East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-07-22
Val Cleveland.
Copyright by Pathe Exchange, Inc.

and we win receive one half q the
wealth at any rate" AS they wer'
talking, Sheldon approached thtm. lie
TOO, had interviewed the girl and
| failed. But the crafty LOOMS Their
Lnfolded plan which his partners
heartily approved of.
Loomis and Julia Wells departed for
the hank -eaI3y to deposit the Wanl-
bum Belt. The bank was owned by Dan
Murdoch, who was also the proprietor
of a gambling house, although few
people i'll San Mario knew it. Alter
the Sacred Wampurn Belt had been
placed in a strong box in the vault.
Loomis drew Murdock aside.
''I want to make you proposition
which should be worth your while.
he told him. Il want to keep Ruth
Randolph here for twenty days. No
| harm is to come to her Just see that
she does not escape. 1t means big
money in your pocket" Although
Murdoch didn't approve of that kind
of business, the color of Looms
money was too much for him. lie
agreed.
In the meantime, Phil had arrived
in town, and seeing Julia and Loomis
leave the bank it did not take him long
| to understand the situation. A small
| cavalcade of cowpunchers came riding
/ down the main thoroughfare to make
their monthly purchases as the general
J store. Phil saw that they were from
his ranch, and he quickly drew them
to a side street and unfolded plan.
The cowboys laughted with glee.
af1fn
| the bank, nodded to Murdoch, and
| stepped over to the desk, pretending
| to write out check. Suddenly the
| sound OF a great commotlon Ill the
streets was heard Revolver shota
mingled with shouting and the stam-
| pede OF horses came to Their ears. 1hel
| bank manager rushed$to the door TO
see what the excitement was, and Phil
who had noticed joyfully that the door
of the vault was partly open, slipped
unnoticed into the open vault. Soon
the excitement in the street subsided,
and Murdock stepped back into the
! bank and closed the door of the vault.
! Phil, on the inside, felt anxious as he
saw the door closed, but he was more
excited over the hope of finding the
Wampurn Belt than he was over his
|
| fell upon the strong box. He seized it
feverishly and opened it. There was
the coveted belt He thrust it inside
his shirt and then began to wonder
how to get out of the vault Already
the close atmosphere was getting to
hln. He pounded upon the door and
Secuted, but there was no answer.
Meanwhile, Murdoch had sent for
! 1pl, ah Tf1fa faxK,tt 1rS
the girl in a private room, connected
with the bank. After locking the door,
he turned to the girl and said bluntly:
"a certain party has paid me big
money to keep you here for twenty
days. suppose you know what it's
| all about?" ,aT
WHAT do you meant" asked the
girl. alarmed and angered.
Just what | say" came the calm
answer "But one thing IN tell you
that might ease your state of mind.
The Wampum Belt is in my vault, ard
nobody can get it except me because
nobody else knows the combination.
Pm just telling you this because |
think you're good kid, seer"
But can't stay here" pleaded the
girl. "You must let me goF'
"Well, / sure hate to see you in this
mess but I've got to keep you here.
I've accepted their dough. and bar
gains. a bargain"
Ruth's eyes fell on pack of cards
lying on. table. An idea came to
her You're gambler" she said.
"Will you cut the cards to decide
whether Pm detained--or leave with
the belt"
Murdock grinned. She4had discov-
cred his weak point. He pulled Leomis'
check out of his pocket and looked at
it.
"Im game" he said. "Werl cut
two out of three. If you win, you can
go and I'll open the vault and give you
the belt, and the party gets his check
back If you lose. the vault stays
locked and you stay here"
"All right" smiled the girl bravely.
Ruth shuffled the Pack and cut first.
She turned the bottom one up. It was
seven. Murdoch took the pack and
cut. His card was five. Ruth took
the deck from him. Cutting the cards,
she drew a jack. Murdock grinned
as he cut-a king showed itself. Smil-
ing, he handed the deck to the girl He
could not help but admire her gan.e-
ness. Ruth realized that the next cut
would be her last chance. Stalking all
i she drew a card and kept it face down.
ward, drawing it near her across the
: table, and not daring to look at its
! lace.
5 Ito be eontinued)