The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-07

10 alone. He says he came to kill Sworgin and advises DelO to go and cheek up on the boss. DelO does this and finds Swergin steal- ing timber. He has dressed as cowboy, like Ball. Asper is cap- tured by Swergin and imprisoned in cabin. Swergin glOatingly tells DelO how he has worked his scheme and that he ise setting fire to the cabin. Ball sees smoke and rescucs Delo. He rides after Swergin. Ball meets Swergln and they shoot it out. Swcrgfn Is kill- ed DOna shoots Ball, thinking him responsible for everything. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER xLvII
 Suddenly Dona's panic swept away from her and she became a tigress defending her own. Ball had been as ruthless as a vandal. He had persecuted and killed with out staying his hand. Reaching back she jerked from it's peg the rifle Asper had left out for her to fix as a souvenir and pumped cartridge into 1t. Leveling 1t as steadily as her weakened condition 9WOulQ ReEIult SlG uISQ OA9nAAJ aS Stan. He turned around, half fac- ing her, and slowly crumpled up to l.e almost touching Swergin. Dona covered her face with her hands and the rife slid to the porch floor. - It seemed Stan had smiled at her as he went down. She was certain had had seen and known her.
 Dona tainted away for minute hut <TcV fighting for control of herself. Her eyes lifted reluctantly to the pad- ded space outside the porch. The two men were just where they had fallen. Slowly Dcna slid from her chair and made her way down the steps.
 Passing the still form of swergin she bent over Stan Ball and lifted his head to her lap. Tears blinded her eyes and she rocked gently back and forth.
 .'Why did you do. it" she whis- pered. "oh, why did you have to come back like this!"
 Stan did not stir. his eyes re- mained closed. Dona was too hys- terical and upset from the ordeal of the past half hour to think or aiding him. She wanted him to die and she wanted him to live. but she knew as his head rested in her lap that she loved him and always would.
 Asper Delo came striding around the corner of the build ing and burst upon this scene. Sev- eral men had seen tho fire and he had gotten q horse and had fol- lowed Ball. He ran to Dona and caught he, 10 him. Whats this" he cried.
 'I killed him." Dona wept softly. 'I shot him"
 Asper swept her into his arms and carried her to the porch. Then he returned to several men who had run to the scene. A hasty glance at Swcrgin showed him that the timber boss was beyond help. Bending over. Asper gathered Stan Ball into his arms tenderly and carried him to a room.
 Dona sat staring out across the porch rail. She was too weak to move and almost too nervous to think. The half dozen men who had come running up had halted be- side the body of Swergin. They looked up at her in astonishment.
 Take him some place. DOna called weakly.
 The men gathered up their boss and carried him down to the doc tors cabin. Asper came out as they were leaving and shouted after them.
 '.send the doctor up here right away!" nodded to Asper then ran on
 Asper crossed the porch to Do mas side and patted her arm.
 'sIs he alive?" Dona whispered. bravely. "Now I'm taking you back to your bed." He gathered her in his arms and carried her in and, laid her on her bed. Bending over her he kissed. her tenderly. Don't you worry about Stan Ball. he's all
 Dona.s eyes lighted with a rush of fire but Asper cheked her from speaking.
 II have to meet the doctor and take him to the kids room." he
 .'Then he didn't shoot you and wound wound. your" Dona whispered
 Asper shook his head. 1T made mistake about the kid, but we'll make 1t up to him now" A lump rose in the old timber kings throat as he realized what was ahead of Dona and himself.
 the doctor and to all rules of . convalescence, Dona did not suffer a setback. Asper brought her news from the room down the hall, news that he made encouraging and bright. He was sitting on the foot of her bed smiling at her in his rough way when Dona suddenly re. membered something.
 "Where is Dud? I haven't seen him since yesterday afternoon"
 Asper's wide smile faded and he tried to give her an answer that was casual. "Oh, he's around here.'
 Dona knew instantly that some thing was wrong. Her father could not cover anything up while he was looking straight Into her face = Dona knew him too well.
 "Something has happened to Dud," she said simply. Better tell me all about it. Dad. I won't make
 Asper looked at his daughter for moment while he cast about for way to tell her. Finally. he ;unged in, but immediately hedg- ed.
 "IIs took your car and went to the city"
 Dona's soft lips curved into a Andden smile that bsWildered the