Evening star., 1950-09-12

by Adrian to his wife. Corliss,, the previou.
October. Although they had been married
his wife by her maiden name; 1t showed
Adrian In front Of a trapper's cabin and
ns msde up tRe esrd for he e mssna
man the previous summer. Hank agree.
to guide Gorliss and city ,detecbti;ve b;
o% oo PsT IN " @rH SefTfe fEs sToRY 81 oaoin
CHAPTER TWO.
The woman who left the noon
stage and entered the hotel was
slender -waiste. smooth = hipped
self reliant. She seemed to have
confidence in her ability to &C
complish what She set out to dc
and to know exactly what it was
she had in mind.
Conscious of the fact that the
stage driver was watching her
curiously, she walked smoothly
and unheSitatingly into the hotel.
crossed the lobby to the desk
nodded to Ray Fieldon, the pro-
prietor. and took the pen which
he handed her.
For brief moment she hesi-
tated as the point of the pen was
held over the registration card,
and Ray Fieldon, knowing from
long experience the meaning
of that momentary hesitation,
cooked a quizzical eyebrow.
Then the woman wrote in a
firm. clear handwriting. Marion
Chandler. Crystal City"
I'D like something with bath,
If you have it," she said. II ex-
pect to be here only long enough
to make arrangements to pack
into the Middle Fork country.
Perhaps you know of some packer
who is thoroughly reliable"
Fieldon met those steady,
friendly eyes and acknowledged
defeat. well, now. ma'am. the
best packer hereabouts is Hank
Lucas. AS a matter of fact, he's
starting in to the Middle Fork
country tomorrow, taking a party
ina man and a woman. Just a
chance you might get to team up
with them"
Fieldon broke off as the door
was pushed open, and Marion
Chandler turned to survey the
loose-jointed figure in tight
fitting Lewis and high-heeled
boots that entered the lobby.
This is Hank noW," Fieldon
said in an undertone.
Hank gave the young woman a
swift, comprehensive glance, then
swept off the Sweat-stained SOM
brero to disclose dark curly hair,
carelessly tumbled about his head.
Fieldon performed introductions
and explained the reason for
them.
well, now" Hank said, 'it'S all
right with me, but you'd better
sort of get acquainted with those
other people this afternoon, see
how you like them, and then
sound them out. It's sort of en-
barrassing if you get out with
people you don't like"
"Oh, I'm quite sure I'd get
along with these other people" :"
We'll, they'd ought to get along
with you," Hank said, with open
admiration. What you going in
for? Fishing. Or hunting? Orr"
She gave him the same smile
she had given Fieldon. I'm an
amateur photographer. I want
pictures of the Middle Fork coun-
try, and I'm particularly anxious
to get pictures of people-people
who have lived in that country
for long time. The old residents,
you know. Types. Character
studies"
You got a sleeping bag
ma'am?"
Down. at the express Office
that is, it should be. sent in
most of my stuff by express a few
days ago."
"I'll look it up" Ray Fieldon
said, and then asked casually
"sent from Crystal City?"
She met his eyes. mo" she
said. Merely inquire for pack
age sent to Marion Chandler, care
of the express Office, if you will
please"
X X
Some time early the next after
noon Marion Chandler looked
back on the long line of horses
from her position near the heae
of the string. The packs, covered
with white tarpaulins and sway
ing slightly from side to side with