The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
CHAPTER XI-Continued

jean 1po
II really didn't go to the gun room
to listen, Uncle Rod, and l kept my
fingers in my ears long time, honest
l went there to"
"Never mind what you went there
for. What did you hear?"
With anxious eyes rowing from one
face to the other, Jean told of the
conversation between Walter Gerard
and Len Galloway.
81 heard my father say,
ats a payment on delivery propo-
sition, Len? SureT"
Tell me again, what time were they
to meet?"
SAT eight, Uncle Rod"
Gerard glanced at the clock. "We
can make the smithy before that time
easy in my roadster, jim"
Better pass the cattle barn first.
We will leave Dave there to make
his friendly call, then Wen go on and
catch the conspirators red-handed."
Jean caught her uncle's arm. Her
eyes were frightened.
"You won't hurt Father, will you?
Perhaps / shouldn't have told-but-
I was afraid he might be making
trouble for you and-and Mr.. David,
IA big tear rolled down her cheek,
her breath caught in a sob-"but Miss
Prue said"
"Prue! Did you tell her this same
story?"
Surprise dried jeans tears. "Of
course, Uncle Rod. 1 tell her every
thing. What makes you so white?"
"What did she say, X. X. Quick,
tell us everything"
''First she guessed Mr.. Galloway
had hired Father to boss lumber
crew-then she said perhaps they were
planning a party for Milly Gooch-"
"Cut that. What else did Prue say?
Hurry"
''She didn't say much more, except
to ask me where the blacksmith shop
was"
Gerard crossed the room to the tele-
phone, and waited.
"Can't you get the house, Rodney"
David asked.
Gerard replaced the telephone. "No
answer" He cleared his voice of
huskiness. "This is movie night-she
may have gone-thats thought"
He picked up the phone again and
gave the Puffers' number. Impulsive
as she was, Prue couldn't have done
such mad thing as to go to the old
blacksmith shop, he told himself. But
suppose she had?
Keep on ringing, operator. I'M
portant."
I'm making a break for the cattle
barn, Rod"
Gerard nodded response to Arm
strong's husky voice. Boy! How
white he was! White. If he was so
anxious about the girl to whom he was
engaged, why waste minute on that
Internal crew? Why not make
break for the smithy?
"Pull yourself together!" he gritted
his teeth. Its just your crazy idea
that Prue has gone to the shop. Prob
ably Jim knows her too well to think
she'd do such fool thing"
He laid down the phone. mo an
swer, Dave"
Color stole back into Schuyler's face.
"She has gone to the movies with
the Puffers AM Jane Mack of course.
Let's get going, Rodney. If you mean
to make the blacksmith shop before
eight, we will have to hustle"
wen hustle, all right. Goodnight,
K X. Go to bed and to sleep"
"You-you-won't be too hard on
Father, Uncle Rod?'
Gerard managed smile. "Of course
not. Why should l be? Miss Prue is
right; probably Galloway has given
him job to boss lumber crew. Be
a good child. Don't worry. Let's get
going. Dave!"
Neither man spoke as the black
roadster raced along trailing a cloud
of snow like the wake of vessel. The
tumult in Gerard's mind quieted. He
certainly had had brainstorm back
in the living room. OF course Prue
wouldn't go to the smithy. What did
she really care about the firm of
Schuyler and Gerard? Not a hang.
Jim Armstrong was her
Il feel as if ought to apologize to
Prue,"-he cut in on his own conclu-
-"for even thinking she would
do such dumb thing as to try to get
to that shop"
do you? don't. She would do
that if she thought she could help.
What's all the shouting for? Hear it?
Must be the crew at the cattle barn."
Hear i'll It would rouse the Seven
Sleepers. They are yelling now.
Sound to me like an able-bodied riot
with fight or two thrown in for good
measure. Step on the gas. Rodney.
haven't helped much in the woods, but
can stop that"
The roadster sped on. The uproar
increased. Gerard peered through the
windshield. Something might be in
the road-might bel
He ground on the emergency brake
with a suddenness which flung them
both AGAINST fhe unshatterable wind