Evening star., 1930-06-28
First InstaIlment continued. )

Part horse doctor. part necromancer
the stranger had repaid his debt to tn
town of his adoption by ministering Il
its live stock, and not infrequently to it
children. reading palms. working on
horoscopes, forecasting weather condi
tions and predicting futures with such
uncanny accuracy that his benefactou
came in time to view him as one gifteS
with second sight Like many anothe
before him, il became his misfortune Il
pin his affections on the beautiful Jant
RunnelS. OF course, no one blameS
Judge Runnels for not permitting hi!
daughter TO receive the attentions OF s
pennileSS waif whose one claim TO rec
ognition was that he knew how to doc.
tor horses and tell fortunes: but there
had been considerable criticism over the
heartleSS way in which Miss Jane hac
trified with the former bareback rider
And every one found time to be glad
when Cranson eventually found SolacC
in a wife. creature as forlorn and as
little part of the world as he himself
had grown to be-a woman who came
so it was hinted, from his forgotten
past. the circus.
The angel of the Lord hath un-
eheathe6 his sword" CranSon began in
high. penetrating voice.
An uneasy movement ran through the
length and breadth Of the Ark,
And behold at eveningtide trouble
and before morning he is not"
With a sudden squeak. more OF tri-
umph than of fear. the little man fat
tened himself against the wall in such
a position that the door, If it opened,
would hide him from any one entering
the room He comes" was his an
nouncement. THE son Of Sisera is at
hand!"
To the undisguised excitement of all
those present the swish of automobile
tires was heard, the door was flung open
and a young footman in plum -colored
livery stood on the threshold.
where's you telephone?" came the
shrill imperative. Il wish to make a
call for Mr.. Diamond"
Noah Peabody laid his hands, fingers
outspread. on the counter before him
and leaned his weight upon them.
Go roll your hoop, sonny!" he said
"You--you better not get funny,
clustered the footman. "Mr. Diamond
doesn't like to be kept waiting"
"Oh. he doesn't, doesn't he" Noah
had begun when voice from over the
young mans shoulder froze the words
on his lips.
whats the trouble?" The owner of
the Daily Free Press had pushed his
way into the lunch room. Whats
wrong, I say? Has anything happened?"
"N-n-no, sir; N-n-no, Mr.. Diamond
nothing wrong" Stammered Noah i
was only tellin' your boy here he could
use my telephone an welcome. It's over
yonder on the wall
Lifting his shoulders in an all too
evident shrug of contempt, Mr.. Diamond
turned toward the telephone.
But before he could raise, his hand
fo taka the receiyer off the hook the
bell shrilled clamorously.
Just why that tinkling, familiar bell
should strike a sudden chill to each
mans heart, not one of them could
have told; and yet. as Noah, with a
mumbled apology, walked over to answer
1t every one was conscious that his
heart had missed beat.
Whats that?" Above the crash OF
the first thunder clap, the unlooSed
downpour of the rain, Noah's voice
reached them. high and thin with ex-
citement. "W-w-what are you saying?
Speak louder. man. speak louder" A
pause. Then, Hey, wait minute.
Don't cut me off, Centrall" Frantically
tiggling the hook up and down, Don't
Holy Christmas" The proprietor of
at last, his face white as chalf, his eyes
popping.
"B-b-boys," he suffered "somepin'
terrible's happened over to Brides
House. That was a young feller talking
from Westport-said a red-headed girl
stopped his car on the Wood road about
half an hour ago-told him to call up
here-that she needed help. With a
gulp that sounded like a sob, Central
butted in, but think-I think heard
him say-it was murder.