Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-06
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Ackland Center. a little old town
in New England, is proud of its
beauty and traditions. But the mod
ern world is fast crowding in on its
peace. Finally a notorious road
Of b~ootleggers. Liquor flows. Girls
Of the town are iured there. Edi-
tor Hamilton Pew of THE Weekly
Age" fights falkland, and is shot TO
death, the identity Of his a~ssailants
being ~ascertained. Homer
Pew. his brother. takes up the fight
in the newspaper. Stella Bagot, q
hometown girl who has made good
in New York as a magazine writer.
comes home to write about the fight
against the gang She is driven %
Ackland By Ernie Hallam. a married
man. much in love with her. He
wants her to meet him in Boston.
Homer tells Stella how his brother
was shot down at LAKELAND.
Joe Harmer, Ackland's political
boss. calls on Homer to find out If
he is going TO keep on with the pa
per. now that his brother is gone.
Homer is called to the phone and
hears the same mysterious voice
that warned his brother to give up
the fight against LAKELAND. He en-
deavors to trace the call.
CHAPTER XIV
Homer was moving again toward
the door. The asthmatic young mar
looked up, very white, with startled
eyes. Miss Curry stood %motionless,
staring.
"Wait, Homerl" cried Stella. 81:
came from the booth in the railway
station. Here in Ackland!"
Homer's expression had not chang
ed at all. He merely shrugged, and
turned again. But Stella was at his
side. catching at his arm. Don't 20
alone, Homer"
Its all right. Stella. The town is
well policed now" That was all ne
said. He had no fear in him: no
self-consciousness, even. He went on
out; got in his car and drove off.
And for a moment Stella's breath
failed.
Then she hurried back to The tele-
phone. He had dropped that casual
remark about the state police an
pearing rather wary of the local
force. So, quickly, she called the
state patrol station. II was more
than a mile outside the Center, but
they had motor cycles.
Next she called te house of Jos.
Harmer. Mrs. Harmcr said that her
husband was just coming in from
the barn after putting up his car
for the night. "He's certainly TAX
ing his time" muttered Stella,
standing t~cnscly by the desk. I'll
ually she heard his voice. and crisp
~ told bin Of the message.
"Well. WE'LL" said he. isn't that
too bad."
There's a chance for quick action,
Mr.. Harmer. The nan was at the
railway station three minutes ago..
is Homer at the office ?"
mo. He's just gone home. There's
no time for questions, Mr.. Harmer.-
She hung up with a snap. Cut him
off. The man had never hurried in
his life. Old Yankee fashion, M
pondered, balanced, waited every.
thing out
Gosh" muttered the pale young
man, with a faint whistle always in
his speech. this Is getting on mi
nerves. Ard when ! came here t.
work for MIR. Pew ten days ago
thought il would be quiet. Restful
NY Cod"
Miss Curry had sunk into a chair
She was pressing a hand against he:
flat breast. "0ughtn't we to b,
doing something? He mustn't "a
around alone like that"
We've done what we can" said
Stella. "The truth is. it's hard I,
know just what you CAN do. Grim
inals seem 70 be able to get away
with most eSH ything they like, these
days She sat musing. Spoke
again. at was a queer voice. Some
sort Of foreigner. Had trouble pro-
nounSng his ks and hard g's."
I'm beginning to wonder il we're
any Ct US safe" remarked the asth-
matte one.
oh, you're safe enough" said
Stella. Stung by her manner even
more than by her words, he sub.
sided.
The telephone rang again. She
snatched il up. Listened. Turned
swiftly To the others. "A police call
has come in from the Pew house"
he said. That was Miss Page, at
Central"