Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-09

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Cspyrisha bx cbas. scrabnsr's Sons
StaFbuck drove for his life. With
the bridge fairly crossed, he found
himself on . high embankment; and
the oncoming train was now less than
half . mile away. Somewhere be-
You'd the bridge approach there was a
road; so much Starbuck could recall.
II they could reach its crossing before
the collision should come
They did reach 1t, by what seemed
to Smith q margin Of no more than the
length Of the heavy freight train
which went jangling past them a scant
second or 80 after the car had been
wrenched aside into the obscure mesa
road. They had gone a mile or more
an the reverse leg Of the long down.
river detour before Starbuck cut the
speed and turned the wheel over to
his seat-mate.
"Take her q minute while I get the
makings," he said, dry-lipped, feeling
In his pockets for tobacco and the
rice paper. Then he added: "Holy
Solomon! I never wanted smoke
80 bad In all my lifew
Smiths laugh was q chuckle.
"Gets next to you-after the fact
doesn't 1T That's where We split. I
had my scare before We hit the bridge,
and 1t tasted ike mouthful OF bitter
aloes. Does this road take Us back
up the river1"
ut takes us twenty miles around
through the Park and comes in at the
head Of Little creek. But we have
plenty Of time. You told Harding two
hours, didn't your
Eyes; but must have a few min
utes at Hillcrest before we get action,
Billy"
Starbuck took the wheel again and
said nothing until the roundabout race
had been fully run and he was cas-
Ing the car down the last of the hills
into the Little Greek road. There had
been three-Quarters Of an hour Of skill
full driving over q bad road to come
between Smiths remark and its re-
ply, but Starbuck apparently made no
account Of tho length of the interval
You're aiming to 60 and see Cor
ry?" he asked, while the car was
coasting to the hill bottom.
Eyes"
With sudden dick Of the controls
and quick jamming Of the brakes.
Starbuck brought the car to stand
Just as 1t came into the level road.
'We're man to man here under the
canopy, John: and Cory Baldwin
hasn't got any brother" he offered
gravely. TIN backing you in this
business fight for all I'm worth-fof
Dick Maxwslrs saks and the colonel's.3
and maybe . little BIT for the sake Of
my own ante Of twenty thousand
And I'm ready to back you IN this old
home scrap with all the money you'll
need to make your Fight. But when It
comes to the little girl it's different
Have you any good and fair right to
hunt up Cory Baldwin while things
are shaping themselves up as they
aref'
Smith met the shrewd inquisiHon
fairly.
.Give It 4 name" he said shortly.
II viii: I'll give It the one you gave
It while back. You said you were
an outlaw, on two charges: embezzle-
ment and assault. Well let the as
sault 20. But the other thing doesn't
taste good"
II didn't sembezzle anything, Billy.
thought I made that plain"
$50 you did. But you also made 1t
plain that the home court would be
lfkely to send you up for 1t, guilty or
not guilty. And with thing like that
hanging over you you see. I
know Cory Baldwin, John. II you
put 1t up to her tonight, and she hap
pens to fall in with your side Of it
which IL what you're aiming to make
her do-all hell won't keep her from
going back homo with you and seeing
you through!"
"Billy, I may never see her again.
/ said wouldn't tell her-that
loved her too well to tell her :.
but now the final pinch has come, and
II" E%
"And that isn't ALL" Starbuck went
on relentlessly. There's this Miss
Rich-acres. Your hands amt clean,
John: not clean enough to let you 60
to Hillcrest tonight"
Smith CROPPED in his pockets, found
cigar and lighted It.
"Pull out to the side Of the road and
well kill what tme there is to kill
right here" he directed soberly. And
then: what you 5ay is right as right,
Billy. Once more, I guess, was 10
coed for the minute. Forget 1t; and
while you're about 1t, forget Miss
HIGHLANDER, too. Luckily for her, she
Is out Of it-as far out Of 1t as I
am"
a54 CHAPTER XVI.
Freedom.
On the northern bank Of the Timan-
a. xYA~ 80 xr,h{ hc