The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-05

SlDiy lTOfH CdttAC iuStAnh6' D~s Rock loves Prest0n's daughter, Thiry, and must be near her.
 Chapter Is
 MYSTERY IN THE MOONLIGHT If he had been rude or bold tha day of the meeting in Winter store, he could understand.
 But he had only been full of fun he could not remember sayini anything to which Thiry could talk exception, unless it was that sill, remark about the spilled rice beinl an omen. So his mind ran. ant the supper was not a satisfaction to him.
 The long table was bountifully spread, steaming, savory. Mrs Preston sat at the foot, with Lucy on one side and Burr on the other Alice's place was next to Rock, and she most solicitously served him The twins and Albert, with their silver hair wet and plastered back sat next to Thiry, faces over their plates. The elder brothers oc- cupied seats on the bench beyond Alice. There was hardly any un- necessary conversation.
 When supper ended, dusk has just fallen. It was not going to be very dark, at least not in the evening for a 1nalf-moon scared out from under the white fleecy clouds.
 Over the western wall, betweer it's end and the foothills, now mys- tic and dim, poured a medium like transparent Mac water It moved It flashed and glintcd, as If falling Stars shot through t down to inc depths oi amethyst. And every second there was change, till the light faded, to show Sunset Pass only, wild, broken defile, shading to gray and black.
 Rock sat on the edge of the porch attended again by the children. The older sons stalked away while the younger fingered, evidently accept ing the newcomer The womenfolk except for Thiry, who had gone in- to the other cabin with her father were in the kitchen.
 Can you tell Tom from Harry7' Dur asked, mischieviously, of Rock.
 No. Can you?" M Sure can," he replied, ther whispered, "Isl tell you how i you get stuck" sfzE4 4ps Presently the rancher came out alone. There was a lighted laml inside.
 Boys, -hyar's some work fer yog to break Rock in on tomorrow" h, said. Grease the wheels of ths green wagon. Then hitch up an go down to the slaughter house Fold tight an pack all the hide. thet are dry. Haul them up to thu barn. An Tom, next nfornin' soor as it's light you hitch up again an drive down an meet us at tn. Flats. Then you come back home? P
 Walk, reckon?" asked Tom 7aconically.
 Wal, you can run if you like An thet day, an until I come bacl you-all work on the new pastur, fence"
 All right, Pa," drawled Tom.
 Rock, thet doesn't sound muci like work to you But your job i to keep these three harum scar, utns from ridin off into the woods You'll have your hands full, fe they're shore Indians"
 Boss, if I can't hold them IT do the work myself, replied Rock
 Before the hour passed, Mrs Preston and Alice came out, an, Thiry, too, and they all sat around on the porch and grass enjoyin, the cool breeze coming up the Pass The moon shone brighter as tn, clouds grew more open. There wer
 
 moments of pale gloom, then long interval of silver light. Tn shadow of the pines on the whit. grass fascinated Rock. And pres ently he found that being there, ex cept for the silent Thiry, so dis tslfbing to him, was no differen from being in the company of mos eny hospitable Western family. Tn 0ispordant nOte-Ash Preston-wa efsent. Rock made himself a Ggneeable as he knew how, to tn Youngsters especially. and then t ne mother, who responded readil! ehe was of pioneer extraction, sim f&, virile, and sincere She had
 arty laugh; she liked news ( fI1e outside world.
 Preston retired within his caloil nnd 'aoon alter the boys sloslche 6pay, their spurs jingling. the
 gk lank forms s11laozastted agatzS & moon-blancl1ed grass.
 "A rueman roe to say goodntgh 3116ry Ind been gtauding sclm