The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1922-06-22
The Treachery of
Dale Woods
BY CALVIN HENDRICKS


Hector Waith was more surprised
than alarmed. Four men faced him
In the rugged Kentucky mountain path
whom he had heretofore accounted as
his friends He was too accustomed
to the rugged mandatory ways Of the
group, however, to hesitate at the Or
der given.
why, what Is the trOubIeT ne
asked quietly enough, although he did
not like the CLINT In the eyes Of the
leader Of the coterie, Wilson Vance.
"Slt down on that rock" directed tho
leader Of the quartet.
rs this a holdup or a court Of in
Quiry?" ne haZardcd with faint smile.
Its O court Of Justice and n serious
affair."" replied Vance unbendingly.
ITO state the case briefly: You, pur-
porting 10 be n young business man
from the East came out here nearly
month ago seeking your health.
MY letters should persuade you that
l am the genuine article" spoke Waith
lightly and again with the smile.
1T looks different now" declared
Vance you were welcomed as a tenn
pornry guest at the home Of my uncle.
You took an interest In my cousin, Nel-
lie, his daughter. When mans square
the Vances treat him right. When he's
n spy"
what do you mean by thatT' de-
manded Waith instantly md sternly.
"Just what the word implies" broke
In new voice. The instant Waith
recognized the man rs Dale Woods he
knew that he was In trouble. Dale
Woods was nm old rejected but persist
ent sultor Of pretty Nellie.
Il say you are spy" declared
Woods, facing Waith 0ercely, and
these men know g. You lost coat
while bathing In the creek. found
II and In q secret pocket ! discovered
this"
Woods held close 70 the eyes Of The
aston!shed Walth n badge Of the gov
ernmcnt secret service.
~ mover saw II before" declared
wai'h
"That won't dor snarel Woods.
"You have come here under fnls" nro.
lenses 10 ret n clew 20 the hiding place
NJ my hunted brother"
There was silence and bowed hc0ds
Hector Waith knew that h,s fate was
sealed. lie must net II nc would save
| his life.
The men stepped aside in low-toncd
consultation. Waith saw Woods draw
out his revolver. Just beyond tho copse
horse grazed untehercd With
| spring Waith gained his feet and
dashed toward the animal He was in
| the saddle in fash.
The horse made bound along mar
row ledge skirtlng a deep ravine.
The pursuing cotehe reached the
edge Of the rnvine. They peered down
in swed silence, Only Dale Woods
said to himself, with thought Of Mel.
! lie Vance:
Tint ends the man who came be-
tween me and my loveI"
II was hours afterward when limp
Ing form with tattered and disordered
attire emerged from q remote. passage
way between two wallis Of rock leading
from the ravine
II was Hector Waith. He had sunk
| few rods down into q nest Of dense
enveloping vines.
Waith had chung to these, safely
! sheltered from the view Of his pur-
suers until they had left the spot
The moon was UP when he emerged
from the ravine,
It was in the early hours Of the
morning The moon was just sinking
when lying In the road before him he
made out human form. 1t was thar
of an old woman. She was insensible
and Waith could not arouse her.
What shall doP ne questioned
himself. 1T Is dangerous for me To
delay, but l cannot leave this helpless
old woman 70 die.
Like the true man he was, Waith
thought only Of the unconscious charge
on his hands and the hours passed on.
He discovered deserted hut at little
distance He carried the old woman
thither. She revived somewhat but
was still incolrerent
For two days Waith gathered ber-
ries. nuts, whatever he could find to
give sustenance 10 his charge. She
was gradually rallying her strength.
"Even at the risk Of coming across
any of the Woods band, must get
word to others to care for her. as l
cannot" he decided
He had not gone half a mile from
the old hut In search Of some other
habitatlon when. turning O ledge Of
rocks, he faced q leveled revolver
Dale Woods behind II.
80 you escapedT he Kissed out.
what luck March"
"Wait," demurred Waith "An old
woman whom found two days ago lies
very III In hut near here"
my mother I" were the FIRST words
of Woods as he gazed upon the face Of
the old woman.
II was after Woods knew what he
owed to the man he had sought TO de-
stroy that he handed q note he had