Evening journal., 1922-12-22
SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS
Freed from prison because he SUI
fcred with Amnesia,
BEN DARBY leaves for the Yuga Riv'
er with
EZRA MELVILLE, an old friend %
Z. whom he is paroled. The two SO
Ito take possession OF rich claim
- left by the dead prospector.
HIRAM MELVILLE. who had written
on his death bed for his brother Ezra
.rEFFERY NELSON and his two fol-
lowers. Ray Brent and
CHAN HEMINWAY. plan TO steal the
Melville claim before Ezra can ar
BEATRICE. beautiful daughter Of
Nelson, is loved by Ray Brent but
she detests him. When Ben and
Ezra arrive IN the north woods. Oar
by's memory suddenly Is restored.
on the way to Snowy Gulch, Ben and
= Ezra meet a fronuersman who tells
siiE Ezra that the Nelson gang Is al
ready at the Melville claim. Keep
ing this knowledge from Ben, Ezra
Gulch 10 call for Fenris. pet Of Hiram
Melville. Ezra goes alone toward
his brothers claim. At Snowy Gulch.
Ben calls for Fenris and finds him 70
and Is about 70 spring upon girl
standing IN his patchwav. Ben
seems to possess some secret power
over the wolf and succeeded in quiet
the rescued girl. travels with Ben 20
join her father. On HIS arrival at
the YuEs River. Ben can find no trace
Of Ezra, 80 no calls upon Fenris to
aid him IN the search.
'.Hg's my buddy. old boy, and
want you TO hnd him for me-" Ben
went on. more patiently. He
searched his pockets, drawing out at
last the copy OF the letter Ezram
had given him that morning, and,
because the old man had carried FL
for many days, Il could still con-
vey a message 10 the keen nose OF
the wolf. He put # to the animals
nostriis, then pointsd away into the
darkness.
FeDris followed the motion with
his eyes; and present his long
body stiffened. Ben watched him,
fascinated. Than the wolf eniffed at
the paper again and trotted away
into the night.
In one leap 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.
Ferris halted at the edge of a
distant thicket. The ooid sweat
sprang out on Ben's forehead, and
he broke into q hsadlong run.
"Ezraml" he called, a curious
throbbins quality In his voice. Are
you there, Bz7 IT'S ms-Ben."
Together, the man and the wolf,
they crept on into the thioiet. They
halted at last before a curious
shadow in the silvered covert. Ben
knew at once he had found his an
cient oomrade.
He and Ezram had their last
laugh together. He lay very still,
he moonlight ensilvering his droll
kindly face-sieepins so deeply that
no human voice could ever yawned .
dsrkiy at hts iempls.
For a long time Ben sat beside the /
Head body OF his old counselor and /
friend as a child might sit among 1
flowers.
2 His mind began to work clear
agains he began to understand.
Ezram had been shot, murdered
oy the men who had jumped his
claim
y His mind naturally fell to Bzram's
1arting advice 20 him. I've only 4
got one decent place to keep things
safs, and that amt so all-fired de-
sent," the old man had told him. Il
always put 'em down my bootleg,
Between the sock and the leather. II
| ever get shufied OF. all Of a sud
aen. want you to look there care
bu1.-
5 stu with the same deathly pallor
be crept over the dead leaves TO Ez-
ram's feet. His hands were perfect
" steady as he unlooped the iaces
pne after another, and quietly pulled
eh the right boot. In the boot leg,
Just as Ezram had promised, Ben
found a scrap Of white paper.
! He spread II on HE knee, and IN.
fclded It with care. He felt in his
pocket for = match.
The match cracked, inordins+eIv
loud in the silence, ana his svss
followed the script. Ezram had bsen
faithful TO the last:
To Whom It May Concern:
In case OF my death leave all
de possessed OF including NV
brother Hiram's claim near Yprs
River to my pard and buddy, Ben
Darby.
= Ezra Melville.
The document was as formal as
zzram could make Il, with a care
ully drawn seal, and for all its
paint wording, it was a will to-
tand IN any court. But Ezram had
Tot been able. to hold his dignity for
ong he had added a postscript:
Son. old Hiram made a VIII. and !
Tuess I can make one too. I just
'ound out about them devils that
Jumped our claim. left you back
here at the river because I didn't
want you taking any dam fool risks
~ found out how things lay.
Il just got one thing to ask. II
hem devils get me-get them. My
ife aint worth much but want you
to make them pay for the little 1t is
worth. Never stop till you've done
Il
Fenris, Fenrisl" he breathed
We've got omake them pay. And
We must not stop till we're done"
II was more than a command. II
aad the quality OF a vow. And now.
Is they knelt, eyes looking into ewes
( was Ike pagan rite in the an.