Nogales international., 1935-04-06

mouth was set prirnly, bat her eyes
had swapping brightness.
Ling says there's kind OF funny
pounding going on in the garage.
Who's ont there, Boone?"
My goshr' Boone swallowed
hastily Il plumb forgot the lady! Miss
Cleo--she rode in with me-"
What the deyi. is she dolas in the
garage?"
We'll you see, Barry. comm back
up the road heard somebody scream,
and i just shot the car straight into
The garage and bolted out to see if !
could do anything, and ! plumb forgot
everything else. musta been so ex'
cited that | give the door slam after
me, and that bar drops awful easy.
Gets kinda second nature to shut that
door. Martha. you let the lady Out.
won't you?'
Il guess I'd better. Boone"
The car roared down to Trails End.
There was no one there. Gage said
little, but his deliberate gaze roamed
curiously around this shabby little
place where Paula's sister had come to
hide. He re.,d his letter, looked grim
over it. 'e
At the end OF an hour Barry was
nervously tramping the floor. They
started back again. and met Petry on
| the way
'I've been scoutin' a little. Some.
body rode pretty reckless for ways.
| found this. bat whoever lost ii was
headin' the other way. North"
It was mans felt hat and the
initials inside were J. NJ. X.
Why had Kennedy been riding away
from the one road which would take
him back to town. unless he had been
following Nancy: And why had
Nancy gone that way. when Traits
End lay in the opposite direction? >
"If we follow him" Barry muttered.
1--WE may find Nancy. or least pick up
her trail"
They could do little until daylight
came Barry fumed over lost time and
occupied some of it by having Petry
drive to Trails End again and leave
Martha there, while he took Captain
and followed the short cut. There was
no sign Of Nancy. Barry went back
to wait for daylight.
1t was still dark when Ling put
breakfast before them. Petry, who had
! already cater. came out OF the dark
| ness on half run.
The roan's, back. Kinda limps"
THAT means that Kennedy is on foot
and probably lost" Barry moved im-
patient shoulders IT'S Nancy that I'm
worried about I'm going to take one
more run down to Trails End" Barry
slid into the drivers seat
The greying darkness reeled past
them. They drew up at Trails End.
Martha came running cut, her. placid
control shaken.
Martha, is she here"
Martha nodded jerkily. "Shes here,
and she's sick. She's out Of her head:
She came in an hour ago. staggerin
along besides Comet ard bringin'' that
man. How she ever got him here. with
his leg bi oxen and her as sick as she
is, don't know. Boone. you go straight
for the doctor as fast as you can go"
Barry strobe in through the open
door, with Gage and Martha: at his
heels In the living room, on the built
in couch which he had made tor Nancy.
Jim Kennedy lay, his lips tight with
pain He looked from Barry to Gage.
and lip curled with fair imitation
of his reckless gin.
Regular family party, isn't it? Well.
I'm down, what are you going to do:"
Eyes. you're down." said Barry
between his teeth. and that's all that
saves you from being thrashed clear
off your feet. I'll talk to you later"
He went On, toward a partly open
door Nancy"
AT the sound OF voices outside slim
figure had stirred suddenly. pushing
away the blanket which Martha had
tucked around her. She struggled up.
her bare feet found the floor and she
swayed on them. talking in husky
whisper.
Must get away! Hurry can't so
back"
Nancy, its all right now! Every
thing is all right. It's Barry. darling.
| Please"
He caugh. her as she slipped down,
but she fought him with surprising
strength.
YOU'RE not Barry! TO away!
Won't go back"
| A capable hand thrust him asi'ie.
There, its all right. Miss Arnc.
It's just Martha. You know Martha:
don't you? You get in bed now. and
have a nice rest
"Yes, know Martha" Resistance
wiltcd but she clang TO Martha's
sleeve. Make hiTn-go away. Hell! tell
Barry I'm here, Barry hates me. :.
Never go back. Never"
"You needn't do anything you doa't
want to- You just lie down.
Martha coaxed and soothed. Barry
drew back, white Tipped. and the dark
head on the pillow tossed and muttered.
John! Mustn't let John see me -.
Paula screamed everything -
ruinel. Got to get home-get home
can't let hin-die."
| ~ - AT x1T