Evening star., 1928-04-01

ct was a ponderous green roadste
with a hood spelling power. Hug
Sins the adobe road, it kept one
i constant speed through Wyoming
foothills in the heat of a July
afternoon.
II did not carry Wyoming license
plates The State Of Its registration
had been Vermont
TWO men rode in the deep leather
seats. On running-boards was much
camp equipment And vet they were
more than tourists. Because when the
machine finally mounted UP the crest
hand on his arm.
SLOW up. Bill That's the place
down there on the left. Let's take our
bearings"
The brakes whined sharply. The man
At the wheel relaxed. eXclaiming
"whewl Some country TO drive in!
What time is it,"
Twenty minutes past l."
mot SO bad, eh? Well. now what?"
That's the house, all right White
with red trimmings. A fence around
f. Two poplar trees by the gate. A
SiIo and windmill behind a barn
The driver rolled cigarette.
What's your program, SticSney?" he
asked.
Wen drive up to the house and I'll
get out You head the bus around,
throttle down your engine and wait.
I'll rap on the kitchen door while you
keep the front covered. Got your gun
ready"
The driver produced the weapon.
Good Joke on lis If he isn't home.
But suppose he is, and tries 10 bolt
out the front way?"
"Stop him-at any cost. Only. try
not to kill him Plug him in the legs"
Eight minutes later they stopped be-
fore trim ranch home. The passen-
ger shed his coat and pulled off cap
and goggles. He was a 6-foot man in
his middle 40s. He had sharp, eX-
pressionlesS face and ruthless black
vas vet in motion,
Stick" called the driver softly.
tIook at that clothesline."
"I see il. What about it?"
"There's women'S things hung on It."
'Im not surprised He's been out
here long enough to marry-even have
Nick Cooper. back in Chicago. didn't
saw ANYTHING about him havin' wife
n he's picked up a dame out here and
she's strong for him. you better watch
your step-that is. providin' she knows" >"
That's what I've got to find out"
'Your badge is showin'. Stick. Want
'em to see it'll you've done what
you've come for?"
The 6-foot fastener looked down at
his vest He unlocked the silver Gre
dental Of a Federal marshal and showed
II into a pocket. AS a parting iniunc-
ton. he said: -
IF Asheley should be anywhere out
around the barns and comes up to find
out who you are, race your engine. I'll
be listening and come out at once"
"All right"
The officer moved up TO the fence
ard Unmatched the gate. It closed with
o faint click behind him A gravel
walk led around some beds Of wilted
flowers.
Then Marshal Robert P. Stickney of
Paris, Vt. approaching the rear Of the
cottage, halted abruptly. The two side
windows had been raised. with screens
In place Out of the Shadowed in
terror came a womans song.
The voice stopped the officer as ef-
fectively as though the man he sought
10 interview had suddenly stepped
forth and confronted him with a shot
gun.
LIE reached the porch steps. A bat
tered screen door kept hundred
febrile flies from the interior. from
which more smells of cesking came out
Along the wall above the bench row
Of pegs held one or two coats and a
vomans calico sunbonnet On gritty
boards between the tops Of the steps
and the kitchen threshold lay little
boys train Of cars. The marshal did
cot miss their significance. Yet he
climbed the steps and raped sharply
or the cleats OF the screen.
He found himself looking into the
face Of woman in her early 30s, who
might have been pretty but for the wilt
Of shoulders and figure. 1t was an art
less. wistfuI face. Stickney thought.
rs this the Asheley placer" the Of
fcer demanded Ever since his talk
Vitr Nick Cooper in Chicago he had
known that Benson was now living
under the name of Asheley.
why. yes. sir"
els Asheiey home?"
''No. sir Our hired man said lot
Of stock had broken through the wire
into Winb0lt's property Martin had
b ride down and fix it right of.