Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-07-04
The Cilded Pupil 3 z.s11', NH.


Hoping for the best she began Il
write, oisguising her handwriting bS
q backward slant.
Dear Stella"
With an oath the man snatchsd IN
the paper and threw h on tie flooT
In crumpled bali
None OF them monkey tricks" be
snaTled. I'VE know your proper writing
And sign 1t with this
AIMS nope died as the man produced
/ the letter which she had written to
Coles ABOUT Miss Vests health and
also Stellas rough drawing OF q star.
She was defeated by the evidence
specimen OF her handwriting which
Doris, the schoolroom maid had
searched In vatn-and the secret sig
nature.
~T-cant," she said, feebly pushing
away the paper
Again the pistol was pressed to her
Don't waste no time" growled the
fair man.
Don't waste no time" echoed Miss
West. Ann, write"
There was a spark In the old wom-
ans eyes and the flash Of wireless. I'M
PEELED 70 take up the pen, Ann wrote
Quickly. IN a firm hand, and signed her
note With faithful copy OF the star.
The men hung over her, watching
every stroke and comparing the writ
ing with Coles letter.
Don't put no dots" snarled the fair
man, who plainly suspected a cypher,
when Ann inserted a period.
He read the note again when it was
finished and then passed 1t 70 his
companion, who pointed to a word sus-
pic1ouSly. 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.
20. K" he said.
Miss Vests grim face did not relax
and Ann guessed the reason. She was
nerying herself for the second ordeal
Of Coles inspection.
Fortunately, however, the men did
not want their female confederates
opinion. The job was done and they
wanted to rush 1t forward to its next
stage. The fair man sealed the note
and whistled on his fingers I:
Instantly the weedy youth who had
ioll0wed Ann to the cottage appeared
rom behind a clunp of laurelS in the
rive. wheeling a bicycle. He snatched
he letter from Coles and scorched away
ound the bend of the road.
Ann slumped back IN her chair feel
ne unstrung in every fiber Nothing
emained but to ait-wait-and pray
stella would not come.
The time seemed TO pass very slowly 9
inside the room. The men smoked in
Hence until the carpet was Uttered
nth cigaret stubs and the air yelled I
nth smoke Miss West watched the 2
lock as though she would galvanize y
he minute hand.
Don't come" agonized Ann. stella,
ont come"
But absent treatment proved a fall
re for Coles. who was hiding behind
curtain, gave sudden boot Of tri-
mph.
'sThe cars come"
Push the girl to the 'front.' COM
landed the fair man.
He helped 10 lift AIMS chair to the
indow SO that she saw the williams
anchester waiting in front Of the cot
zee. Stella stood on the drive and the
lauffeur, Hereford, was In the act
shutting the door. He sprang back
his seat. backed, saluted, and drove
Yiftly away.
Ann watched the car disappear with
,spairing eyes. She could not scream
'cause fingers were gripping her wind
pc, nearly choking her But Stella
'uld distinguish the pale blue of her
ock behind the diamond paned win
w and she waved her hand as she
n eagerly up the garden path.
Had Ann been normal she might
I've guessed the truth from Stelia's
action to the scene when she burst
to the room. Instead Of appearing
y.41T~fcad Rfa@ Houfrod IN
r arms around her.
They didn't fool me-" she whispered.
Then She began to fight like a box
g kangaroo in order to create the
cessary distraction, while the police
r came round the bend Of the drive.
The prelude TO a successful raid was
r. Williams call for prompt action.
len his daughter brought him AIMS
tie.
ITS her writing and our private
IT." she told him "But-read IT,"
&c glanced at the few lines and
lghed.
AN impudent forgery" he said.
NO, it's an s. o. S. It looks like a
,ond try for me-"
After she had told her father about
: first unsuccessful attempt to kid
p her, he realized the Importance OF
,ping the gangs activities in the bud.
This seems the place to print the
he, which was the alleged compost
n of an Oxford M. A.
Dear Stella, Miss West viii be
ased If you viii come to tea this
ernoon. Don't waste no time and
ut run no risks. Let Hereford drive
i in the car. To prove this Is genuine
signing it with our star, same as
| done, one day in the schoolroom.
urs.
eANJRJ SETwr 7 Kry -