The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
D SERIAL STORY
LOVE ON THE LINE
AZ Dahl EPIGCEklc co.x..u
9
NEA SERVICE, INC.

titious town lot sales, a few Jumps
ahead of the homesteaders. Then
Mark hunted down a settler
who identified Oaks as the agent
who sold town plots in an eastern
settlement with deliberately 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 interference
in the hotel, Mark had thrown Oaks
off guard. If ever Oaks guessed
Marks identity, it was probably
that of a mouthy young homestead
er who didn't know his place. That
was borne out later when Oaks, al
the bar and at the dance, still re-
sentful, attacked Mark. And Mark,
hiding 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 related
this part proudly, telling how Deuel.
had taken him into confidence
Locking up his livery stable at
midnight. Newt had see 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 stiffened,
slowed his horse ever so slightly
to stop Oaks, but it was too late.
Oaks, probably now suspecting
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 blotted out
his sight and darkness dropped
over the prairie. 1t did not lift
again until he was back at Sioux
Sprins House and a doctor
brought over from the stageline
had removed the bullet. Then they
told him they were sending for
Carrie.
Carrie, Carrie" he had mum
bled once or twice, and Ma Parm.
ley, who had been called in with
the first excitement, had told
Newt to bring her.
Oaks was dead. He had aban-
doned attempts to open the safe,
decided on a 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 dr guns,
lined the few homesteaders in the
office up against the wall with the
agent, while he rifled the safe.
Then he had galloped off with $l2,-
900, striking due north toward Rock
Creek to throw pursuers off his
track. Instead, he had met Mark
Deuel..
Five minutes after the holdup
a posse was organized, spread out,
picked up Oaks easily. He was
overtaken a quarter mile beyond
Mark, and killed when he fired
on the posse.
Thew were still talking when Ma
Parmley tiptoed up to the door,
looked in on Mark and Carrie hall
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 a school
bow in mischief, when I said l
might have some news to surprise
you?"
Eyes, yes" said Carrie, a bit
GREATNESS. =. -.
.sWell." Mark went on, here 1t
is" He pulled Carrie closer with