The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-10-15
CHAPTER I-Continued


plexion, with very dark blue eyes and |
rich. shiny, Jet black hair. She was
unusually intelligent and affectionate, |
If quick sympathy and winning, gra-
cIous ways. She was the apple OF Mr..
GatlIn's eye, and by the time she was
ten years old he no longer cared a
snap of his finger for his wife.
Ii Penelope was Mr.. Gatlin's refuge,
he also was hers. She never COM
planned to him-doubtless because she
feared her foster mother, who had sue,
ceeded In intoxicating in the child
duty complex quite out OF proportion
10 the lady's deserts. Nevertheless 1t
was understood between them that they
were pair of outlaws, mutual sym
pathy drew them closer together each
day; their mutual love was sweet
and holy sentiment.
Mr.. Gatlin's nerves did not improve
through the years, although when
Penelope was ten years old, wander
Ing evangelist came TO town and com
..-nced q furious campaign of CONVEX
sion and curing BY prayer every dis
ease that flesh is heir to, and Mrs.
Gatlln became converted" There
after. life for Mr. Gatlin and Penelope
became almost unbearable.
In a moment Of insane fury, Mr.. Cat
lin performed what he considered a
long neglected duty. He took Mrs. Cat
Inns classical countenance In both
hands, bumped her head repeatedly
against the wall and told her that II
she ever opened her mouth again In
| his presence without his permission
| he'd Just about kill her. She didn't.
| She sued him for divorce and had
| Penelope on the witness stand to prove
that Mr.. Gatlin had beaten her, that
he had remained away from home until
late at night and refused TO reveal his
rendezvous. Mr.. Gatlin entered cross
complaint and petitioned to have Pene.
lope allocated to him.
Unfortunately the Judge was pud-
ding head. He refused to accept Mr..
Gatln's explanation that he had laid
hands on Mrs Gatlin but once, and
/ that only In moment OF frenzy. But
he did not state where he had been In
the habit of spending his evenings so
suspiciously. He couldn't afford to. He
was a prominent business man. How
ever. the Judge should have known.
Probably he did, but even so he was
unsympathetic. He granted Mrs. Cat
lin the divorce, liberal alimony and the
custody Of Penelope, whereupon the
honorable court was treated to the
spectacle of Mr.. Gatlin and Penelope
weeping In each others arms. How
ever, Mr.. Gatlin was permitted to have
Penelope to himself two Sunday after
moons In each month and one-half of
each school vacation.
The first Sunday afternoon Mr.. Cat
lin avaied himself Of this privilege, his
quondam spouse had Mysteries, for with
the malevolence Of devil Mr.. Gatlln
announced he was taking Penelope to
ball game He took her, too, and
they had gorgeous time together IN
I'll home run sailed into the bleach
ers and struck Penelope violently on
her pretty little nose. Mr.. Gatlin, with
the unconscious form In his arms, fed
TO hospital, where he was foolish
enough to telephone Mrs. Gatlin what
had occurred. She appeared on the
scene and carried Penelope home at
once.
Mr.. Gatlin knew what she was up
to. She was going to cure Penelope's
no faith In such therapy. He followed
with a doctor, demanding at the front
door to be admltted-a request which
was ignored. So he kicked In the
panels OF the front door, which he had
no business to do because 1t was nc
longer his. Mrs. Gatlin having acquired
1t In the property settlement. There
upon she summoned the police by tele
phone and had him arrested and the
next morning he was tried, found guilt,
and placed under bond of Thousand
dollars TO remain away from the place
for one year.
He didn't do 1t, because he knew
what would happen to Penelope II h
did. And he could afford a thousan,
dollars-fifty thousand dollars II nee,
be--to prevent thatl He attackel
within twenty-four hours--at night, bu
he was quiet about 1t. He remembers
ne had never surrendered his latch
key. so he entered quietly and kid
mapped Penelope.
Within two hours he was arreste
en- route to San Francisco hospite
Ia motor car with Penelope For di.
obeying the magistrate, he was az
judged guilty Of contempt OF court, hi
bond of thousand dollars Forfeited
and he was sentenced to thirty days
the county Jail. Mrs. Gatlln preferre
charge OF kidnapping against hin
which Is felony, and since Mr.. Gatli