Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-22
3EQQ-liule. Brown & Company

| 1T looks like we had enough TO
! stay a month, doesn't it," ne
laughed. There's blankets there, of
| course-to make US comfortable
and the lunch, and a pillow or two
The girls ayes fell with some ap-
prehension on the shaggy wolf. Il
haven't established very friendly re-
lations with Fenris--"
I'D leave him at home. u ne
won't stand for it. Lie down, ola
( boy" Ben motioned, and Fenris
sprawled at his feet. Now come
here and pet him, Miss Nelson
"He understands" Ben explained.
HE realizes that I've accepted you,
and you're all right. You've not for
gotten anything" he asked casually.
Nothing 1 can think Of"
"Got plenty of extra sheils2"
Part of a box. It's a small cali
Der automatic, you see and a box
holds fifty"
"Ben's ton indicated deep inter
est. May I see 'em a minute?
think I had a gun like it once. Not
the gun--just the box Of shells"
Presently he started to push OF.
You're mo- taking the other pad
dle?" the girl asked curiously.
mo. I don't believe in letting
Young ladies work when ! take EN-
on an outing. You are just to sit in
the bow and enjoy yourself.
Just one moment more he hesitat-
ed. From his pocket he drew a piece
of paper. This he inserted into a
little crack in the blade Of the sec
ond paddle.
"Just a little note fer your father"
he explained, "'to tell him where we
are, In case he worries about YOU"
That's very c~onsiderate of you,"'
the girl answered in a thoughtful
voice.
After the manner Of backwoods
fathers, Jeffrey Nelson had offered
no objections to his daughters all
day excursion with Ben.
When he heard his daughters
voice on the canoe landing. hun
dred yards below, he was tnordinate-
Iy startled. She had not told him
that their picnic would take them On
to the water.
He turned toward the door, in
~stinctively alarmed; then h~esitated.
After all, he could not tell her TO
come back. Beatrice would be NOR
tilted; and besides, there was moth
ing definite to fear.
Yet what, in reality. did he know
OF Ben Darby? All at once q battling
apprehension crept like a chill
through his frame.
He could not laugh 1t away. It laid
hold OF his, refusing to be dispelled
Once more the man started for the
door.
When he reached the landing the
canoe was already neal the opposite
shore, heading swiftly downstream.
Come backi" Nelson called again.
81 order you-"
Then his eye fell to the landing On
which ha discerned the white paper.
He bent for it with eager hands.
His eyes leaped ver the bold writ
ing on the exterior.
ITO Ezra Melville's murderers,"
Ben had written. And with that
reading Jeffrey Nelson knew a ter
ror beyond any experienced In. his
life.
His hand ripped apart the sealed
fold, and he held the sheet before
his eyes.
To Nelson and His Gang:
When you get this, Beatrice will
be ON her way Back There
either there or on her way to hell.
Ezra Melville was my pard. A let
ter leaving his claim to me is In my
pocket, and I alone know where Hi
rams will is, leaving 1t to Ezrenn.
Your title will never stand as long
as those papers aren't destroyed. If
you don't care enough about saving
your daughter from me, at least
you'll want those letters.
Come and get them. I'll be wait
ing for you. Ben Darby.
AS the truth flashed home. Neil
sons first thought was of his rife.
One well-aimed bullet over the water
shooting with all his old-time skill,
might yet hurl the avenger to his
death In the moment OF his triumph.
And he cursed himself when his
empty hands showed him that he
had left his rife in his cabin.
His pistol, however. was at his
belt, and his hand reached for II. His
steady finger pressed back against
the trigger.
The first shot fell far short. He
lifted the gun higher and shot again.
Again he shot low. But the third
bullet just fell a few feet on the near
side of the canoe.
Once more he fred, but the boat
was farther distant now, and the
bullet went wild. The pistol wa8