Evening star., 1925-07-06

old Tom in trouble" replied the
squaw.
Are his eyes bad again, or is he
more nearly starved than you are
Susy shook her gray head. He in
trouble about raisin-jac
Ruth touched the old woman's
shoulder with n tender hand. Tell
me about II" she urged.
Susy held her palsied hands 10 the
fire. Gertrude Topping and her
mother make raisin-jack in cellar Of
tavern all Winter. You know"
Ruth shook her head. But she did
not show surprise. In the log tavern
which was set like a gray lichen
against the enhancing beauty OF the
violet canyon wall, Mrs. Topping and
her daughter debauched the bodies
and souls of the men OF the valley.
Susy went on: Jim Acton. Ger
trude Topping want him carry raisin-
Jack out to railroad on mail stage.
Jim Acton. he won't. He make Old
Tom dc IT.
Are you sure, Susy? Jim Acton
was brave soldier in France He
owns a big ranch here. Why should
he make Old Tom do that"
The squaw answered with simple
Gertrude Topping get white man in
| tavern. she make him DO anything
Mail stage always have stay all night
at tavern"
Ruth slowly flushed. But Jim
Acton. Susy? He's not like the rest
OF them"
Susy smiled like an old sibyt. Jim
Acton is man. 1t heap lonely in this
valley. He like all men, 1njun or
white"
Ruth looked from susy out the
I frrTV,I a
peak fiared in liquid red against the
deep blue sky. Her splendid body was
not tired. but her soul was weary to
| It's very depths. Disillusionment
grows no easier with the years.
| Ruth clenched and unclenched her
| strong fingers, then turned back to
Susy. And how did he handle Old
| Tom, Susy? 1 thought the Indians
were afraid to run raisin.jack.
Jim Acton tell Old Tom he have
| 10. You know Jim Acton; everybody
| do what he say. Old Tom. he starving
like me. After he tell Jim Acton he
run raisin- jack, Jim Acton give him
| bellyful Of beef. Keep him fun Of
! beef all time he run raisin- Jack"
why didn't Old Tom share with
you:"
"Oh. he not come to ca bin many
| weeks" explained Susy. Me. I live
on FISH till ice gets so thick, so cold.
SO far no can do. Yesterday word
come Old Tom in trouble Me, come
/ to YOU. Quaker friend of Deerfoot"
| What is the trouble, Susy?"-very
patiently
susy, her eyes hold the depths Of
! those black waters whose FISH had
failed her. warmed her hands in
| silence before she went on
'Susy work for you last Summer.
She see your eyes when Jim Acton
go by. You make Jim Acton save
Old Tom
The brilliant color in Ruth,s
Madonna face turned 10 white. She
stared at the old sibyl in conster-
nation.
Susy nodded. Jim Acton and YOU
all about love. Gertrude Topping
she get him. Quaker woman afra id
to love"
"Susy slowly--"I'm not
afraid OF. anything in the world"
! Afraid TO love" insisted the India n
woman. Afraid to go get man. All
I there is for women, love. Only get
that when young. You better hurry. ''
/ There was silence in the cabin. The
| sun suddenly blinded Ruth eyes with
glory that blotted out the old
/ woman.
! Destiny, which youth refuses to
acknowledge. destiny which Ruth's
| iron will and Quaker training never
! had considered, destiny. crossed with
J heredity. is as ruthless TO our pur-
poses as the German march across
! Belgium. In the face of its on
! slaught, our little house of hopes
| hutlded on character and habit, goes
/ down in dust.
l.
| broke the silence. \ moment later
! there was a bark at the door. Ruth
| locked the door and then opened the
window. A brown and white beagle
! hound growled at her and waRRAd
| his tail, but before Ruth could sDAak
| TO him man on a blue roam gal
| loped down the narrow trail from the
| pines, He drew up before the win
dow. his horse steamins in the in
| tense cold. He was about thirty.
with q clean-cut, aquiline face and
clear. gray eyes.
Hello. Ruth. Is Old Toms susy
in here?"
herr"
I'm not sure Maybe her whole
doggone scalp. Let me talk to her. .
! IF | let you in, will you promise
not to do any thing to her without
my CONSENT"
Jim dismounted He was tall and
slender, soldierly looking man even
in his sheep-lined mackinaw. "rIl
promise nothing. Let me in, Ruth /:
! this is serious"
Ruth. serene face lovely in the
morning light. did not move toward
| the door. Il was afraid 1t mf-ht be.
! You must promise me-"
Jim dropped the reins over the
! blue roan's head and with move
ment of startling rapiditv vaulted
| through the window into the room.
Just TO save a Quaker argument.
Tom?"
The Indian woman did not lift her
starved old face. Ruth closed the
! window and came over to stand by
the squaw. lust what has happened
Jim know you and the Toppinxs
are IN trouble about raisin jack"
Jim gave her a keen glance will
you keep your knowledge 10 your
Il can't promise blindly. jim. But
you know that Susy can tell me wha
you won't. And 1 might help you.
Jim nodded. "Old Tom got held up
by revenue man. gave up lot of
whisky and beat 1t. I want 10 get
TO him before the revenue man does.
Hes crook, Carter Smith, and mea n
to handle"
! old Tom was working for you,
wasn't he, Jim?' Ruth looked at the
tall rancher with eyes as pellucid as
the sky that now cleaned sapphire
through the window
Continued in Tomorrow Sterl
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