The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-05
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
1.-THE DUKE OF OBLIVION"
BY John Reed Scott.a
CHAPTER /.
The Man on the Road.

81 don't know anything aobut
it," the man stubbornly insisted.
His glance ran over the whole
white and black spotted canyon,
over the ardent blue horizon, over
the buttes in front, swinging back
!, like gates to show where the
mountains began. and returned
defiantly to Carron's face.
Carron couldn't help smiling.
Look here" he said persuas-
lively, I'VE both talked q good deal
last night, but you seem to think
you said too much. or course,
know you are not going to give
information you are not supposed
to give; but where's the harm in
telling me who your friends are?
Then, IL they don't want to talk,
let them say SO. and that will be
the end of it,"
! Carron grasped the limp left
hand of the other man, forcing a
nervous involuntary pressure from
1t. He released 1t, and 1t stayed
as il hypnotized, palm up, with a
gold piece of $40 in 1t.
| The recipient of this equivocal
coin looked at 1t nervously.
"Try Rader's," he mutter with
out raising his eyes, first turn to
the left as you go ahead"
All afternoon Carron drove in,
through canyons, up valleys, slow
ly but surely gaining the higher
plateau of the long mountain
range. The California sun
scorched down, and the man was
giving out when the sudden noun
tain twilight fell.
i Carron had about decided to
make camp by the side of the lit
tie creek he had been following
for the past hour, when a sudden
turn in the trail gave him a
glimpse of the place he sought.
The pines thinned, and between
their boughs he had glimpses of a
house. The trees stopped at an alb
rupt clearing and Immediately IL
was all before him - long, pale
facade, long, naked piazza, and
long, straight rows of windows,
an austere, sharp-angled, mass In
the dark circles of the forest.
After a moments looking he
recognized what it must be; one
of those lesser hotels so frequent
in the redwoods of the coast
mountains.
While he looked a tall woman
with white cloth over her head
and a broom In her hand came
out on the piazza. Seeing Carron
she put her hand to the cloth with
involuntary depreciation.
Did you want to see" she
began, but her faded voice left
the question hanging in the air.
MIR. Rader," he finished fol-
her.
| Do you mind telling me what
lyou want to see Mr.. RAIDER
about?" she said.
He had been expecting this
and was ready for 1t. 81 am aft.
er deer" he explained. 81 miss
ed my guide, and chap l met g
few miles below here told me
Raiders might take me in ovel
! night"
We've closed for the season.
she said. why don't you &C
down to Terriers? It's only hall
a mile along on the main road"
But my mare is almost done
III shouldn't like to take her any
farther tonight"
/; We'll, I suppose you can stay
she said reluctantly.
He was out of the buggy before
, she could have time to regret her
decision. you are very kind to
take me in," hit said gratefully
land my mare, too. She would be
worse off at night in the open
than l. If you will tell me where
the stable is, l will get her under
cover Immediately. She's too hot
to stand"
The woman lifted her voice
to a penetrative note, calling
4 "Ge-o-o-rge."
/ A half grown boy looked out
at the door. He had a singularly
vacant face.
| Preceded by this guide, Carran
led the chestnut around the drive.
1.-THE barn stood in a clearing
close-clipped by trees. 1t was
large, but of an appearance as d.
lapidated as the gate posts. The
boy led straight through the door
the Intel of which sagged alarm
lingly, through very cavern of
ancient odors, cobwebs and ech-
oes, slide another door and
emerged upon quite a different
place, smaller, well kept, alto
gether more modern-evidentl
an addition built upon the great
er stable.
There were three stalls, one
Occupied by mustang with an
ugly head and prettily built legs /;
two empty. In the first or these