The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-07-31

~ Ff f''h Nf
Wen dean. we're little bit
WARMER aid Terence as he and
Mary lett'thc cell and rsjoined Bud
who was waiting outside with the
horses. Hut We must gei the
secret OF the topaz must run
down this Buck
Lets 80 back 10 the ranch, ana
lay our plans there, and have
little rest, suggested Mary I'm
worn out"
II should think you would be,
dear girl, after this day"
They mounted ana started Tor the
Bar NJ
CHAPTER 20
The Wolf lnmAskcd
The first 10 arrive back al the
Bar NJ Ranch was Stella MontroB-
wcAued after the strenuous day,
she climbed the stairs Of the ranch
house. thre" herself on bed. and
was soon fast asleep
Mary, Terence and Bud arrived a
short time later They laid the two
sections OF the old map out on the
living room table. and studied lt.
so near, and yet 20 far" said
Mary 1T - useless without the
secret OF the topaz
Never mind. dear, We will be r.
wardsd with success In the end. r.
piled Terence. Il shall get that man
Buck and wresi from him the secret
OF tho topaz II It's the last thing
l do."
lie looked az the map thoughrfully
The first thing We ought 10 do IL
make copy OF this, In better shape.
Terence remarked II will be TOO
ineonvenient 90 be tumbllnE with
two pieces
Mary brought him pencil and
paper lie pieced tho two fragments
together laid the paper over them
and traced tho lines and figures Of
the map,
There he said. when he had
finished. scanning his copy 20 see
that u was correct In all tgs details
That viii be much handler 70 work
with"
lie folded tho copy up, and placed
il In his pocket, leaving the two old
fragments lying on the table
Now the next thing 20 DO IA 10
figure out how 20 trail this man
Buck, and get the secret Of the
topaz Then al viii 30 clear sail
Ing
lie ponderod. and said.
MARY sou rest here tonight-but
am going 10 take tho trail Of Buck
this very night
He emphasized his Intention by
pounding tho table with his n.t.
with such force that yasc which
they had placed on tho edge Of the
table 20 clear the center for tho
map, toppled of and with loud
crash broke 10 bits on the floor.
Stella Montrosc awoke from her
alumbcr with n start a. the sound
Of the crashing vase downstairs. and
rubbed her eyes Hearing voices in
the parlor, she Jumped up. surprised
hurriodly descended the stairs.
Entering the living room. and care
fuzzy eoucsAltnE her surprlns and ap.
prrhgnsion AZ finding Terence and
MARY alive. she came forward and
said Erseioualy.
"uh, I'm 40 glad to sec YOU back
safe and well was just having a
little nap upstairs vas unable to
get your message 20 the sheriff
was captured by rufhans when I
dropped from tho plane"
Terence was cycling her suspi.
ciously ~ she lmproviscd her story.
But I managed 20 escape" Stella
vent on "and finally succeeded in
finding my way back here. was
dog tired 40 vent right 10 --"
Terence Jumped up. and interrupt
81 her, shouting,
Mary, that woman IL dcceIvinE
YOU She's helping your enemies.
Mary looked shocked Stella. biting
her lips. fsisnsd Indignation. and
started 10 deny Terencos accusation.
while Bud Hughes jumped 10 her de-
tense and exclaimed.
Impossible - impossible, Terence.
Why ! know Stella well, We were
pals together for several years in the
flying circus
Mary now also ros. 10 stena's de.
tense
Terence ORourks." she said.
why must YOU always mistrust
those who would hoIp ~ most--liks
Miss Montrose here. And Mr. Tag.
CART too my fathers old friend 49,
| remember you have tried TO cast
aspersions on him several times.
too"
Yes. and ! sull maintain that
TagEart Ia crooked" cried Terence.
now angry and excited Il always
suspected. and now I KNOW that
Taggart Ia a crook-and your worst
enemy"
At that moment the door opened
and sncerIng voice broke In,
"Oh, YOU do. do your
All turned 10 the door. and there
stood TagEart himself, He had COM
pleted his business al Pico, srrang.
Ing with Banker Dawson TO take
steps for judgment against the ranch
on the notes due from Marshall. and
had Just arrived at tho Bar NJ TO
keep the rendezvous he had made
with stella
TaEsart moved into the room, close
to stella, and with curItd lips
snarled.
Terence ORourke. again. eh?"
Terence dropped the Idaho BIZ dis.
gnise he had stlll been wearing, and
glnring back at Taggart, cried,
That's me"
Taggart waved his hand deprecat-
inslv at Terence, and said with
hard. accusing expression on his
face,
Speaking OF enemies are you
all blind? How much longer are you
going to be deceived by this cur,
Terence O'Rourke?"
An old trick Of yours, Taggart."
lie turned TO Mary and Bud. and
cried
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