Evening star., 1927-10-09
Continued from Yesterdays StarD
CHAPTER NIX.
An Old Friend.


frame clad in a sport suit, his
tawny hair anonymously long and
unkempt and a blunt -nosed revolver
in his hand The Four of Clubs how
ever. was returning his gaZe with a
comical blend of bewilderment and
Indignation.
az don't know anything bout any
black Joker nor a sal either, but you
aint scarin' me with that toy pistol.
If YOU amt crazy you'll put 1t up ana
get off my land or III whistle for the
dogs, I'm sick and tired of YOU city
folks that's took Mr.. Danes place
spoilin' my crops
Let his house has he?" Norman
sneered II don't happen to be one
of them. nor the girl either. What
was that""
Janet had succeeded in working her
heel out of one of the shoes, which
were fortunately too big for her, and
had kicked it as far as she could, but
when Norman whirled around only
the weatherbeaten scarecrow stirring
Imply in the morning breeze met his
eye and" the rays of the sun, just
risen over the brow of the hill, dazzled
his vision.
Maybe hoptoad" the farmer sug-
gested jeerinsly. II amt got no more
time to talk to you. I'm a peaceable
man. but if YOU don't so way and
walk carefully between the hills
where my corn's just Sprngin up In
bound to have the law on you.'
iii chance that" Norman retorted,
glancing toward the ditch as though
wondering what had become of his
ally. I'm connected with the district
attorneys Office over at the county
seat. and we want that girl. If you
self you'n tell us which way she
went"
Janet had succeeded in kicking off
the other shoe, but it fell noiselessly
on the damp, newly-turned earth.
Had the -Four of Clubs heard it? AS
though in answer to her mute ques-
ton he raised his voice all at once.
Quit pesterin' mer' he exclaimed
in exasperation. You're the second
trespassers on this field today"
''Oh, we are, are we?" Norman
Interrupted. Here, Bill, Wen look
into this.''
Bill had climbed out of the ditch at
last, muddy and breathing hard, and
now he came forward and Joined the
argument.
"Who was the first?" he demanded
truculently.
Some darned boy."' The farmers
tone was still disgusted. "He was
crossin' the field when I first come
out to work this mornin' and I chased
him! I'd "a shook him like rat, and
! almost caught him, for the pesky
little devil couldn't run good in his
shoes. but he kicked 'ern off and went
like sin, over into the highroad."
Norman and Bill looked at each
other, and then the former thrust his
A,Ax IL L. 1r>A
You fool" he cried with an oath of
rage, that boy was the girl we're
after! Come on, Bill!''
They rushed about on the field until
they discovered Janet's shoes, and
after examining them, cursed again
with baffled wrath and. casting them
away, made off for the highroad.
When they had disappeared over the
top of the hill the farmer hurried to
the scarecrow.
Tear them things off. quick, and
drop down into the ditch" he COM
manded. "Wait there till I get your
shoes, but don't stop to put 'em on!
Run east quick's you can to the end
of it in the woods over yonder and
hide till I come. I'll be. whistlin'
Hail, Columbia" SOS youTl know
it's mee'
AS IIc ldihSu he 0dQ DSen ISc1TlNS
the scarecrow's garments from her,
and now, without a word, she flew to
the ditch and fell rather than climbed
down into it. It was very muddy
with pools left by the rain settled here
and there along its narrow length, but
Janet crouched down and waited.
In a moment her shoes dropped al.
most on her head and a low voice
admonished:
Run! They may get back any
minute!"
Janet seized her shoes and obeyed,
the mud squashing beneath her stock
fnged feet at every step, but she
reached the end of the ditch and
found board up-tilted against it's
freshly dug bank. Climbing out, she
hid herself in clump Of elderberry
bushes.
They were still soaking from the
rain, for the SUMS first rays had not
yet penetrated the depths of the
woods, but. needless of the wet, she
sat down and forced her muddy feet
into the shoes, tying them more
tightly than she had done before steal.
ing from her fathers house.
Why did that farmer use the four
of clubs as sort of mark of identi-
fication and who was the BLACK
Joker? Was her father in league
with him? Were each of these friends
known as one of human pack of
cards? Janet felt like Alice in
Wonderland, but she had not yet en-
countered living face card. What
sort of a secret organization could
it be?
She sat shivering slightly in the
dampness when at length footsteps
thudded and splashed along the ditch
and some one climbed out. Janet held
her breath until the softly whistled
strains of columbia" came to her
ears and she called softly in reply:
Here I am! Did they come back 2"
The farmer was beside her in an in
stant, twirling awkwardly the hat
with the card in it's crown.
Yes. That is, they went along the
road towards the village, but I'd al
ready dressed up the scarecrow again
and was busy weedin' and they didn't
bother me. L shouldn't wonder,
though, therell be, lot more of
'em along the roads, and you amt
got any too much time"
"Oh, where am to go?" Janet ex.
claimed. Isn't -? l thought
] was to meet some one / know"
Reckon you are, maybe, but not
tHe one you tnlnh. ne I4fmer
smiled. "Ten of Clubs wrote that
message, and he told me he'd manage
to throw it into your window, but it
was just a chance you could make
it out"
He brought it himself" Her mind
was still cropping. but why? He
could have come openly, I was with
friends
There's lot Of different groups of
folks mixed up in this, and / reckon
the Black Joker don't always want
each of them to know what the rest
are doing" the Four of Clubs ex-
planned in a labored fashion. II cal
culate he Just wants that bunch to