The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-07-10

Hoping for the best, she began to
write, disgusting her handwriting by
a backward slant.
Dear Stella"
With an oath the man snatched up
me paper and threw it on the floor
In a crumpled ball.
None Of them monkey tricks" he
snarled. I'VE know your proper writing.
And sign it with this"
AIMS hope died as the man produced
the letter which she had written to
Coles about Miss Vests health and
also Stella's rough drawing Of a star.
She was defeated by the evidence-aI
specimen OF her handwriting-for which
searched in vain-and the secret sig
nature.
"1-cant," she said, feebly pushing
away the paper.
Again the pistol was pressed to her
j: Don't waste no time," growled the
W.T., Don't waste no time" echoed Miss
There was a spark in the old wom-
ans eyes and the flash of wireless. I'M
PEELED to take up the pen, Ann wrote
quickly, in a firm hand, and signed her
note with a faithful copy Of the star.
Az AA4S oSN4 Y 1
every stroke and comparing the writ
ing with Coles letter.
Don't put no dots" snarled the fair
man, who plainly suspected a CIPHER,
when Ann inserted a period.
He read the note again when It was
companion, who pointed to a word us
piciously. The old woman and the girl
looked at each other in an agony Of
suspense as they waited for the blow
to fall.
Then the fair man turned sharply to
Miss West.
spell 'genwin'." he commanded.
AS she reeled off the correct spelling
he glanced doubtfully at his compan-
ion. who nodded.
90. K" he said.
Miss Vests grim face did not relax
and Ann guessed the reason. She was
nerving herself for the second ordeal
Fortunately, however, the men did
not want their female c~onfederate's
opinion. The job was done and they
wanted to rush it forward to its mex
stage. The fair nan sealed the note
and whistled on his fingers.
Instantly the weedy youth who had
followed Ann to the cottage appeared
drive, wheeling a bicycle. He snatched
the letter from Coles and scorched away
round the bend of the road.
Ann slumped back in her chair, feel
! ing %unstrung in every fiber. Nothing
remained but to wait-wait-and pray
Stella would not come.
The time seemed to pass very. slowly
inside the room. The men smoked in
silence until the carpet was Uttered
with cigaret stubs and he air yelled
with smoke. Miss West watched the
clock as though she would galvanize
the minute hand.
Don't come" agoniZed Ann. stella,
don't come"
But absent treatment proved a fail:
ure for Coles, who was hiding behind
a curtain, gave a sudden hoot OF trt-
umph.
push the girl to the 'front.'" COM
manded the fair mar.
He helped to lift AIMS chair to the
window SO that she saw the Williams
Manchester waiting in front of the cot
tage. Stella stood on the drive and the
chauffeur, Hereford, was in the act
of shutting the door. He sprang back
to his seat, backed, saluted, and drove
swiftly away.
Ann watched the car disappear with
d%espairing eyes. She could not scream
because fingers were gripping her wind
pipe, nearly choking her. But Stella
could distinguish the pale blue Of her
frock behind the diamond PANIED win
dow and she waved her hand as she
ran eagerly up the garden path.
Had Ann been normal she might
have guessed the truth from Stella's
reaction to the scene when she burst
into the room. Instead of appearing
surprised, she dashed to Ann and threw
her arms around her.
"They didn't fool me-" she whispered.
Then she began to fight like a box
ing kangaroo. in order to create the
necessary distraction, while the police
car came round the bend of the drive.
The prelude to a successful raid was
Mr.. Williams call for prompt action.
when his daughter brought him AIMS
note.
"It's her writing and our private
STAR" she told him. "But-read it,"
He glanced at the few lines and
laughed.
"An impudent forgery" he said.
mo, it's an s.. o. S. 1t looks like a
second try for me-"
After she had told her father about
the first unsuccessful attempt to kid
nipping the gangs activities in the bud,
This seems the place to print the
note, which was the alleged compost
ton of an oxford M. A.
Dear Stella, Miss West will be
pleased if you will come to tea this
afternoon. Don't waste no time and
don't run no risks. Let Hereford drive
you in the car. To prove this is genuine
I'm signing it with our star, same as
you done, one day in the schoolroom
ANN SHELLEY"