Evening star., 1936-12-13
Installment III.

TINE kitchen door swung shut.
Mother Coughs hands were
shaking Is she replaced . lid
= on kettle over the IRE.
WHO Is he?" demanded MArjory in
dignantly. What right has he to talk
to Us like that?"
IT don't know" Mother Cough fall
tered. They drove up q little while
ago, demanded supper and said they'd
be here tonight and perhaps longer.
We told them We weren't taking guests
now, because Dad didn't like their
looks. But they said we'd take them
and like it,"
But where's Simon?" Marjory in
sisted. Cant he do something?"
Simon Is upstairs with Dad. getting
. couple Of rooms ready for them. He
was q little slow, and one of the men
took out . revolver and showed it IN
his back. What could Simon do?"
Marjory turned startled eyes to
Ken. His face was deadly serious.
1T doesn't look 30 good" he said.
Marjory quickly explained about the
accident to Ken's car. Mother Cough
tried to forget her alarm and vel
| coined Ken warmly.
You can stay with Us tonight. OF
course" she said. Maybe these men
will leave IN the morning, and then
Simon can take you down to Sutter.
I'm sure they wouldn't let you 60 to-
night. They warned. US that nobody
was to leave the place"
WELL" said Marjory. I'm not go
ing to let them frighten me! Come on.
Ken. Well 60 into the front room and
pay no attention to them"
Most OF the big, rambling hotel
building was shut Oh for the Winter
months, to save fuel. But In the large
main room a big fire was blazing. AS
Marjory and Ken entered it. they
saw three men sprawled in chairs
around the fireplace, talking surlily
among themselves.
WITH Ken at her side. Marjory
walked across the room, trying to
appear unconcerned, while the four
unwelcome visitors ceased their con-
versation and regarded her narrowly.
She went to the radio against the far
wall and snapped on the switch. I'm
mediately one Of the men leaped to
his feet.
shut that thing OIL" he snarled.
Marjory turned and faced him with
blazing eyes. "I'll play 1t If I want
to!" she retorted.
The man crossed the room in q half
dozen strides. With q violent gesture
he turned OH the radio. Then he
jerked 1t away from the wall, pulled
out . tube, turned and dashed the
tube to the floor. Marjority gazed
down at the splintered glass in
dismAy.
Why, you-!" Ken Stokes sud-
denly stepped forward, his fists
clenched, his face white. The man
swung around, gazed at Ken for q split
second. then launched his hst square,
ly at the boys face. Ken saw the blow
coming and tried to dodge, but 1t
caught him on the shoulder and sent
him sprawling to the floor.
"Thatll teach you to keep your trap
shut" the man snapped. He turned
and strobe back to the fireplace while
MArjory, with . cry. bent over Ken
and helped him to his feet.
Jaw, let the kids alone. Spike"
1t was one of the other men at the
fireplace speaking. The man called
Spike muttered some angry reply and
threw himself into 4 chair.
Ken was back on his feet now,
trembling with fury. Marjory whis-
pered to him andously to keep quiet.
At that moment they heard . sound
on the big stairway and turned to
f1nd Simon and Dad Cough descending
the steps. Behind them came the
fourth man, his hand held threaten
ingiy In his coat pocket. Simon and
Dad Cough disappeared through the
kitchen door, and the fourth man
joined his companions.