Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-13

thing at tho foot OF 3 second ptnes
Softly sandry moved uHtil. this object
was in his line of vision.
Bedded high in pile of tinder-dry
needles fourth candle glowed
brightly in the smoky gloom. With
utmost cunning it had been set close
against the tree where long branch
OF pitch trailed down the rugged bark
from far up among the branches
When the candle burned down to the
resin-steeped needles-and q man
might travel far In the meantime-tiie
upleaping flames need only to Itch
that banner to rush with lightning
speed to the swaying. inflammable
top.
For a long moment the Fastener
stood, lost in wonder. Then the whole
thing burst upon him and he knew
Hampton OF the Yellow Pines was the
power behind the holocaust!
AS this stupendous knowledge forced
& itself into his weary brain. the other
man turned and strobe swiftly away
among the poles. The wearying climb
had taken the breath from Sandry.s
lungs and he drew pistol from his
belt and fired over Hampdens head
Like an animal the man whirled. hand
B to hip. and faced him.
1--WE got you at last!' Sandy pant
ed I've got you at last!i
Hampdens heavy lips curled van
omously from his short, strong teeth.
"You!" he breathed. "you You
( damned fastener! You lily-handed
tenderfoot!"
Sandy smiled grimly
This is just about the blacklist spot
in your crooked career, Hampden," he
said at last, "the blacklist and the big
gest blunder.. can't see why you did
it."
You CAN'T" snarled Hampden, "oh.
you can't! Well, by God. you will be-
fore I'm done with you. You didn't
know what you was gcttin' up against
you and your-your-Poppy Ord
way. You made yer fight, an you
thought you'd won! But you reck-
oned without me- I'm maxim mine,
an it's hummer"
He glared savagely along the gun
into Sandry's bloodshot eyes, and at
this moment Black Bolt heayed up
through the ferns, Siletz peering eager
ly along his straining neck, and the
face of Poppy Ordway at her shoulder.
The girl slid out OF the saddle and ran
to Sandry
What is it," she cried, what Is
it?"
Sandry pointed to the burning can
die at the pines foot and instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed it out
with thumb and finger.
Miss Ordway slipped down from
the foamy, steaming hips of the horse,
to stand leaning against him. her
bright eyes beginning to sparkle with
the tension OF the moment. At sight
Of her Hampden's face grew gray be-
meath its CRIME. She was smiling
with that pleasure which she always
found where men fought. or engi-
clever schemes, and her beauty was
never so maddening to him in all his
knowledge Of her. His one pure dream
had, in truth, reached a sorry ending
Sandy" said Siletz simply, II came
to you. There's danger somewhere
II don't know where or what-but
there's something in the shadows"
I A vagrantr wind famed up long
sheets and whistling banners that
hurried up to leap into the moaning
canopy behind the Hog Back. The
actors in this little drama were too
intent to hear the heightened note.
$50 you come to be in. at tn
DEATH" said Hampden at last, his
eyes on Poppy in anguished fury.
you done me to death an you want
Z to see me die! Oh, tn games up and
don't care damn! I'm tn smartest
one Of this bunch yet. An but fer
tn fact that you've got them two let
ters you stole from the commissioner
and tn account book with the records
Of our deals an rake-ons and so on,
I'd had chance to fight an win
yet! But I know you, Poppy-Oh,
how damned we'll know you!-an'
! know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
Q fght-you're damned right ami"
He waved an eloquent arm around
at the appalled,, shrinking country
which seemed to crouch in it's naked
ness under the shrouding smoke.
But tn thing that cuts is KNOWN
that you done it all fer him! A feeble
drivelin' thing from tn East! An
they say you'll marry him! Well, 60
to It! He'll have to move out, fer
there won't be any more Dillingworth
Lumber company in twenty hours. I'll
be behind bars, all right, but I've
cleaned him out"
As he finished with a reckless laugh
sandry turned amazed eyes to Poppy.
She was pale with anger and she
avoided his glance. This was the last
thing she wanted that Sandry should
know OF her attempt to .forestall him
in the. getting" Of Hampden. She
saw her chance to gain his gratitude
BY her gift drifting away. Also the
revelation Of her lawyers perfidy was
a mighty blow.
''Hampden," she said unsteadily,
you're the coarsest beast know!"
"All right. But amt that what it's
all fer? To lay me as burnt offerin'
I'D his feet-a sacrifice to win his
mincin' love? Didn't you say you'd