Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-08-06
SYNOPSIS

when his father ran away from Ken
they took ok with WITH them Minda Carter,
RachePs baby daughter. In the fall
Kenneth's mother died Of a broken
heart. His grandparents brought him |
up to hate the name of Rachel Carter.
IAN evil woman"
CHAPTER I-Kenneth, now a young
lawyer, seeks lodging for the night at
the farm of Phineas Striker, near
Lafayette, Ind. 1t appears that Ken's
father has recently died and that he is
on his way to take possession of ex-
tensive lands he has inherited. The
Strikers bought their farm OF kens
father and mortgage runs to his ia
ther's widow-the Rachel Carter.
beautiful nineteen-year- girl, who
Gays she knew his father well and
refuses to give her name, is vislsing
In her.
CHAPTER II.--In the morning the
girl Is gone. Striker tells Ken she was
planning to elope with Barry Lapelle
and her mother came in the night and
took her home. AS Ken goes on his
way Striker tells him: That girl was
Viola Gwvn an she's your half-sister."
Judging by the manner and the direc
lion IN which he was galloping, the
rider would reach the main road a
quarter ola mile ahead of them, about
at the point where 1t entered the wood.
Kenneth now made out an unfenced
wagon road through the field, evidently
q short cut from Rachel Carter's farm
to the highway. He permitted himself
a faint, sardonic smile This, then
was to be her means of reaching the
highway rather than to use the lane
\ that ran past his house and, no doubt
= icrossed section Of his farm.
Sure enough, the horseman turned
into the road some distance ahead Of
them and rode straight for the forest
Then, for the first time, Gwynne OBJ
served a second rider motionleSs at the
roadside, and In the shadow of the
towering, leafiess trees that marked the
portal through which they must enter
the forest. The flying horseman slowed
down as he neared this solitary figure,
coming to standstill when he reached
his side. A moment later, both riders
were cantering toward the wood, ap'
parently In excited, earnest conyersa'
tion. A few rods farther on, both
turned to look over their shoulders at
the slow-moving travellers. Then they
stopped, wheeled about and stood still,
awaiting their approach.
Kenneth experienced poignant
thrill of apprehension What was he to
expect: friendly or a sanguinary en-
counter? He slipped his right hand into
the saddle pocket and drew forth pis,
tol which he showed hastily into his
waistcoat, covering the stock with the
folds Of his cape.
''Keep a little way behind me- he
said to his servant, trace of excite
ment in his voice.
"Yas, suh," said Zachariah, with
more aiacrity than valor, the whites OF
his eyes betraying something more than
a readiness to obey this conservative
order. 1t was a foregone conclusion
that Zachariah would turn tail and flee
the instant there was a sign Of danger.
When not more than fifty yards sep
arated the two parties, one of the men,
with a word and an imperative Jerk of
the head to his companion, advanced
slowly to meet Kenneth. This man was
the one who had waited for the other
at the edge of the wood.
Gwynne beheld TALL strongly-bnilt
young man, who rode his horse with
the matchless grace of an Indian. Al
though his companion was roughly
dressed and wore coonsliin cap. this
man was unmistakably a dandy His
high beaver hat observed a 1aunty.
rakish tilt; his brass-buttoned coat was
the color of wine and of the latest
fashion, while his snug-ftting panta-
looms were the shade of the mouse.
There were silver spurs on his stout
riding boots, and the wide cuffs of his
gauntlets were embroidered IN silver.
He was a handsome fellow of the
type described as dashing. Dark, gleam-
Ing eyes peered out beneath thick,
black eyebrows, which met In an un-
broken line above his nose. Set in a
face of unusual pallor, they were no
doubt rendered superlatNely brilliant
by contrast. His skin was singularly
white above the blush, freshly-shaven
cheeks and chin. His hair was black
and long and curling. The thin lips,
set and unsmiling, were nevertheless
drawn up slightly at one corner of the
mouth in what appeared to be per-
manent stamp of superiority and dis
dain, or even contempt. Altogether,
most striking face, thought Gwynne,
and the man himself person OF Inn
p0rtance.
Good morning." said this lordly gen.
tleman, bringing his horse to a. stand
still and raising his "gad'' to the brim
of his hat in graceful salute.
Gwynne drew rein alongside. He
had observed in swift glance that the
stranger was apparently unarmed, ex-
cept for the short. leather CAD.
@Good morning" he returned. II am
on the right road to Lafayette, l take
itY'
"You are" said the other. From
Charlottesville way?
''Yes. left that place yesterday. /
come from afar. however. This is a