Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-01-09
CHAPTER II-Continued

No more was needed to confirm
Earth's suspicious He glided across
the glade and ran on through the
woods like a startled caribou. The
thick growth Of spruces screened him
from the view of anyone up on the
open tundra.
He vaulted upon the wing of the
monoplane and ran along it to jump
Into the cockpit In a moment he had
hold of Huxby's tool-kit. He went at
the engine like a skilled airplane me-
chanic.
When, after few moments of quick
work, he replaced the tooEkit and ran
back out the wing, there was small
metal object inside his buckskin shirt.
He jumped off and slipped away to an
alder thicket, a short distance along
the lake bank.
Less than three minutes later, he
heard heavy putting and. wheeling
and the snap of dry branches. Then
the three staggered into sight. Mr..
Ramill was purple from exertion.
His mouth gaped wide with his gasps
for breath. Neither his daughter nor
Huxby was winded. But both were
flushed from the exertion of support
ing the portly millionaire.
The girls expression was one of dis
gust and anger. She stopped several
feet short of the plane.
"Oh, On! Why the rush? We're
out of sight now. I'm going to take
rest"
Her father was beyond words. AS
she let 60 of his arm he slumped down
with suddenness that almost pulled
Huxby over on top of him. The min
ing engineer peered back through the
spruces, and around at the thicket
where Garth lay in wait.
"Just one more 60, darling" he ap-
pealed. '"The fellow must know how
to handle his rifle. If he comes in
sight of the plane before we get out of
range Please, sweetheart! Remem-
Der it means millions to us-millions!
I'll give you that emerald necklace we
saw at Tiffany's."
"You certainly will! And Dad will
do more. I'm to have a third in this
mine that you say is worth so much.
Is that clear?"
Yes, darling; take hold" Hubby
urged. eve both agree"
She waved him towards the plane.
Fetch flask. Well never get him
aboard without bracer."
H1yhv ran to vo111t NV, ~, 49,
The girl had pointed out the obvious
fact. Her father was in a state of
collapse from overexertion. He could
not move until revived, and he was too
heavy for them to lift bodily.
The engineer swung into the cabin
and fastened back ashore with flask
of whisky. During his short absence
Mr.. Ramill had ceased to gasp. He
could draw deeper breaths. Two or
three swallows of whisky tautened his
, flabby muscles. Helped by his daugh
ter and Huxby, he struggled to his
feet and staggered out along the rock
shelf to the plane.
The wing end stood neck high above
the ledge. While Mr.. Ramill took an
other bracer of whisky, Huxby boost
ed the girl up on the front edge. She
grasped hold of her fathers collar
Huxby gripped his thick legs below
the knees and heaved. Mr.. RamiHs
hands were on the wing edge. He
pulled with all his whisky-borrowed
strength. His corpulenr midbody rose
above the edge of the wing.
Huxby gave last upward heaye.
1t enabled the girl to drag her father
over on the convex surface. Huxby
vaulted after to help her lift the prone
millionaire to his feet. They started
to lead him along the wing top to the
fuselage Of the plane.
Behind the backs of the three, Garth
stepped clear from the alders and
came forward, silent as stalking
lynx. Midway between the head of
the plane and the spruce to which 1t
rifle, butt down, to lean on the muzzle
"Hullo," he sang out. whats hap
pened? Mr.. Ramill ill?"
At the first word. Huxby tensed and
glanced over his shoulder. He let go
of Ramill. After moment, he jerked
around and thrust out his automatic
pistol towards Garth.
Swing up that rifle, butt end for
ward" he ordered.
why, what d'you meanW Garth
questioned, his mouth half agape..
II mean business" Hubby answered,
Hold up the butt-up above your
head; then come forward and lay the
rifle on the wing"
Garth rounded his mouth still more.