The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-08-16
CHAPTER TX
.-I2--.--
Tho Dark Threat Falls.

Tho Dark Threat Falls.
Rodney Blake had brought friend
with him. A tall. quiet man by the
again to all outward appearances. met
him at breakfast His face arrested
her. keen face. but still as arctic
Ice, Its eyes penetrating everything
they met.
She felt uneasy under them. as II
they could read the secret of her
heart Rod seemed to know him well.
But she was soon so taken up with
her own problem that she had no time
to study this stranger who sat and
smoked and asked odd questions of
Serge: her problem of what and when
TO tell Rod Blake, how to break her
sacred word. to ask him to release
her. Rod, who had said that no man.
no people, no country should ever take
her from him. But Mr.. Marston's
questions were very strange Were
there any people in the country whom
he. Serge, did not know7 Any stran-
gers about7 Any airplanes flying off
the regular lane above the new port
1t WIllIams7
No. said Serge positively, ''only
the regular mail planes. and they're
SO far Off that we only hear their
engines. Why7"
Just wondered" said John Mars
ton
But Rodney Blake smiled and leaned
forward. tapping his cigarette ash In
his saucer "
Il may as well tell you. folks, that
you're entertaining an angel unawares
or rather. to quote the gentry he's
always after, fallen one. Mr.. Mars
ton ID the governments crack man OF
the secret service, whose rare talents
are enlisted only as last resort. He
Ii here on mission OF his own.
merely accompanied him AZ an excuse
to be here"
He smiled and looked at Sonya.
Marston fingered his cigarette, look
Ing down grayely.
-For months our department In New
York has been puzzled by a certain
matter, a serious matter to this coun-
try. which has been bafflingly mysteri-
GUS. BY our department | mean the
federal narcotics bureau. A steady
dow of mud or pure raw opium, has
been coming through, which we could
not trace. We have reason to believe
Ii LIS coming In on the west coast OF
Nexlco--at Mazatlan. to be exact
brought inland and across the Border
BY fast and private planes. and sent
east by train. from somewhere about
the middle OF the line. | am here
about the middle--to see what can
see. | need not tell you that this
knowledge Is dangerous for anyone
to possess. and that II must be held
in the utmost contldence-chiefiy be-
cause of that one across the Border
I'll Captain Dlablo. as he Is known
who Is Mexico's king racketeer. Any.
one tampering with Ell Captain tam
peers with death. should not have
told you this Ii Rod had not spoken
as he did. Let me impress again the
danger OF any mention Of this affair
10 anyone"
Sonya Sayarin wet her lips, which
had suddenly gone dry, laid down the
knife In her trembling hand.
She had her answer at last II
The answer to that night on the
dance hall floor-to the little gray
ship settling so swiftly on the sand at
the canyons mouth--to Starr Stones
reconciliation of love and all II meant.
The answer to Starr Stone himself.
And that answer was-lCl Captain
Dlablo. Eel Captain Dlablo who ter
rorized the north Of Mexico. who raid
I'd mines, who levied taxes on the
poor. and who-crucifed bis double
eroSsersl
To know too much of I'll Captain
Diablo and ever leave his service waa
10 dle-and ones friend also who
might share that knowledge. Ones
friends friends, maybe. his relatives
with dIlated eyes the girl looked
round the table. at Serge. at Lila. Al
little Babs LIla's face was pale. but
Serge was talking eagerly.
by George |" he was saying his fist
on the table, there have been stran-
xers here--and I'd stake my last dol
lar Sonya, you remember that chap