White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-01-29
CONTINUED from Last Week.
CHAPTER 10
Auonlzjnu News

Agonizing News
Stella Montrose sat across the
table in Taggart's office and listened
intently.
IF Buck and the boys have put
O'Rourke out of the way, as l in.
structed them" Taggart was saying
tapping the table with nervous fing.
ers, I'VE are safe, for he won't be
able to testify that Mary didn't cash
that check herself"
AS Stella was about to reply, there
was knock on the door, and Tag.
CART motioned her to be silent.
Come in"
The door opened, admitting Mary
accompanied by Bud Huges. Bud
stared in open-mouthed establishment
at Stella. Her face, too, lighted UP
with recognition at the sight of him
"Why it's Stella" he exclaimed
Stella Montrose," and he ran for.
ward and greeted her warmly.
bud Hughes she cried, taking his
hand. "Pd never have known you
in that beard and those cow-puncher
clothes"
Beaming, Bud turned to the puzzled
Mary and Taggart. an dexplained:
"Miss Montrose and l used to do
airplane stunts together in Benson's
old flying circus"
He turned back to Stella, and took
seat beside her. They became i'm
mediately engrossed in "reminiscences
of the past. Stroking his beard, and
laughing, he said:
1--we threatened to yank these chin
slivers off for long time. I'll do it
now" Then he added in more
serious tone, with note Of tender
ness, I'D never have grown them II
/ hadn't lost you, Stella. I've often
though of you, and hoped against hope
that chance would bring us together
again."
They chartered on.
Mary, looking pale and worried,
talked to Taggart.
THAT 100000 check that Terence
was bringing back when he disap-
peared, has been endorsed and
cashed by an impostor," she said i'm
pulsively.
"Why an impostor" Taggart re-
piled. you may be sure O'Rourke had
a hand in it. had expected as much" "
ooh, l can't believe that-not Ter
ence," Mary protested. He must
have been held up-and the persons
who got it from him forged the sig
nature and cashed It,"
Have it your own way, then,
Mary" Taggart snapped, "The fact
nevertheless remains that the check
has been cashed, the bank claims that
you got the money, and O'Rourke has
never returned"
Stella, talking to Bud, was listening
to the conversation of Mary and Tag
CART, with half an ear, yelling her in.
terest in it.
Taggart went on:
Il am afraid you will have to take
this loss the best you can. Banker
Dawson 'phoned me Immediately
after he had seen you about it. He
said there is nothing that can be done
about it. II you try to force them to
restore the $4,000 during their pres
ent stringency, he warns that they
will seize the Bar M Ranch to satisfy
the notes against it. And you know
he has thus far been very lenient
about the delinquent payments your
father owes him. We can't afford to
antagonize him on this smaller mat.
ter.
Mary showed signs of breaking
down under the burden of her trou.
bles. Taggart approached her, patted
her, and said:
There, there, Mary, We'll get you
out Of all these troubles. Just depend
on NELL see you through. I'm
working night and day now planning
out means to save your father, the
ranch, and bring about your happi
ness" He lowered his voice, as he
bent over her, his arm about her
shoulders, and said: "And you know
why, Mary-because Of what I have
been telling you day after day now
=" his voice dropped to whisper as
he bent close to her ear-"because |
love YOU"
He pressed her hand, then rose and
spoke out loud again:
Right now I'm working up the
appeal in your fathers case. l shall
demand a new trial, and / think we
n