Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-09-01
White
Handkerchief
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE
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Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
They had called the four hornlike
piles of rock that arose like STU
pendous monument over two thousand
feet in the air "The White Handker-
chief" Seen from distance the
prospect was that Of a perfectly
white, perfectly square handkerchief
Nature had been lavish in the be
stowal of her rarest beauties and all
save the spirit of man seemed divine.
1t was the toughest section of a
sparsely settled country where the law
had failed to drive out feudism, moon
shining and organized banditti.
At Center Hollow Wanda Brookes
realized how potent and cruel was the
fate that had placed her at fifteen in
the charge Of distant relative, Mort
lander. Her father had died amid
utter poverty and had looked to Fan
der to care for his only child. Grudg-
ingly thesman who lived by outlawry
took the girl into his household. He
had crushed oil of hope or content
ment out of his sullen-souled slave Of
a wife, and she had no affection to be
stow upon the lonely girl. The hard
est tasks We're awarded to- Wanda.
She was surrounded by the sinister
faced, evil-minded men who appeared
from time to time bringing stolen live
stock or the booty of outright high
way robbery and from whom she hid
In terror. h
There was one man among them
who, after the first time his eyes fell
upon Wanda, sought to gain her con-
fidence and favor. He was Burl Daw-
son, apparently one of the most val
ued of the thieving acolytes of Fan
der, for he never returned from his
raids without boastfully displaying
their proceeds to his well satisfied en-
ployer. Wanda shrank from him and
her heart sank when one day Mrs.
lander remarked casually:
"That Dawson fellow seems to- have
eyes only for you, Wanda. According
to pop you're sure Of good home and
a man who knows how to provide for
It,"
! "Why, what do you mean?" ques-
toned Wanda, half surmising and
shuddering.
"You can guess was the casual re-
ply. "and don't be foolish. Anything is
better than the lonely slave life you
live with us. I'll give You word Of
warning, too. That young school
teacher, Raymond Thorne. oyer at
Gross Corners, has been seen shining
around you. Don't encourage him
He's spotted"
"You-you don't mean that your
husband or his men would do Mr..
Thorne any harm?' quavered Wanda.
'If he stands in the way of Daw-
son, yes" was the definite response.
"They got him let out from the school
and he had better find another place
right away"
Wanda managed to get away from
the house about dusk and steal to the
village. They had been simply friends,
Thorne and herself. but their meeting
that evening eventuated in a closer
companionship He told her OF his
love and asked her to leave her
wretched home and become his wife.
1T will have to oe fast and furi-
Gus ride on horseback for over fifty i
miles to successfully evade the pur-
suers, who will surely be sent on your
trail when you are missed" said
Thorne. "Once at my mothers home
at Alandale we will be safe and you,
as my welded wife within that hour.
can safely defy Mort lander. / will
have to make preparations that must
not fail. am going to give you
feldglass. After have left here
will not dare to return nearer than
the White Handkerchief. Next Thurs
day night about ten o'clock keep the
glass focused on the middle rocky
cone of the plateau. You will, see
light signal"
Thursday was busy day for
Wanda, the evening hours replete with
suspense. In the kitchen all day long
she had been assisting Mrs. Zander in 4
making catsup. The latter had retired.
but Wanda feigned to put things In
order. In the next room lander and
his favorite aids were engaged in rev.
elry. About nine o'clock Dawson put
In an appearance.
ny. In, 4, a,,I no M
toned and glasses clinked as If in con-
sonance with some toast given. The
kitchen clock struck ten. She ran out
side and focused the night glass on
the White Handkerchief. a blotch OF
dark color, human figure and then
quick glow showed
Come in quick succession
against the light appeared the wei
come letters. Later Wanda knew that
her Ingenious lover had devised a
frame and transparent alphabet screen
plainly visible through the powerful
lenses with which he had provided
her.
Wanda hurried back to the kitchen
and threw shawl over her head and 1
shoulders. At that moment Dawson
staggered into the room.
you're wanted in yonder. sweet
he marndered. 1--WE are to plight our
troth before father lander. hey?"
The wretch made a dash TO seize
her. Instantly Wanda snatched up a
saucer filled with cayenne pepper, an
adjunct of the catsup making. Straight
into his eyes she dashed the fiery stuff
There was frghtful yell.
Kloppetty klop-kloppetty klop!
Once In the saddle of the waiting