Evening star., 1925-08-30

"Do?" He stared at her in surprise
at the query. why, bring them
back.
Are you going to fight?''
Il m going to do nothing else.
I'm going with you," said Lefty.
You're not"
"Oh, yes, L am" She was hurrying
into her coat. Now, don't you worry"
she bade Mrs. Braden.
You're not going"
IF you don't take me-
Come on He led the way down
the street to the garage. Give me
the fastest you have" he told the boy
in charge. None OF them are de
MONS said the boy, but they'n
move"
WITH Lefty huddled down beside
him he plunged out into the
cold Western night. Neither of them
spoke as he raised speed. The wind
whistled around them, blowing icy
breaths upon them. You shouldn't
have come" he cried to Lefty. She
made no answer, except to move a
little closer to him. Mile after mile
whirled back of them, but the way
seemed hmitless. Nine O'Clock found
them at Tracys. Ten o'clock saw
them still climbing upward in the icy
night. At II they were on the down
ward slope.
Numbed. Jimmie held the wheel
with freezing hands.
Let me drive awhile" Lefty
begged, but he shook his head.
I'm get us there" he muttered.
1t was 10 minutes TO II by the
clock in the car when they reached
the summit of the hill overlooking
Thunder Butte Junction. Down the
track they glimpsed the headlight Of
a locomotive.
oh" Lefty gasped. and the car
roared into squirt Of speed.
The train was coming straight
course where the road ran devious.
circling the little village near the
junction. Once something snapped,
and Jimmie cursed under his breath,
but they kept on moving. They were
still ahead of the train as they drew
up to the station platform.
Upon 1t they could see little group,
Rogers and his leading counsel, his
wife, and the two children
Jimmie flung out of the car and
across the platform.
1--WE come for the kids" he said.
Hand them over"
Ben and Jessie ran to him with
cries Of delight. Mrs. Rogers began
to cry. Rogers, a tall. dour man,
turned on him with snarl Il don't
care what your law says" he shouted.
There's a higher law that gives a
woman right to her own sisters
children"
There's a law that gives a man
the right to say where his children
are going to be-" Jimmie said, and
I'm going to see that it's carried out. !"
We're not looking for any trou-
BILE, Braden," the lawyer said. Mrs.
Rogers wants the children. Rogers
here
wants the money"
"Oh. not entirely. See here. Bra
den'-the light from the engine swung
full in their faces, and Lefty saw how
defiantly straight Jimmie stood against
the three-"you haven't any particu-
lar interest in this row. You're moth
ing to these children. after all. Why
can't we compromise"
what do you mean?
"Weu, why couldn't we arrange to
divide the guardianship fees?"
What fees?"
''why. the fees for taking care of
| the property.
Tin charging nothing" His voice
was grim.
See here" Rogers broke in. Lets
/ get to brass tacks. You give over
your claim to these children. Wen
give you twenty thousand dollars
cash."
That's business said Rogers
lawyer.
Lefty, watching from the shadow of
the platform. clenched her fists.
| Would he take 1t? Twenty thousand
| dollars! He'd be relieved of responsi.
| bility which would be irksome to him,
| for what able-bodied, wfld-souled youth
| like Jimmie Braden wanted the care
of two children? He'd never touch
| their money, that was certain. But
would he take this other money for
giving them to some one who might
take their money? Twenty thousand
What didn't it mean in travel, in rev
elry, in wildness for wild Jimmie
| Braden?
She held her breath for his answer.
1t came with the force of blow.
| ''No." he told Rogers.
THE train slowed down with grind
ing of brakes. "An aboard" rose
the conductors cali.
Get on" Jimmie Braden bade the
three.
With Ben and Jessie clinging to
/; him, he backed to the car.
'I1l drive" Lefty said, and stepped
on the gas. The station platform was
empty. The car shot out on high. but
at the top of the hill Lefty stopped.
Only the light of the lantern showed
on the platform below.
Safe" she said. Now that we
/ have them, we can't lose, can we?"
/ NO" he said. 1--WE can't lose
! I'VE thought you'd lost u.s." Jessie
sobbed, land Ben and / prayed for you
| to come. We didn't want to go to
Iowa. This Is our country. My father
said so, didn't hep
You can't lose us, can you. jim
mie?" Ben demanded
Don't want to. Here, If you're SO.