Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-03-27

someway dlner'nt. F'om the countrr
haln't y'uT'
"Yes, ma'am."
Il lowed y'u wls-y'u look n dlf
fer'nt stripe fom the likes o them that
hunts Doll Baker"
She paused and seemed TO be weigh
Ing some thought before letting 1t fall.
"And this Doll Baker lIves--f" he
questioned. hardly able TO hold the spur
from Graylock.
"Brckbat alley-that's next alley
down-fourth door on y'ur right.
BE keerful. lad" she called, hopping
like some crippled old bird out to the
fence and halting him, for he was al
ready riding away. "be keerful. dis
like T. see any harm fall on y'u--
them's bad people"
II seemed 10 him that Graylock rad
never stepped so slowly. IlitchIng him
| In front OF small grocery on the
racks In sight for Brownie-but
Brownie was not to be seen. Button
Ing his hunting blouse about him so as
to hide the slx-gun. be walked Into the
alley.
The fourth door down on the right
ly-shuttered wooden structure standing
almost flush with the narrow side
street known as Brickbat alley. There
was another building on the same lot.
a BUSINESS edlfce OF brick, fronting on
the street proper and apparently occu-
pied by a saloon, and the two were
connected by sort OF covered porch.
All these facts the woodsman noted In
the second or two Of his approach.
He knocked at the weather-stalned,
implanted door. Such long time went
by that he was just on the point Of
knocking again, when there was n shut
fling inside and approaching steps. A
key ratified In the lock. the bolt clicked
back. the knob turned. woman APP
peared at the very narrow slit the door
was allowed 10 open and looked out nj
him. She was large woman. In good
flesh. and not bad-looking.
us this where Doll Baker llvesr
yes; won't ye come mr.
He entered. She closed the door.
turned the key In the lock--a fact that
he took due note of--and led the way
into another room slightly better light
ed. He noticed that both rooms were
rather showlly and extensively fur
nished.
lie took the chair pointed out TO him.
The woman. seating herself by a small
table few feet away. eyed him COW
ertly.
"And you are--7" he questioned. as
II continuing the inquiry begun at the
door.
Miss Baker--Doll Baker"
swell. Miss Baker" he had to watch
his voice to keep II orderly and even.
1--WE got frlend-that Ia, lady
friend--that come q the city t'day
from the country. ] come In tday M
self. and I'd kinda like T. hunt 'er up
and ride home with 'er. l was tol she's
here"
Regarding the obvious blind OF the
sick brother, he said nothing, knowing
II was but trick OF the very resource
ful Hopkins. The terrible letter that
had Frustrated the old banker seven
days before was In Ken Collins own
hand and absolutely genuine. There
was no sick brother.
The woman sat for near minute,
studying him out OF the battling sllts
OF her eyes-clothlng; hands; face;
feet--in way she did not think he
saw.
what kind of looking girl was
your friendr' she questioned. at last.
Medium size. fair. brown hair.
brown eyes-wlth smiles In 'em--an6
remarkably small and purity hands and
feet"
well, she isn't here"
The gray-green eyes OF the woman
watched him covertly through their
narrowed lids. lie caught the look.
felt the caution.
"where Is sher"
"Don't ask me-"
"fm awful sorry" he replied. In
tones he tried hard TO make meek and
doleful, "She amt nothln' hut jist q
raw country girl, and l Amt nothln'
MINI