The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-09
Newt Gale Tells Long Story

scribe" read the wire, and Gov- ernment Agent Mark Deuel knew at last he was on the trail of land swindler sought in seven states. Mark had been ordered to find Ashton, Alias Oaks, six months earlier, had picked up the trail, lost it. Now, finally, he had found his man again and Wash ington had confirmed his identi- f1cation.
 With decisivenesS, he showed the scribbled message in his pocket, walked down to Newt Gales livery stable. There Newt had told him "a gentleman by the name of Ashton Oaks" had rented a buggy, all right, the night before, was renting it again today.
 Events moved fast, unexpect- edly after that. At the land office Mark learned Ashton Oaks" or Emery Ashton" was booming f1c- titious town lot sales, few jumps ahead of the homesteaders. Then Mark hunted down 8 settler who identified Oaks as the agent who sold town plots in an eastern settlement with elaborately litho- graphed maps of a town that did not exist. Still later he learned this was the same Oaks who was advertising lots of the proposed" state capital on every train out of Chicago.
 Then Carrie came to Sioux Springs. Before he was ready to close in, Carrie had brought Mark Deuel and Ashton Oaks together in the hotel when Oaks openly had tried to sell lots to Carrie, and Mark, his chivalry overriding good judgment, had stepped in to stop him.
 That was a lucky break for Mark, because Oaks was deceived. With his sudden, open interfer- ence in the hotel, Mark had thrown Oaks off guard. If ever Oaks guessed Marks identity, it was probably that of n1outhy young homesteader who didn't know his place. That was borne out later when Oaks at the bar and at the dance, still resentful, attacked Mark. And Mark, bid- ing his time, had seen that Ash ton Oaks had gone on being re- sentful and unsuspicious.
 It was Newt Gale who had pointed matters up. (Newt re- lated this part proudly, telling how Deuel had taken him into confidence). Locking up his livery stable at midnight, Newt had seen Ashton Oaks leaving the land office by the rear door and he had told Mark. With thousands of dollars in fees passing through the land office every day, Mark realized Ashton Oaks was also planning open robbery.
 It was robbery, he knew, the moment Oaks horse pounded down on him on the prairie out side Sioux Springs. Mark stiff ened, slowed his horse ever so slightly to Stop Oaks, but it was too late. Oaks, probably now sus- pecting Mark, shot, and Mark tumbled to the hot earth.
 He raised on his elbow only long enough after that to see Oaks take his horse and then pain plotted out his sight and darkness dropped over the prairie. It did not lift again until he was back at Sioux Springs House and c f doctor brought over from thu stageline had removed the bullet Then they told him they wert sending for Carrie.
 Carrie, Carrie" he had mum. bled once or twice, and Ma Farm. ley, who had been called in witt the first excitement, had tole Newt to bring her.
 Oaks was dead. He had aban. doned attempts to open the safe decided on daring daylight holdup of the land office. Leaving his horse at the rear of the build. ing, he had walked into the office at noontime with drawn guns lined the few homesteaders in the office up against the wall with the agent, while he rifled the safe Then he had galloped of wit. $12,000, striking due north toward Rock Creek to throw pursuers of his track. Instead, he had met Mark Deuel.
 Five minutes after the holdur 8 posse was organized, spread out picked up Oaks easily. He was overtaken quarter mile beyond Mark, and killed when he fired on the posse.
 They were still talking when Ma Parmley tiptoed up to the door looked in on Mark and Carrie hal an hour later. Carrie, beside the bed was holding Marks hand. Mark was stroking her hair.
 Remember this morning at Taylor's?" Mark was smiling, and looking up at Carrie like school boy in mischief, when I said ] might have some news 10 surprise you?"
 "Yes, yes," said Carrie, a bit breathleSS.
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