The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-05
CAST OF CHARACTERS
BY CLARKE NEWTON

SAS VT NTlANNS ENS
NlkkI JEROME, heroine;
blond, popular, is engaged to six
foot, blaek-haired
STEVE MALLORY, hero; who
is accompanying her on trip &c
Sikkns aunt and uncle on a Wyo-
ming dude ranch. Nikk's father,
PETER JEROME is wealthy,
New York jewel merchant.
Yesterday: S&rto is captured
aud trussed up. Then Steve de-
mands to know who Fiske is.
Fiske turns swiftly.
CHAPTER XIV
Uncle Jim let loose great
roaring laugh and somehow the
tenSeneSS wnt eout of TN Situa-
ton. Nikki and Stew lookcd ut
each other in bewilderment.
Maybe we're crazy said
Nikki.
mo, honey" said Uncle Jim.
But you can put down the dltlr,
Steve. Fiskr Wonder is 4 detee-
tive"
"Detective?"
"JewelerS Protective, said
FiSke. briefly, and then he smiled.
81 don't blame you for being puZ-
zled Perhaps | haven't acted
very detective-lik. You see | knew
exactly who Bancroft and Sarto
were and they suspected pretty
strongly who | was. But ! couldn't
act because this angle Is just
part of the entire case. II tip
ped my hand too soon 1t would
spoil the whole works
Steve laid the rifle on the
bench. Nikki started 10 speak.
Then Sarto stirred slowly and
Steve raised the rifle again, but
Flske had the revolver in his
hands and was stepping back.
SartO slowly opened his eyes and
sat up His wayerins. glance fl
nally conferred OH Fiske
"Okay copper he sand. and
turned away.
Bring the rope" said FiSke.
They led SartU 10 the same tree
around which he had ordered
Nikki and Steve. and the return
ing searcherS. FlSke gave Steve
the pistol and he Mlled Sarto's
arms back of him and around the
tree, bindim" them securely. Treu
lie tied his feet.
a little uncomfortable but
not painful" FiSke observed.
Nikki, meantime, had pushed
her uncle away from Rance and
taken over the first aid job. work
ing deftly and capably.
Uncle Jim brought out kit
from the cabin and Nikki selected
L long swabbiug stick and twisted
cotton around one end of ii. She
dipped the cotton end into 4 bot.
tie Of iodine and said:
This vii hurt" Rance was
watching her admiringly.
Where did you learn all this"
lie asked.
school First aid course"
Swiftly She ran the cotton Swab
through the wound. twisting it
gently. Rance grimaced once and |
then %riuned al her. The bleed |
ing had almost stopped. She took |
roll Of bandage, place da fold |
of cotton at the wounds OH each |
side Of the shoulder and wound |
the bandage over and around the !
chest.
There" She said. Now We
need Il sling. Wait minute"
She unknotted the neckerchief |
from around her throat and fit
ted it on Rance. Suddenly, the |
job done, she felt a little weak.
This would be a fine time to
faint, she thought, now that
everythiug'S over. Then she re-
membered. The sun was high in
the heavens. So much had hap
pened il seemed as though it |
should be night 1t was noon.
"DO YOU suppose" she said,
resting one hand against the ca
bin and turning to her uncle, do |
you suppose We could have some
thing to eat? It's been a long
time
"My Lord" said Uncle Jim.
"For Il minute clean forgot you
two had been lost. Say, there's
a lot Of tellin' to be done around |
here"
There certainly is, said Nikki. /.
"1here are 4 lot of things Steve
and ] want to know"
Prom you and Fiskc mostly" .
Steve told Uncle Jim. !
THAT can wait Il minute" said /
Fiske. "rll tell you the whole
story, but first, suppose you tell |.
me about Bancroft"
Suppose We let both stories f.
wait until after we give Steve
and Nikki something To eat" call !
ed Uncle jim. "l'll sling u little