The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-10-10

NaCAO 0aNAt AnG AAAOCaA e@@SNC4 WI the rims above. Dona was very still.
 Night had settled and the valley was beginning to glow with reflect ed light from the moon. The camp was still in the deep shadows but its lights winked and frightened the scene. Suddenly two shots rang out on the still air. Dona started up and Dudley sprang to his feet.
 "That came from the main building at camp" Dona cried.
 Lets run down and see what's coming off." Dudley had already S 'arted down the hill.
 A crowd had gathered outside the main building and Dudley had to shoulder a path through the milling men in order to get inside. Dona rushed to her fathers room and found him red-faced with an- ger. Swergin was standing pust in- side the doorway and the two men had been having hot words.
 "I'll have him strung up within 36 hours, or I'll quit this job," Swergin thundered.
 Bah! You let him come right into this building and steal us blind!" Asper thundered. "Get out and get him or I'll do it myself!"
 Father! Lie down and be calm" Dona pleaded.
 Asper pushed her aside. That robber, Ball, comes into our offices, right under our noses and takes what he wants. I won't be made a fool of any longer. I'll get out and run him down!" Asper De- h ruau sect hing mad
 You're going to stay right where you are. Now calm down and tell me what happenedm Dona showed him back on his pillow.
 Ball came in here and stole all our timber records. Took 'em right out from under Swergin's nose" Asper groaned as his wound stab bed him. "But I thought" Dona stopped short. She had only Stanley Blacks word for it that Ball would leave the country.
 "You thought what?" Asper growled.
 q thought the men had run him out of the country" Dona finished weakly.
 "He is very much in the country. He comes in and steals our records before have ever gone over them. This Is the last straw. Of course he'll leave the country now. He'll deliver those records to that thiev- ink crowd over at Blind River and then he'll pull out" Asper was panting and his face was crimson.
 ''Lie down, father, and take it easy. What do we care for few records? This camp won't break us even if we should lose it." Dona spoke soothingly.
 "I'll run him down and see that he's hanged! I'll never let him beat me if I have to spend my last cent The. old timber king was beside himself.
 "You promised not to fly off again." Dona chided him.
 T know," Asper rumbled But this is too much to stand"
 You must rest until morning The boys will round him up. Swer- gin is so stirred up he will comb the mountain" Dona pated her fathers hand.
 "On top of that he shoots up my office clerk" Asper growled. He was beginning to give in but did not want to admit it. Did he hurt him much?" Dona could not help asking the question Just shot his gun out of his hand and scared him half to death Carter says he recognized Ball al right and could identify him. IT make a convict out of that coyote if he lives to go behind bars! Asper drew a deep breath and lay back.
 "You won't accomplish anything but a month in a hospital if you le, yourself go this way" Dona 1n- sisted.
 Dudley came in at that moment and Asper looked at him eager ly. "Did they get the rat?" he asked.
 Dudley shook his head. "He got away clean"
 "That fellow is slippery as an eel" Asper grunted..
 "They're all working on the wrong theory" Dudley sat down and pulled his chair close to the bed. T have plan that would get him, I believe"
 'I'll have Swergin give you some growled. You can't do any worse
 
 q don't need any men. All l need is a couple more days" Dudley ex- plained. He looked at Dona and smiled. She reached out and took his hand.
 "You're awful sweet, Dud." she whispered.
 Asper grunted. Sorry to have made row." He faced them and his old smile struggled through. "But I never did have anyone trim me like this man, Ball, has been doing."
 Dona realized that her father was we'll on the way to recovery. This last shock had not weakened him as the first had. She was eager to get him out of Three River, however. Once away, he would. be able to forget that he had not made good his threats against Ball.
 "You'll be able to move to-mor- row?" she said gently.
 Asper shook his head. "I hate to hold you kids up but I'll have to stay now and see this through. Dud- ley. here, will want to try out his ideas a little longer"
 Dona turned to Dudley but he did not come to her rescue so she did not push the idea of leaving next day. One thing made her glad they were staying. Stanley Black had failed her in several ways. Now she hoped to meet him again and to correct an impression she feared she had left with him. She did not realize how soon she would meet him or under what trying cir cumstances.