Evening journal., 1923-02-14
SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS
JOHN HANNON wealthy ranch own
er. his blind wife. BELLE. and their
beautiful daughter. VAL. live happily
: together IN Hannons wonderful home
Paradise. Redstar. king OF the Red
Blood OF horses, disappears from Par
= FATHER HILLAIRE. in charge Of
the Mission. introduces Val 10 his friend
VELANTRIE from the Border. BRUCE
CLENDENNING. suitor of Val and
= favored by her parents. declares he will
head the ride OF cattlemen 10 run 10
earth rustlers who may have stolen
Redstar.
Val decides she will accompany them
. but is persuaded not to by TOM BRIS-
TON, foreman Of Paradise and close
- Vel Veiantrie Visits Father Hnlaire and
= confesses his love for Val.
so-he looked into Val Hannon'e
eyes, and his own blue ones said Il
. love you" with every glance. while
his lips spoke trifies and laughing
jests.
At last he rose and took his leave
and the two in the garden watched
him go.
As he swung from the gate Walls
eyes begged mutely You will come
back?" and he hesitated-then
flashed Il will"
Father Hillaire stood IN the gate
and sadness eat upon him like a
garment. and the girl touched him
Twice before he turned.
What is 1t. father she asked
snxiously. But ne shook his head
> again.
Nothing that l can speak Of" he
said.
And all the way home to Para
disc she troubled over the vague
speech-what time she could take
from the glowing dreams that peo-
pie the high heavens and covered
the world with light.
CHAPTER XIV
The Stirring Talk
John Harmon came back TO Para
disc. In the gold and crimson light
wash OF a summers dusk they
heard the far. faint sound of horses /
hoofs, and Belle, whose hearing was
. marvelously acute. caught it first.
She rose from a chair in the shad- |
ed patio and held out a hand for
silence.
Hush" che said, and Val and
Briston, who were talking. became /
quiet. Perly's cigsret trailed of .
his under lip as he listened. for they .
all ACKNOWLEDGED Bellies superior
ears.
TT" she strained her every facul-
- for a tense eecond. then her face
seemed 20 break in thousand
= places to let her spirit Hash out
ITS Lightning stride," she cried,
ITS john"
And &. v-a- rot,, rob, tI,,,o,, I
the flesh. who rode straight 10 the
ratio and. swinging stifiy from his
slddle. caught her TO his breast. He
neither looked al nor spoke TO any
other for a time-he held this wo-
man whom he loved upon his heart
and said no word to any. Between
these two none was needed.
But Relies hands trembled on his
shoulders and her transhgured face
was white as milk. She clung
. against him with all her strength
and the breath huttered on her lips
with ecstasy. And presently the
boss swung her around in the bend
Of his arm and held out a hand to
the foreman.
Well" he said pleasantly. "how's
everything2" s
Fine, said Brieton, gripping the ,
outstretched hand, fine as silk s
Glad you're back. though. John"
With a long sweep OF his huge
arm John Harmon caught his daugh- 2
ter and brought her in against him y
on the other side. ?
Val, contained as himself. but
smiling with deep JOY. laid her soft =
fingers over his big hand and gripped
1t hard. The long dark eyes she
turned up to him were his own to
the last sweep OF lash the last
crinkle that attended them in laugh
ter.
IT'S been n long time. old man."
che said affectionately. and your
women have been true to yru
They've watched the trails at dawn
and dusk-they've fairly ached to
see your face. sometimes"
With one OF the rare. the very
rare. caresees that passed between
them John Harmon bent and kissed
his daughters cheek. Then he turn
ed TO the riders who came clumping
In along the stone flags. shaking
hands and demanding news OF the
ranch.
To Jose. who came quietly reach
ing for Lightning rein. he gave a
pointed look and sharp word Of
direction. II was needed, for the
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