South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-20
BEGN HERE TO-DAY


Freed from prison lbecause he suf-
fered with amnesia.
BIN DARBY leaves for tho Yuga
River with
EZRA MELVILLE. an old friend, 10
whom no ~ paroled. The two go
20 take possession OF rich claim
left by the dead prospsct0r,
HIRAM MELVILLE. who had writ
ten on his death bed for his
brother Ezra 20 come.
JEFFREY NELSON and his two
followers. Ray Brent and
CHAN HEMENWAY. plan 20 steal
the Melville claim before Ezra
can arrive.
BEATRICE. beautiful daughter OF
Nelson, - loved by Ray Brent,
but she detssts ahin. When Ben
and Ezra arrive IN the north
woods. Darbys memory suddenly
II restored. on the way 90 Snowy
GuIch. Ben and Ezra meet a
frontiersman who tells Ezra chat
the Nelson gang 80 already at the
MelvdKe claim. Keeping this
knowledge from Ben, Ezra sug-
gests that Darby go 70 Snowy
Gulch 20 call for Fenris. pet Of
Hiram Melville. Ezra goes alone
toward his brothers claim. At
Snowy Gulch Ben calls for Ferris
and finds him. 10 be a wolf who
had just broken loose and Is about
20 spring upon girl standing IN
= his pathway. Ben seems 20 pos
sess some secret power over the
wolf and succeeded in quietins
him instantly. Beatrice Nelson,
the rescued girl, travels with Ben
20 Join her father. On his arrival
az the Yuga River, Ben can find
no trace OF Ezra so he calls upon
Fenris 70 aid him in tho search.
GO ON WITH THE STORY
Hes my buddy, old boy, and Il
want lou 10 find him for me-" Ben
went on. more patiently. He
sear,.h d his pockets. drawing out at
last "a copy Of the letter Ezram
had r en- him that morning. and.
beca use - old man had carried It
for mt days. Il could stu con-
vey -x-aSe TO tho keen nose Of
the wo. Re put 1t TO the animals
uostrils. then pointed away into the
darkness.
In one Ie ID Ben was on his feet
following him. The wolf turned
once. saw that his master was at his
heels. and sped on. They turned up
a slight draw, toward the hillside.
Fenris halted at the edge OF a dts
taut thicket. Tho cold sweat sprang
out on Ben's Horehead. and he broke
into a headlong run.
''EZraml" he called, a curious
throibblng quality IN his voice ARE
you there. Ez3 IT'S me-Ben."
Together. the man and the worr,
they crept on into the thicket. They
matted at last before a curious
shadow in the ss9vered covert. Ben
knew at once he had found his an
cient comrade.
he and Bzram had their last
laugh together. He lay very STILL
the moonlight ensilvering his droll.
kindly face-sleeping $50 deeply that
no human voice could ever waken
him. An ugly rifle wound yawned
dar6ly at his temple.
For a long time Ben sat beside the
dead body OF his old counselor and
friend as a child might sit among
flowers.
His mind began to work clear
again; he began TO understand.
Ezram had been shot, murdered
by the men who had jumped his
claim.
His mind naturally fell 70 Ezram's
parting advice TO him. I've only
got one decent place TO keep things
safe, and that amt so aD-fred de-
cent" the old man had told him. II
always put 'em down my bootleg, be-
tween the sock and the leather. If
ever get shUffled off. all OF a sudden
want you TO look there careful"
Still with the same deathly pallor
ne crept over the dead leaves to
Ezrams feet. His hands were per
fectly steady as he unlooped the