The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-19
CAST OF CHARACTERS

CAST OF CHARACTERS
 ROBERT BARRY - hero, ex-
 plorer s..
 MELISSA LANE - heroine,
 Barry's partner.
 HONEY BEE GIRL - Indian;
 member of Barry's party.
 HADES JONES-pioneer; mem-
 ber Barry'S party.
 Yesterday: Bob Barry goes to
 the stage to meet his business partner, M. M. Lane, and finds to his sheer amazement the partner is . lady.
 CHAPTER II
 Robert Wilson Barry, Ph.D., had been graduated cum laude from Har- yard at what he felt was the ma ture age of 24. That was IS months prior to the day he greeted M. M. Lane at Blanco Canyon. He should have ben trained and experienced enough to weather any surprise with boise, but this one shook him.
 Mary Melissa noted his tan, and his black eyes, and his rather broad shoulders, even as she awaited his answer there before the stage sta- ton. She had asked him, a stranger, where to find hotel. The stranger had acted strangely indeed.
 His mouth had dropped open, and he had fumbled around like a gawky adolescent. Then he had rather rudely asked her name, and heard it. Pardon me-" he stum- bled along now. "You--you're Lane? Lane. Well, T." he suddenly grim ned-"I was stampeded that time Miss Lane. surely wasn't expecting you. mean, girl. You see, T. well, the fact is I'm Barry. I'm I'm glad to see you. Can't We"
 "Ohl" Mary Melissa was staring at him in quick alarm.
 This young westerner couldn't be Robert Wilson Barry, Ph.D"! Why, archeaologists are all old rnenl Stodgy old fellows who wear spectacles and pour interminably over the dead past. It was, in short, Mary Melissa's turn to be confused.
 The few seconds interval gave Bob time to note that she was lovely. But that thought only irri- tated him a trifle more. He hadn't wanted a lovely partner; he had advertised for moneyed one, not young and dimpled one.
 The girl and the young scientist had much talking to do. Bob sug- gested, with friendly smile. that they go to the leading hotel" as her letter had said. It consisted of two rooms in the rear of Mrs. Pel- phry'S house which she occasional ly rented to travellers. Probably Ma would let them sit ill her parlor and talk. He picked up Miss Lanes two big suitcases, and she carried a s1naller bag. The walk would be 300 yards or so.
 '"rhis is a most regrettable mis- take all around. Miss Lane" Bob began. 1T feel that should"
 "Oh, look"
 Mary Melissa stopped and pointed.
 A man had unhitched a horse and mounted it., there in front of store. The horse, evidently some- what new to the saddle, at once set in to be rid of the man. It bucked right up across the board porch of the store, smashing chair and breaking a glass window.
 "E-e-e-e-e-ep the animal scream cd in anger, pitching like the wild beast 1t was. Miss Lane and Boo, not 30 feet away, ducked toward a tree for safety. Dust enveloped them.
 The rider appeared calm. He didn't even lose his hat. His face did show considerable anger, as If disgusted with any horse that bucked. He was a big man, very dark. Obviously cowboy.
 Gonna make good animal, Scott" somebody called from the store as the bucking subsided. The horse trebled a little, snorted and twisted a time or two, then trot- ted right by Barry and Miss Lane. The rider saw Mary Melissa and doffed his hat--i1ot with chivalric manner, but more as If 1t were a routine action.
 "Goodnessl' exclaimed Mary Me lissa. "He handled that horse we'll. I expected him to be thrown and maybe badly hurt. Who is he?"
 q don't know" said Bob Barry. Stranger to me. don't get in to Blanco Canyon much. Some cow poke"
 Ma Pelphry took Mary Melissa into her private quarters and wis tied" with her, in the name of hos pitality. Ma never let such an op- portunity pass. The interval gave both Bob and the girl time to col- lect their thoughts.
 I'm sorry this thing is all mixed up, Miss Lane," Bob began when she rejoined him. But Tiff you will pardon me for suggesting 1t, there may still be way out. mean, so both of us can be good sports about 1t all. And think that's what you'd want"
 They smiled at each other.
 Now my ieda is this, Miss Lane: Since there are certain very defi- ..okm ooyox,ay,tin,,c ae hakl, If ic wilI