Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-07-28
CHAPTER ONE
WRITTEN FOR AND RELEASED BY
CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION


THE RAILROAD station agent
glared through his window at
Lorena Hamilton. He appeared in
dignant. almost angry with her.
oblivious Of her rather exceptional
beauty.
why. you're crazy, grill" he de-
clared. "You cain't go out there.
They're killing people!"
She stared back in amazement,
and took a moment to study him.
He looked as hard as the miserable
little station he served; as parched
as the desert around them. Ger
tainly he reflected none Of the
famed western hospitality on which
she had counted. In fact, she could
not even understand him. She swal-
lowed, and looked up at him quiz
zically. "You mean-?"
"Jest what said, ma'am! You're
crazy if you go out to Phantom
ranch now. You don't understand,
you been on the train four days.
Where'd you say you started
from?"
"From Kentucky. But"
"Well, lemme tell you," the
agent interrupted again, "you
oughta stayed home. I been clickin'
the telegraph key here nearly 80
year, and I never seen nor heard
such doings. Four men dead in six
weeks-and two more hurt! A
Phantom rider was by this morn
ing, swearing they'd have show
down soon with somebody, sure as
hell. It's case for the federals, I
say. But I shore wouldn't want to
be a stranger going out there now"
Lorena, alias Rena, Hamilton did
not reply at once to that. She
smiled to herself and looked away.
She had indeed ridden four days
on a train to visit the Phantom
ranch in Arizona. Here on the
ranch lived relatives and friends,
and she had expected to surprise
them. But this excited talk from
the little cow town station agent
had surprised her instead.
She thought the matter over for
a few seconds, then laughed out
loud. She had heard of such jokes.
Probably there'd be an Indian
raid" soon! Western people liked
to have their fun with eastern
strangers, she had read. They
called strangers dudes or tender
feet or something. But the agent
had almost put it across, at that.
At least he had sadly disconnected
her for few seconds.
She smiled again-and Rena
Hamilton's smile was a notable
One-then she set in to act her
part like good sport.
my goodness, isn't it terrible!
But I guess I'll have to take my
chances. Sht winked mischievous-
ly at him. "Should I buy couple
of muzzle leaders before leaving
town ?"A
But the wrinkled agent didn't
smile.
He got up from his chair, NUT
tering. He came around through
his Office door and stood face to
face with the girl.
"HOw old are you? he suddenly
asked.
''Why-why, I'm 21. But 7" He
had surprised her again.
"Waal, you're Of age, but don't
look it. Now you listen to me, miss.
amt teasir' nobody, none. You
think was trying to pull yore leg.
Well, come with me a, minute"
He started off, walking with the
stoop that told Of his years over
desk. Curiosity forced her to fol-
low obediently. He led her to the
baggage room and slid open the
great door.
There on a platform truck rested
two long pine boxes Of the kind
Lorena knew contained cofins. Dis
covery of them shocked her Sc
verely.
1.-TWO murdered men in there"
declared the agent. "Now come out
here"
Outside on bulletin board was
a printed poster to which the agent