a deer or .two down •below snow," Uncle Sim re- mianked, "T got a mind to see what me 'n' old Betsy kin do, ;Harper." iWiheti the bandit chief made no ob- jection, Uncle Sim took a • yawning stretch and (picked up 'his rifle. "Reckon !I'll 't aipse along," said Rugg, 'getting to his feet. "We got- ta have meat. I'm a fair hunter." "Good idea" 'agreed Harper. "Rugg, if the old 'badger gets any meat yon can carry it in far him." !Leaning on the long rifle, Uncle Sim glared at' Harper. "War ye •alludin' to •me as an old badger, Harper?" "I was," replied Harper. "Just in fun, 'though, Hedgehog." Uncle Sim relaxed; slowly, and picked up the rifle. ' "Wal, if it war in fun it' a' right but mind ye, Harper, Char's nothin' I'd like better this mornin' `tlhan slit - tin' a man'+s'throat!" 'Nancy, who from the moment El- lery and Uncle Sim had arrived had sensed hostility •beiiween them and the bandits, stared in horror now. Her hands flew to • her quivering throat. • "Ooh, please don't quarrel!" she cried. "Please don't talk of cutting anybody's throat. I can't- 'I can't bear it!" "I'll see it don't happen again," de- clared Harper. "Get on out, men. Next time be careful how you talk before a lady, Hed+ge'h Dam!" Uncle Sim swept o his battered coonskin capand bown the hr- ror-strickenirl. "Beg your pardon all to blazes. ma'am. .It war jest my way o' talk - in'. I'ni plumb harmless 'ce•pt fer my tongue." Never, perhaps, have men eeln more watchful of each other tfta were Rugg' and Uncle. --Sim as they followed the trail broken by Nugget and Arkansaw, Each was apparent- ly scanning the snowy landseape, but in reality each was waiting for the other to make an overt 'move. Time and again Rugg tried to get the old Carolina man to 'walk ahead in the partially broken trail, but each time Uncle Sim declared that he never liked a trail. Back in the cabin Ellery tried to appear calm, though his every nerve was tensed to 'the !breaking point as he watched for a 'thence to strike. He stood with his back to the fire and avat.ched Tex and Halley as they began to ,play at the table with a' pack of greasy cards. They shelled their pockets of a considerable sum of money. Meanwhile Nancy sat up- on her stool at Ellery's left, her small hands extended to the blaze as she replied in monosyllables to remarks' from oHlarper, who stood at the other side of the 'table. "Better take a hand, Bronco." sug• Bested Tex, glancing toward Ellery. "Too early, thanks," Ellery replied with a shrug. "Why didn't you..men- tion it last night? There's nothing I like better than a little game of poker." Though he did not know it, the man he impersonated, Bronco Jim 'Cato, had been an inveterate pok- er player, a fact which was well known to Harper. iHarper,. glanced aside, and the look 'Ellery caught on `his face was one of satisfaction, though his eyes were cold. Ellery could feel the tension increase. He did not know what Un- cle Sim's motive had been for leav- ing, but the old man's m'es'sage of the night before still rang in his ears. He knew that he was but one against three, and that any man of the three was perhaps as formidable as himself. He eould see that the men were merely making a pretext of cards, awaiting n signal from their chief. Harper seenned nonchalant, yet El- lery knew he was ready. Ellery felt that he could not wait another min- ute for what was to come, when the girl unwittingly broke the tension. She leaped to her feet, and clutched her throat. Her face wore a rapt look. "Oh!" she cried softly. "The sun's out! !I must see it! The sun on the snow!" Sunlight • was indeed filtering 'through the loose chinking. Before anyone could stop her Nancy had the door open and was pressing into the sn'o'w. Harper was after her the next instant. CHAPTER XIII The gorgeous beauty of the scene made Nancy forget for the••,moment that she was a captive. The sunlight was almost blinding. The surround- ing forest prevented a wide view of the mountains, but through a break near the lower end of the meadow there stretched' a majestic panorama -oasryons, ridge's, distant peaks, all white as alabaster. Overhead, cloud masses drifted northward across the azure sky. "It's wonderful!" the girl cried. "I never 'believed anything could be so grand, so beautiful!" "It's sure mighty pretty," Harper agreed. His eyes, however, were for her. She was eneugh to make any men's blood run faster. "Like it?" "I haven't words to describe it!" Determination gripped Ellery as the bandit chief disappeared through the cabin door. This was the time to strike. Ellery, de•spite the tautnes=, of every nerve and muscle, tried t. apeear cool as he watched Ter' and Hailey at their game. He was sure thc-'y were eyeing him more closely than their cards. •"Jnst look at the color of the lii;i't out there on the snow, boys!' he commanded. It was a time -worn trick, but it worked. Tex and Bailey turned toward the door for no in- stant, and as they looked back they stn.<•ed into the muzzles of Ellery's steady guns. "Hander up!" Ellery growled soft- ly. "If you mtake a move, a noise, I'll 'sthoot l„ Tex and Hailey stared in"cold, hard incredulity for an instant, then their hands darted for their revolvers as they leaped to their feet. The re- ports of Ellery's guns blurred• into one long crash.. The reverberations were still fulling the cabin as he leap- ed for the door, a gun in each hand. 'Simu'ltaneously Harper had sprung for the door from the outside. The men crashed together in the opening. Harper's ruddy face was contorted with hate. He whipped up his gun, but before he 'could swing it around Elleryis left gun craehed down upon 'his arm. Harper's gun dropped into the snow. ,As Ellery was pivoting to ,'hoot with his other gun, Harper's left hand shot out and grasped his wrist. The next instant his right closed up- on the revolver iil Ellery's left. hand. (Struggle as he 'would, Ellery could rot break' the other man's grasp. Out! in the snow they surged, each man fighting for his life. Neither 'uttered a sound, except for his deep, breath- ing. 1+'or a 'minute or so they fought, backing, surging forward, tramping down the snow in a narrow radius. The girl, shocked to inaction by the shot and the combat, stood tremb- ling. The last bit of color drained from, har cheeks. Her eyes were wide with horror. Then slowly, as the fight waged nearer, she backed away until she felt the log wall behind her. She pressed it with her cold hands arid watched with fear -fascin- ated eyes the combat raging in the snow. Something told• ;her that be- fore the fight encted. one or 'both men would he aead. This sudden realiza- tion stirred 'her tegaction. Glancing inside the cabin, she stood rig -id for a foment, then recoiled. Then she was '-speauing around •the cabin as fast as the encumbering snow would permit, The mountainside dropped away so abruptly that soon Uncle Sim and Rugg were tramping through only a few inches of snow. They were a quarter -'male below the lower end of the meadow when the old man said: "We'll skirt round this away, Rugg. Nugget and Arkansaw's skeered e'v- er'bhing down the main canyon." Rugg agreed grudgingly. They soon came to the head of a brushy swale with a rocky ridge on each side, a canyon opening below. Across the mighty gorge they could trace the snow -lines as if it had been marked out .with a ruler. There were a few deer .tracks. • "I figger thar's deer doavn thar in the brush," said Uncle Sian. "These :hyar old fellers is hell and all fer huggin' the snow -line. Rugg, ye jest• mosey round to that 'p'int o' rocks yonder and take yer stand. I'll go 'rouncato the right and then cut through the brush. Bet ye my moccasins I drive some old bucks right •up to ye." Rugg turned to the left, Uncle •Sim to the right, each man watching the other covertly as he trudged on. Un- cle Sim soon reached the rocky hog- back, turned for a .moment to see Rugg, then disappeared over the top, There was a cunning, savage grin on Rugg's dark face* � he quickened his stride. He gained t'IT ridge and dropped back of a big rock. He ex- amined the load in his big -bore Sharp's rifle and peered over the rock. "There'll be one- less of 'em when I :get through," he chuckled softly as he gripped the rifle. On the opposite ridge, Less than a hundred yards away, Unr•le Sflne's face was pressed to a crack between two rocks, and his sharp eyes saw Rugg as he lifted his head above the boulder. "Think ye're damned smart, don't ye?" the old man uttered. "Wal, be- fore ye're smart 'nough to keep up with Uncle Si•ni Knight from Turkey Track Holler, ye got to stay up all night, Rugg. I done fergot more as ye ever knowed 'bout Injunin'." Sliding backward on his belly, Un- cle Sim found two sticks, one about four feet long, the other two. With a buckskin string he lashed them to- gether in the form of a cross, with the transverse piece slightly askew. Then he stripped off his buckskin shirt and fitted 'it on to the sticks. Next he set his coonskin cap atop the projecting end of the upright, and made a few adjustments to the effigy. "I s;hor•e hate like all hell to git a hole in this hyar shirt," he mutter ed with a grin. • He picked up his rifle, eased back the big hamnne;. , Then with his left hand he slowly raised the effigy above the rocks. The shoulders of the shirt had barely appeared when from ac- ross the s'wale the big -bore Sharp's boomed. Uncle Sim heard the slap of the 'bulle•t. The effigy was jerked from his grasp by the force of the slug. The next moment Uncle Sim had the barrel of his Hawkin between two rocks and was squinting along the sights. On the other ridge Rugg slonvly lifted above the rock behind which he had dropped after he had fired. Uncle Sinn's gnarled old fin- ger careesed the hair-trigger, squeez- ed. Another report boomed out, echoed into the far reaches of the snow -panoplied forest, The old man eased him,s'elf back, •blew the trailing smoke from the nuzzle of the rifle, and began ram - rating in anot^her load, meanwhile 'humming joyously: • "A scorpeen set on a t'rant•.ler's hack, And chuckled in ghoulish glee, If I don't sting that pizen son -'of -a - g en He'll shore he a stingin' me!" Around and around, to right, to left the fight, waged' in front of the cab- in. It,• was as if neither men had an ounce more.strength than the other. Harper's eyes gleamed with despera- tion, and the color had gone from 'hie ruddy face. Ellery's jaws were olamipeld until knots of corded l nsisole stead (yut •balew >ais east The 1nf•'e11:'ae breaths cane eh+ort -axud feet. Ellery had heard the girl among the 'hoes eebaak of the eabm..and was deaterzrir ad 'to hold out at least until she cou,d escape. With a savage twist Ilar+per forked Ellery to drop hie gun. ",Now we're even!" snarled the ban- dit <hief. "Damn you, Bromic, Ie-" 'Stiff clutching with his left hand in order that Harper Might). not get his knife hand free, Ellery twisted violently with his right arm a n d wrenched it .loose. 'His fist shot up, crashed against Harper's. jaw. IHanper instantly jerked away his other hand. 'His fust cracked Ellery's jaw. Now round and round, biaek-and forth they fought, each with one hand free, each determlined that the other should not get 'hold of his knife. They rained (blows upon each other's faces, upon each other's bod- ies. They wrenched, twisted, squirm- ed. Their breaths were coming and going froom between clenched teeth. Blood was trickling from each man's nose. Then it looked as though Ellery had the more cunning, a little the more strength.: •S'lo'wly he forced Hlarper back toward the cabin wall.. Twice he tried.to trip the bandit chief but each ;time Harper extricated him- self. IIarpir was fighting for `a chance to get at his knife, Ellery's ,rornentary determination was to hold on until the girl could get away -if she were trying to get away. Why didn't she come? With a savage twist Harper man- aged to swing about. His left fist shot in and out with the rapidity of a piston. Ellery's fist was work- ing as effectively. Their faces were now gory. With a relentless grip •Ellery slow- ly turned his antagdnast, and again tried to force him back to the barer ground near the wall. Slowly Har- per gage way under the onslaught. He was leaning slightly backward. El- lery was pressing ahead with all his might; while with his left fist he pu'm'melled the other man's midriff. Ellery's •determination to end the combat proved his undoing. As he forged ahead his left foot slipped on the snow. Like a flash the bandit chief leaped aside, rwhirled. His hand darted to his knife. He crouched as Ellery whirled'and drew his bowie. Again the fight raged around and around, but differently now, for each 'mean sparred, feinted for a chance to leap in. 'The knives flashed high, low; swung through swtift, short arcs, their long blades gleaming in the sun- light. Ir einting as if for a blow with his Ieft fist, Ellery drew Harper off his guard for an instant. Ellery's blade flashed, cutting a deep gash across the :bandit's, upper left arm• and chest: With a roar Harper sprang in, wholly oblivious now of the other blade. Eilery.'s knife again found flesh. Then his foot slipped and as he fell he felt Harper's blade pierce his chest.. dile pitched forward and lay upon his face. 'Harpers" uttered a triumphant grunt as he reeled back. He was taking a 'step forward to plunge his knife in- to Ellery's back when the girl and the horse rounded the cabin corner. ;Nancy had not paused to saddle the sorrel. The only means she had of guiding the beautiful animal was the tie rope, which she had fashioned into a jacinvo. . The dishevelled rid- ing -habit was drawn up, leaving her slim legs exposed to the knees. De- termination, and fear 'made her eyes wide. "Stop, woman!" • Harper shouted. hoarsely. "Stop, damn you, .stop!" Nancy reined the horse to the right. Snow flew from before its hoofs as it headed down the trail. The girl leaned low, flailing with heels and rope end, and as she rode she took with her an indelible picture of what she had seen there in front of the cabin --a roan lying on his face, with the snow reddening under him, an- other man with a bestial light in his reddened eyes. • With a''snarl Harper lurched for- ward, picked a revolver out of the, snow. His legs braced Wide as he aimed the weapon at the back of 'the fleeing girl. Snow bad worked into his priming cap, and the hammer fell with a harmless click. In swift suc- cession Harper thumbed back the hammer to try the other chambers. Nancy never knew that it was the snow that saved her this time. Harper flung away the impotent revolt' r, staggered to the door, curs- ed he grasped the logs and looked insi e. He lurched in, and a moment later appeared with a rifle. He braced his 'back against the wall, lifted the rifle. In the timber he caught a glimpse of the girl and the horse. ile whipped up the rifle. The report echoed through the forest. "Damn her, I'll show her she can't get awaa.y frons. Buck Harper!" He dropped the rifle and lurchea around the cabin. In a minute he was drag- ging his horse to the door. He staggered inside and came out lugging his saddle. The 'bay, fam- ished as it was, snorted end shied at the smell of new blood,1 and it was only after five minutes of hard work that Harper managed to get the sad- dle on. He picked up the rifle, drag- ged himself onto the horse. Uncle 'Sim Knight never suffered any twinges of conscience from hav- ing killed a man in good cause. He went across the 'brushy swale, climb- ed to the rim of rocks, and 'rooked down at the crumivled form of Rugg. Ire leaned the rifle against a rock and turned the man over. There was a little blade hole just above Rugg's left eyehro'w•. "Jest a leetle off centre," mused Uncle Sini, "hut fer the distance, and figgerin' it had to he done quick, it warn't had." He felt much better now, even though his bullet had missed the meridian line of the bandit's fore- head by an inch. He started weet- ward around the slope, determined row to get a deer. "Jirn'll take keer o' hisself." he muttered. "Any feller what kin lie with as straight a fere as him shore kin he depended on." Near the bottom of the canyon which drained the monde*. he came upon the trackk of Nugget and Ark- ansaw in the .anew and leaned: on Iris riffle to look down the mountainside, "1 'low I orter follow them var- mints up and kill 'em both," he nnut- e ,X44 =x !H orPe t ratglY anti serii'k>' nf±alilj! .. way croon. t40 SW* leaped ont. Uel . i ii.. . _. fent-pointer with a. fibro. n k,: 'T;a: !lid' net atop to .Moot ! _ with hie. ('bowie sdaaied•the earcasst tp two at the loans, ands sllyag the: l ips ;• quarters over his showldey, (iarinnng the ridge, he tpto luted UP it tie Ole. rim of the meadow, where he drePPed- his 'burden in the mow. "'Come back for it lather one" e told himself,. "Now I now I be see how 'things air at' the caffein." IWiith his usual Wariness Uncle Sim approached, not directly up the open, but skirting through the 'bhnlber. Vague misgivings began to assail him as he saw the open door, the thin •colunm of smoke rising efrom the chimney. IHe 'pressed on faster, floundering through the • s11/ow, and had about decided to appear boldly, in the open when he stopped. "Hose tracks!" he ejaculated soft- ly. "Drat my 'hide!" He had come upon the trail of two horses in the snow, One swift glaece showed him the marks of the narrow iron shoe. "Wal, dog -gone me! it's the gal! She's got away. Wonder if this other track's Jim's hose?" -a '- Uncle Sim's old heart was beating fast with pride' as he pictured how Ellery had killed the remaining three bandits and escaped wtith the girl. "1 knowed that young feller could be depended on," 'he muttered. "Un- cle Sim Knight from Turkey Track Holler ain't often mistook in men. E.e'et jest took the gal, and 'spects me to faller on Molly. Wal, d 'low thar ain't no use o' me stayin' now." The old man's caution, however, did not leave him•in this moment of pride and exultation. Instead of walking into the open, he stole from pine to pine, and name upon the cab- in from the rear. There he stopped to press his ear to a crack. "Stillern' death herself," he said, wagging his hoary head. "Jim, lie shore must 'a' made a good job of it." ettee (Continued next week.) VARNA Intended for last week. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron and son, Bobby, of Hensall, spent Sunday with Mrs. A. Foster, elho has not been as well as usual, Mr. and Mrs. R. Thompson, of God'- ierich Township; called on Mrs. L. Beatty on Sunday. The annual meeting of the W. A. of 'St. John's Church, was held in, the Church Thursday. The congregation of St. John's Church purpose !holding their annual At -Home on the evening of Wednes- day, • December 27th. Traffic is somewhat crippled owing to the fact there is rather too much isnow in places for canis and not. enough snow for sleighing. Members Of the township council will meet on Friday, December 15. MANLEY (Intended for last week) 'Mr. Peter 'Eckert shipped two'truck loads of export cattle to Toronto last week. The sudden death of Philip En- right fast week cast a gloom over our burg as he had been a life-long resident of • this place. He led . a bachelor's life but it was. fortunate that he was visiting his old friend,. Mr. S. Allen, Huron Road, east of Dublin;• when the end ,carie. Had he been at home it might have been some time before the discovery would have been made. A real old time winter has set• in after the mild weather and the pro- phets who have predicted an open enc have been misled by the old signs. l he sale of cha'ttel's of the late P. Enright last Tuesday was a success. KIPPEN (Intended for last. week. . many friends and neighbors of the la William McDonald were very Worry" to hear of his passing away at his late home ir1 Seaforth on Sun - lay last, The late William McDon- ald was for many years a resident on a farm. just a mile east of the village and attended St, Amdrew',s United Church. Sincere sympathy gees out to the bereaved widow and two daughters, (Mary) • Mrs. Ross Brnadfnot. 'who with ihe,r husband and family now reside on the faun, and Margaret at home, also the near relatives, Many friends and old neighbors attended the funeral which vas h'id on Tuesday afternoon from ,First Presbyterian Church, Seaforth. Mr. and Mrs. W. Alexander and amily epent a day recently in Lon - Preparations are under way for the Thris'tnras entertainment which is to ae held in St. Andrew's United church MI Wednesday next, at 8 o'clock. ,4 very good programme is being pre- pared, consisting of dialogues, drills, recitations and a pantomine, "It Carie Upon a Midnight Clear," put on by the senior girls. .,i STANLEY (Intended for last seek) The following is the Christmas re- port of No. 14, Stanley: Sr. IV Aubrey Farquhar 75, Harold Jones 73. Jr. TV -Mary Farquhar; 69. K'at'hleen Jones 67. Sr. III -George Clifton et. • Marian Kerslake 55, Jr. HT -Eric Switzer 52. Sr. II - Jean Speir 65, Ernie Tal'bo't 58, Don Swit- zer fia. Willie Witcomibe 54, Lois. Rathwe'll (absent), .Jr. IT -Mildred .tones 60, Kenneth 'McKenzie 45. Sr. T -enemy 'McKenzie, Alvin Kerslake. Primer --June Murdock, Betty Swit- zee. Number orb roll. 18; average attendance, 15.5.4. - P. C. Penfold, Teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Johnston and son, George E., of Goderich, visited with Mr. and Mrs. Nels'o'n Keys, Babylon Line, last Friday. IMr. and • Mrs. John. A. Aiemsstrong and family visited the forneer's. Mother, Mrs. Armateomg, of Clinton, • last week. Quite a eunilber of farmers took 'advantage of the • mild• weather last., week to do some plowing. 'The Goshen - Sunday Scltool ` he'I$i their annual tweeting' last 'Widnes- day when the election of omens for 1934 teak place. Mr. John - A. Arm- strong, the, epficie'nt superinuiendent, was re-elected for another year, EGMONDVILLE (Intended for last week) Elect Officers. -The Egmondvalle ,Mission Band met in the sc ber:room on Thursday afternoon. The tweet- ing opened with the hymar, "Bark, the Herald Angels Sing". and prayer by Mrs. Malcolm. The officers for 1934 were then . elected as follows: President, Anna Dennis; vice-presi- dent, Doi'othy Taman; recording sec- retary, Mildred .Finnigan; press sec- retary, Mary Stewart; finanetal sec- retary, Stewart Finnigan; pianist, Anna Dennis; attendance secretaries, Shirley Wurnu, Donald McLean; hymn book monitors, Dorolbhy Theoibald, Mary Shade, Donald McKenzie, John Robert McKenzie. The new .presi- dent, Anna Dennis, then took . the chair. The secretary, Mildred Finni- gan, called' the roll and the offering was received. Mrs. 'Malcolm told a IULLETT (Iniiended for last week) Word has beer% received here from Kindersley, 'Sask., of the passing away early Saturday morning, Dec. 9th, in Kindersley Hospital, follow- ing a critical operation on Monday, of Fletcher B. Gibbings. The dee,e'ae- ed was barn in IHtuliett Township near Alma in 1900 and spent his boy- hood `years in that community,. going while yet in his teens, to Saskatche- wan, where he farmed for a time at Rosebown. He • has returned several times to visit since first going west and in March, 1927, was united in marriage to Miss Artily' T1eBrien•, daughter of 'Mrs. 4VIcBrien and -the late William John 'MeBrien, formerly of H•ullett. After marriage the young temple purchased a farm near Kin- dersley, Sask., where they have since made their home and where the de- ceased has been a very progressive and up-to-date farmer, and h:ia 'tak- en a very. active .part in everything pertaining to the welfare of his com- ntunity. He will be sadly Missed in the community in which he has lived, but particularly in his home, where he leaves his .young widow, a son, Ray, of five, and' Harold, aged seven months. He also leaves to mourn big loss his father, Robert J. Giibbings. and a sister, 'Mrs. B. C. W. Jervis, of Toronto; a brother, J. Foster, of Kindersley, Sask., and a brother, R. W. (Bert) cif !Stapleton, near Clinton. Another brother, C. Wesley, was kill- ed in an accident on his farm at Rose- tewn a few years ago. • LONDON AND WINGHAM South. ' P.M. Wingham 1.55 Belgrave 2.11. Blyth 2.23 Londesboro 2.30 Clinton , ... 3.08 Brucefield 3.27 Kippen 3.35 Hensall 3.41 Exeter 3.55 North., A.M. 2xeter ' 10.42 •Hensall 10.55 Kippen 11.01. Brucefield 11.09 Clinton , .... 11.54 Londesboro 12.10 Blyth 12.19 Belgrave 12.30 Wingham 12.50 C. N. .R. East. A.M. P.M. Goderich 6.45 2.30 Clinton 7.06 3.00 Seaforth 7.22 3.18 Dublin 7.33 3.3-1 Mitchell 7.42 3.43 West. 11 rblila 11.19 9.32 c•'eaforth .. 11.34' 9.45 Clinton 11.50 9.59 Goderich 1 12.10 10,25.. C. P. R. TIME TABLE East. A.M. Goderich 5.50 Menset 5.55 McGaw 6.04 Auburn 6.11 Blyth 6.25 Walton i 6.40 McNaught 6.52 Toronto 10.25 West. A.M. Toronto 7.40 McNaught . a 11.48 Walton 12.01 Blyth 12.12 Auburn 12.23 McGaw 12.34 Menset 12.41 Goderich 12.11$ N,. 4.