The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-09-24
ONE OF THE
SMUGGL.ERS'
GANG
BY ROBIN WINsTANLEY
q By w. q. Chapman,

D0A AdCC VI luC DEOOhs
A 1.-THE, carelessly -dressed figure,
that of young man coming up the
bridge approach, shout of interest
and alarm and as he plunged boldly
INTO the swirling current, Minna came
mp choked, blinded and frantic.
Don't struggle" spoke gentle but
resolute tones in her ear, SO conf
dence-inspiring that Minna obeyed or
ders and came ashore dripping, flush
Ing at the ridiculous figure she made.
Her rescuer warded off her express
sions Of feryent gratitude with light
laugh over their mutual predicament,
and she grew coherent enough to in
dictate that a park-like place In the
near distance was her home.
Rolfe Ditson conducted her to its
open gateway, solicitously made sure
that she was able to get to the house
unaided, derided the idea that he
might catch cold from his wet gar
ments and went his way after an in
vitation to call and meet her people.
Rolfe Ditson swung on his way with
frightened eye, for he worshiped
beauty and goodness AS to Minna,
she could not get that strong intel
lectual face out of her mind readily.
His first call led to second. These
two were fast approaching state
Of mutual love-
Minna saw in him handsome, well
bred gentleman. Her father and
mother rather liked his direct, yet
unobstrusive ways. Not so Harold
Graves. This son and brother had a
chum he had tried to thrust upon the
attentions of Minna. His sister dis
liked him intensely. When Rolfe APP
peared upon the scene the rejected
sutton scented rival. Thenceforward
the two chums aimed to dislodge and
discredit Rolfe, off possible.
'Im on still hunt" Harold Graves
told his crony one day. "Dltson Is
mighty mysterious and secretive. He
lives at the next town hotel, he says,
but he does not appear there more
than once a week. He disappears
regularly. I'm shadowing him, I'll
have some news soon that viii GUST
the fellow, trust me-"
And, sure enough, one afternoon, in
q great state Of excitement young
Graves sought his sister in the garden.
She was seated in hammock, dream
Ing tenderly of the absent Rolfe. She
was trustful and proud Of his atten-
tons, and although he had been very
eserved as to his business in the
DOWN and it's vicinity, she felt that
he had some good reason for that
policy.
'tTve found out!" proclaimed Harold
In tone Of exultation.
'Found out what?~ inquired Minna.
"About Ditson. I never liked his
evasive ways. Neither did my chum.
Humph! fancy after this you'll
value tried and true friends like him,
instead of picking up with a snug
gler."
"A smuggler?' repeated Minna,
vaguely.
"That's just what Ditson is. A regu-
lar member of the Black Ribbon gang,
down at Bottle Point"
For moment Minna's face
whitened, then confidence and loyalty
came back into her eyes.
''Nonsensew she said simply.
SIS it?" retorted Harold, viciously.
''I'll show you. I'll have him arrested
the next time he sets his foot on
these grounds"
"You dare!" fiared up his sister.
do YOU think would believe such a
thing as you intimate against a true
gentleman who saved my life, and
who has the confidence and respect
OF our father and mother? You have
never liked Mr.. Ditson, and this is
some plot Of yours, because of your
preference for that chum of yours"
''It's true. just the same" persisted
Harold, angrily. II tracked him
down. / saw him meet a regular
rough crew of the fellows who are
making the revenue service people so
much trouble, smuggling goods over
here across the Canadian border. He
acted cheek by jowl with them. Went
on with them in their boat I've told
the revenue people about it. They're
going off after the gang tomorrow"
'You will have to prove more than
you tell before you make me believe
that Mr.. Ditson is anything but true,
honorable gentleman" said Minna,
stubbornly.
"All right. Wait day or two and
seer Wanted Harold.
Minna tried to be steadfast in her
| faith in young Ditson, but the intelli-
gence she had received made her .un-
easy. Perhaps there was some dark
plot against Ditson, she reflected.
Her brother and his chum, she felt
assured. were equal to that. She
wrote brief note to Rolfe, addressed
to his hotel in the next town, warn
Ing him that enemies were seeking to
get him into trouble.
Rolfe did not get the note for he
H. a.