The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

'FLECTS OFFICERS Will Westlake Is Re-elected President of Church (Mrs. W. T. Baker, Correspon- dent ) Solina, Dec. 4. -- The Epworth League opened its meeting with Mr. Will Westlake, president, in he chair. The Devotional Topic was taken by Miss Lena Taylor, after which the new officers were lected, as follows: --president, Mr. Will Westlake; 1st vice pres., Mrs. E R. Taylor; 2nd vice-pres., Miss F. Smales; 3rd vice pres, Mr. Len Barton, 4th vice pres. Miss R. McKessock; sec., Miss Mary Westlake: treas., Mr. W. Yellowlees; pianist, Miss J. Yel- lowlees. Next week roll call #111 be answered by a quotation rem your fayorite author. 'Mr, Arthur Blanchard was a visltor at the Royal Fair last week. "Mr. and Mrs. Howard Conch and Misses Marjory and Eileen, were Sunday guests at Mr, John Baker's. .Several from here attended the sale of stock and implements at Mr. T. Taylor's, Hampton, yes- terday. Mr. and Mrs. J. Allin' Pen- fourd and Jack, Oshawa, visited at Mr. W. T. Baker's on Wednes- day evening, "The Women's Institute will hold their December meeting in the church basement on Thurs- day, Dec. 10th. Group No. 2 in cHarge of programme and a re- nort of the convention will be given by Miss N. C. Yellowlees. Miss Audrey Cowling spent the week-end at home 'in Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. White spent Monday in Toronto, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Hobbs spent the week-end in Lindsay. "Mr. Walters, of Peterboro has . been spending a few days at Mr. J. R. Kivell's. The church at Eldad was nice- 1p filled for the concert given by the pupils of school section 20, on Friday night with the follow- jag programme:-----1, chorus by seniors; 2, recitation by Miss Muriel Langmaid; 3, "Jake in the City" (dialogue); 4, chorus by Jupfors; 5, Dance Song, by Nen- fors and Juniors; 6, Soldier Song, duet, "Madame Will You Take a Walk With Me?"'; 7, Train Song by Juniors; 8, "Literary Society" (4'alogue) ; 9, Doll Song by Jun- jors; 10, Decitation by Kathleen ker; 11, chorus by Seniors; , duet, "The Milkmaids Song"; 13, "Striking for Higher Wages" (dialogue); 14, solo, Mr. Robb, of Orono; 15, "Five Little Bird- jes" by Junior Girls; 16, solo by Francis Wotten; 17, "Cure For Rheumatism," by two boys. Mr. Ed. Werry moved a hearty vote fhanks to Mrs. Robb and Mr. bs on behalf of the company present, to which both made re- les and then in closing, Miss by Parker read a nicely word- od address on behalf of the pu- / oils and friends of the school to rs. Robb and Master Wesley Wetry presented her with a mu- gic roll. After singing God Save the King, the meeting dispersed. Proceeds, $13.20. _ Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Whitby, visited at Mr. Roy Langmaid's. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Tink and family, Maple Grove, Mr, and Mss. Hilton Tink and Lorraine lem invited at Mr. H. C. Tink's oun Sunday. "There were 98 at 8.8. on Sun- y and next Sunday the supt. 1d like to see it up to the 100 mark. Rev. Mr. Bick spoke very nicely on the subject, "Paul Looks on a Finished Life," with his text found in 4th chap. of 2nd Timothy. «Mr. and Mrs. Roy Langmaid pertained about 40 of their pds and neighbors on Satur- day evening to a progressive euchre party, when all had an enjoyable time. Mrs. Cruikshank snd Mr. Jack Reynolds winning _. frst prizes and Mrs. C. D. Pas- cos and Mr. N. Wotten winning ._gonsolation prizes. . "While at the Royal Fair, Mr. 'Chae. Blanchard purchased a * seven month's prize winning hog from Brethour's famous Oak ge herd. m Mr. Allan - McKessock pur- chased one from "Wellwood", Farmers' Advocate Farm. This district is fortunate in having such choice blooded stock in this line of production. HAMPTON NEWS (Miss L. Horn, Correspondent) Hampton, Dec. 7--The cold wave caught many unprepared for such weather, on Friday night. Some who hadn't the extra heating facil- ities in order for winter, were prompted to do so, believing that winter despite the beautiful autumn weather we have had, was ultimate- lv with us. Although" the pond was open on Friday, over the creek bed, for some distance, the remainder of the pond was still covered with ice, and some of our boys, who couldn't wait any longer for Jack Frost to show his effects, and ensure safety 'for that healthy and enjoyable sport of skat- ing ventured on the ice for their first skate, confining the area for skating 'where, in case of breaking through, they would find shallow water. However, they met with no misfortune and are pleased at hav- ing at least one skate, should the opportunity for much skating in the future be not too promising, as the weather since Friday night, has led one to believe that the season for skating on a pond, may be short this vear, as in previous years there has been good skating in November. Saturday, and there was promise of milder weather, and by Sunday morning, the caves were running, and most of the snow had disap- peared, but another cold wave came bv night, accompanied winds and drifting snow, giving much the appearance of February or March. Old Sol brightened things up on Monday at intervals. It was Missionary Sunday at Sunday School and Mrs. Harold Salter's class, assisted in the liter- ary part of the program. The attendance was not large at Sunday Schoo! or the church ser- vice in the evening. Rev. J. R, Bick based his remarks on the fourth chapter of 1I "Timothy and the 7th and 8th verses: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but upto all them also that love his annearing," The Young People's League met on Friday evening the President be- ing in charge of tife program. Sev- eral hymns were sung during the call to worship. Mrs. Roy Knox, had charge of the devotional per- iod, the subject being "What Did Jesus Teach About Himself," during which prayer was offered. Mrs. Hilton Peters favored with a vocal number, and Mr. H, Pcters present- ed the topic which dealt with the parable of the vine as found in the reading of the Bible Lesson, John 15: 1-8, also John 5; 24-34, and John 10: 30, which was read in concert Fitting hymns were sung during the meeting, "Abiding, oh so wondrous sweet," being used in closing and praver hy our pastor, Rev. J. R Bick. The play entitled "Miss Adven- ture", will be given in the Sunday School rooms of Hampton United Church bv the young people of Trinity United Church, Bowmanville on Friday evening, December 11th, under the auspices of the young men's Bible Class. Proceeds to be used as a donation from the class, towards the expense of installing el- ectricity in the church, Mrs. Grace Clatworthy and daughter, Ruby, visited relatives in Fenelon Falls and district last week. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Slemon and sons, Haydon, visited at the home of her mother, Mrs. Elmina Johns, on Sunday, Miss Jean Stainton, accompanied her brother, James, from Toronto, visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Stainton, on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. T. Wilcox, have taken up residence, with their daughter, Mrs, Densem, Bowman- ville, for the winter months. The W.CT.U. will meet at the home of Mrs Hilton Peters on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Ida Smale who has been her mother at Baltimore, the last few weeks, who is ill, spent a few days at home last week. Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie and fam- ilv, who have resided in the village, and afforded a home for many of the men who were employed on the Scugog Road paving contract, this summer, have made a return move to their home in Campbellford, $9.95 up. $12.95. Call in and we will be pleased to. help you shopping. want we will get it for you. If it is something for Christmas, we have it; don't overlook our lovely purses $1.95 up, or maybe a scarf. We have a high grade of Hose, two pair in a box for $1.75, and Sunday evening dresses from Only a few coats left at with your istm If we haven't what you i ---- 15 KING E. or PHONE 2853 The mercurw rose somewhat on' by high - Ls NEWS (Mrs. T. C. Brown, Correspon- dent) Brougham, Dec. 7. ---- Mr. A. Moflat, of Oshawa, 'spent the week-end at the Gerow home. Mr. Stirling spent a few days in Toronto this week with friends.. Mrs. Thomas Perryman and sir. E. Perryman attended the funeral of a relative, Mr. J. Varey of Toronto, on Thursday. Mrs. Amos Love, of Toronto, was a visitor with the Perryman {family on Wednesday. Rev. Mr, McLellan on Sunday last continued his series of ser- mone on the sins of the tongue,' using for his text, Proverbs 19: 3, "The foolishness of man per- verteth. his way and his heart frefteth against the Lord." Most of us must acknowledge the sin of fretting and nursing griev- vnces instead of looking for the cause so often within ourseleves. The W.M.S. will hold their fall thankoffering meeting on Sunday | Mrs. Rev. | eve, Dec. 13, at 7.30. Duncan McLeoyd, of now on furlough, will speaker. Special music will be provided. Mr, and Mrs. Will Brown and Tommy visited T. C. Drown on Thursday last. Traffic on the highway fis somewhat retarded this Monday morning, due to the heavy blan- ket of snow, which fell during the night. We can now realize that Christmas is just around the cor- per. The Crocker family, of Toron- to, visited L. and Mrs. Mathews on Sunday. Mrs. C. Barclay spent the weck-end with the Toronto mem- bers of her family. There is an increased attend- ance at S.S, as Christmas ap- proaches. Mr. John Cowie is in Toronto at present, Mrs. Fred Cassie is on the sick list this week. The Boy Scouts are stil] en- tbueiastic, and under the able leadership of Mr. McWhirter, meet in the Temperance Hall each Friday eve, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Harvey, as- sisted by Mr, and Mrs. McWhir- ter are busy training the mem- bers of the S.8. for their annual entertainment, and Christmas tree, which takes place on Dec. 23 Under such experienced ieaders this entertainment pro- mises to he a success. A meeting of the ratepayers of the township, was held in the town hall on Saturday evening, Dec 5, to consider the advisabil- ity of organizing a ratepayers' as- sociation of the township. Mr. Newman, of Dunbarton, occupted the chair, and was the chief tepeaker of the evening. A num- ber of those present voiced their views on the matter and quite a number signified their approval, by submitting their names on the list as members of the assocla- tion. Formosa, CLAREMONT Claremont, Dec, 7.--~The de- lightful entertainment given by the C.G.I.T. of the United Church, in the Community Hall, on Fri- day evening last was well attend- ed. The main feature of the pro- gramme was a three act comedy drama, "A Southern Cinderella", presented by seven members of the group. The fine manner in which these young actors pre- sented this humorous drama mer- ited the many favorable com- ents that it received. The big warm hearted, darkey maid whose attentions were divided between her duty to her mis- tress, and to her own love affairs, created much hearty laughter. Between acts, readings and musi- cal numbers, both instrumental and vocal, were given. Included among the latter was a very pretty folk song of the Victorian Era, and a comedy sketch, 'Pete and Jane.' The two young girls, or rather lady and gentleman who rendered this, might well be ranked 'with some of our noted comedians for the realistic man- ner in which it was given. This most enjoyable and varied pro- gramme was brought to a close with a fittingly worded chorus by the Class, in it the girls ex- pressed their thanks to the audi- ence for coming to hear them and the hope that their endeavors at entertaining had proved accept- able. Much praise is due their lead- er, Mrs. J. H. Caskey, for the great interest she has shown in these 'teen age girls, not only in training them for the concert on Friday evening, but for her lead- ership and example since under- taking the work more than & year ago. Winter weather has come to us during the past few days and 'now the ground is blanketed with snow, While many of us are not anxious for real winter weather yet we know that the small boy and girl, as well as dear old Santa Claus, will feel that the season is more Christmasy with a bit of snow on the ground and a tinge of Jack Frost in the air. Our Public School Principal, Miss R. Donnell entertained a number of Claremont friends at || her home in Keswick on Satur- day evening last, We are sorry to report that Mrs oD. B. Taylor who has been confined to bed for several weeks owing to a fractured hip, is not making a satisfactory progress towards recovery as her many friends had hoped she might. John and Mrs. McLellan and little son, of Toronto, and Miss Mabel McLellan, of St. Cath- arines, were Sunday visitors at the manse. - : Miss Brown, of Toronto, was a week-end guest with her sister, Mrs. H, G. McIntyre. Miss Evelyn McCullough, R.N,, be the | and Mrs. | NEW CENTRE FOR (Upstairs) i | ENTRANCE THROUGH THE STORE Gifts for the | Whole Family clared on the insect 1 modation to manufacturers who may wish to turn out their pro- duets in Great Britain, or to manufacturers and exporters who may wish to hold stocks in cater- ing to seasonal demands or meet- ing wariations in sterling ex- change. With ample suppifes of labor, water, electric power, gas, fuel and other services, and with road, rail facilities available, the estate also boasts a basin and a dock and modernly equipped, covering 145 acres. WAR IS DECLARED and water transportation lock-enclosed harbor area, fully ON INSECT PESTS | ------ | Government Officials Start War With Enemies of Grain Crop Winnipég--War has been de- pests which avaged prairie wheat fields last Plans for attacking the prob- ay 8 year. Sy lem, which promises to be of major i West St. South t 11 1 t I t of Toronto, has been spending a few days with her parents, Jas. |a and Mrs. McCullough. Mrs. Cowie, Sr., has been in Markham during the past two weeks owing to the jllness of her brother, Mr. Dickson Miss Bessie Graham, ronto, was home over the end. W. and Mrs. of To-|° week- Brown, of Toron- were with the pars Mr. and Mr Thompson, the week-end. | Rev. A. McLellan will charge of the service at Zion United Church evening, Dec. 13th The Baptist and United Church Sunday Schools are prepar- Ing for their Christmas enter- tainment to be held on Dec. 21st and 22nd respectively, latter's to, ents, over | have Mount || on husy SHIPPING PLANNED! ON MERSEY RIVER Six Hundred Acre Tract|. Set Apart Near Lever |' Bros. Village | UR | Regarded as offering an almost | ideal location for Canadian manu- facturers and exporters planning to invade the British markets, announcement is currently being made throughout the British Isles and the rest of the Kmpire | of the launching of an ambitious | addition to the i{mmiense manu- | facturing, mercantile distribution | and shipping facilities centreing | on Liverpool, Eng., and stretch- ing along both sides of the Mer- sey River, Covering an area of 600 acres in the immediate vicinity of Port Sunlight, site of the Lever Broth- |and law-abiding people } to Dr. T. Charles Gonzales, medical ers' plants and the development tened Bromboro Port Estate. With halt a dozen huge indus- trial plants and shipping agencles already established on or near the tract, the Port Kstate has already made headway {in its aim of "breaking new ground industrially." With complete facilities for manufacturing, import, export and domestic dis- tribution, and a pivotal point in distributing products to a na- tional market of 44,000,000 people, the Estate, nevertheless, is far enough up the river to re- main almost rural in character. With an absence of smoke and congestion making for employes' well-being and operating effici- ency, it is anticipated that the estate in the next few years will be intensively colonized by manu- facturers and warchouses, not only in England, but from other parts of the Empire as well, The manufacturing sites, warehouses and trans-shipping facilities de- scribed in a handsome booklet just issued by the estate, have already aroused much interest among manufacturers and export- ers in Canada who have seen fit. A copy of this booklet may be had from Lever Brothers Ltd. Port Sunlight, England. It is pointed out that a grow- ing number of indusries in Can- ada expect to do larger business with the British Isles and the Continental countries in the fut- ure. Strategically loci'ed and scientifically planned, the Brom- boro Port Estate offers accom- mode] village, has been chris- |¢ central to occur in the : | extend its Sunday |}, | Criddle Carman, were anders of St have several hundred gallons annually of spirits, they are really a very quiet troop built up serve the population of the French colony. nation mportance throughout the his coming crop season, were laid ast week at representative meet- ngs of government officials of the hree prairie provinces and. munici- alities, large areas in southern and cen- ral Manitoba and in southern and portions of Saskatchewan are going into the winter with large grasshopper egg beds deposited, ac- cording to R. C. Crawf the at Ottawa, ple te d, head of cal branch who has made a com- of the situation. In outbreak certain spring, officials are irranging to supply poison bait tc Dominion entom survey arcas wher are farmers in the spring. utheast The Mani entire se VET) ! present hound: looked for, stated Nor Dominion entomol lle addressed a 1 sentative of twenty munie A Mar § to an: mter- Regina provinces incial « at Id." All prairic at the ¢ at the Were 101 repr esented The « orm outbreak 15 A ISHING PEOPLE ARE LAW-ABIDING Rum-running From French Islands Does Not Affect Inhabitants : Montreal Though the ard Pierre and Miq a per-capita importation of according ommandant of French colonial who with two agssitants has an excellent hospital to settlement can well be com- The pared for restfulness with a small fis} anny, viewed in his wife spent a few days en route to France after a threc years' stay on the islands, ermen of the islands." he said, "have little to do with ning to the United States. large companies huge warehouses at St, Pierre and it is they who are largely engaged in the trade although even that is not very noticeable." town on the coast of Brit- said Dr. Gonzales when inter- Montreal where he amd "The French fish- whisky run- Several established the have Boats, small power vessels, sneak in and out of the harbour at night time, said Dr. Gonzales, hardly noticed. wrong, he said, to assume tliat St. Pierre is a place of night-long rev- elry. law-abiding. and are It certainly is Tt is, on the contrary, most "A gentleman asked me which, in my opinion, is the brightest nation of the thirteen or fourteen represented at the Illumination Congress. Here's what I told him: "The brightest nation is illumi- san _ Asked by the foreigner what was the average tip he received, the porter suggested half-a-crown and got it. "Lumme, guv'nor," he sald, caressing the coin: "you're the first that's come up to the aver- age!" Tl by B. 7. GER ELEVENTH INSTALMENT Bob Reeves, the Kid, was nicknamed Tiger Eye by his friends down in the Brazos country because his "gun-eye'" was yellow. When his father, "Killer Reeves," died the Kid left Texas to avoid continuing his father's he hing Montana be is forced to draw on, Nate Wheeler, an irate mnester. In the exchange of shots Wheeler drops dead, the Kid later learning that Bob Gamer who had also shot at the same time, Jeally killed Wheeler. Garner gets the Kid to join the Poole outfit as a rim rider. The Kid succors Wheeler's widow and is interrupted by Pete Gorham and some other nesters He shoots Gorham th both ears for coupling his name with Wheeler's widow. Later rescues a girl, Nellie, and her dad from Gorham, wounding Pete again. The girl, in spite of her belief the Kid is an imported Texas killer, warns him the nesters will kill him. The Mid warns Gar- ner the nesters are plan an attack on the Poole outfit. He meets Jess Markel, a Texan who is boss of the Poole wagon crew and shoots him through beth hands. Nellie's dad is shot from am and suspects Babe against his wish. The latter thinks another nester killed the old man. Babe is wounded by hidden enemies, who also shoot at Figer Eye but miss. The Kid pulls Babe back into the cabin and wounds one of the mtackers, Nellie comes to the cabin secretly and aids Tiger Eye to escape with the wounded Babe. While they are riding off, Babe becomes delirious and accuses the Kid of trying to cheat him out of the pay for killing Nellie's brother, Nellie, outraged at being betrayed in her faith in the Kid, slashed him across the face and rides away. After turning Babe over to the Poole outfit, Tiger Eye finds a deserted cabin and determines to wage independent war on the killers of both factions. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY His grub was getting low. He wanted more money than he had in his pocket. Wouldn't be working for wages now for awhile, and grub costs money, So he sat one night in a poker game with three cowboys from over toward the Rosebud and a lucky prospector just in from the Black Hills. Walked out at daylight with his pants bulging at the sides like a pocket gopher packing grass to its burrow. Honest player, though. Never caught him fn any funny business. Plain lucky, that kid with the one yellow eye. He rode out of town at noon, Barney taking careful, nippy steps to balance the big and bulging pack on his back. Pecos, too, car- ried more than his master that day. Tobacco and five pounds of candy and a songbook and two cartons of cartridges wrapped in the kid's slicker and tied behind the cantle. The kid's pockets sagged with six new mouth organs, keys C and D, in bright red pasteboard boxes. The kid was almost ready now to show Nellie Murray he was nei- ther a killer nor a cur to take a licking and crawl off under the brush and whimper over his hurts. He was just about ready to start in taming the killers. Right soon, now, the name of Tiger Eye wonld send men's glances back over their shoul- ders and make a prickle go up into the roots of their hair. The range tiger was going on the prowl. It was hot down in that willow | growth through which the kid was | riding. They came out finally against a barbed-wire fence, built straight across through the thicket. Good stout posts that looked solid as the teeth in the kid's mouth. Four wires strung so tight they hummed like a tuning fork when the kid leaned over and gave one a jerk. No fooling with that fence. Cattle proof and storm proof, like the fences the railroads built along their right-of-way. Plumb strange to find a fence like that over in this part of the country. This wasn't Poole land, and he never heard of any nesters over in this direction. No trails coming up this way, no nothing. Shoah was mysterious. They followed the fence for half an hour of steady plodding along the narrow lane cut by the fence builders. They came slap up against a sandstone ledge where the last post stood in a hole drilled info solid rock and was set there with cement, And that was plumb strange too. Nothing to do about it, though. Couldn't even ride back along the edg® of the willows be cause it was just a mess of broken rock and rubble from the steep slope that evidently stood above the ledge. Once more the XII turned Pecos short around, and rode back along the fence. He crossed a creek bed covered with hot sun-bleached cob: blestones with stagnant pools in the hollows. There the fence be- came a brush and wire barrier higher than the kid's head. No ani- mal bigger than a rabbit could wriggle through there. He rode another balf mile or two before he came to the edge of the fence and found it anchored to the other arm of the sandstone ledge. An hour or more later Pecos stopped on the crest of a long ridge and stood with braced legs, com: pletely winded after the steep climb, though the kid had been con- siderate enough to come up on his own feet. . He had plenty of time to rest and doze while the wind pleasantly dried his sweaty hide, for the kid sat down with bis knees hunched up to brace his elbows, and through the glasses very carefully examined this strange conglomeration of hills and hollows and wild crooked can- yons, The kid moved his glasses a little and saw a horseman just riding out of sight behind a chokecherry thicket. He seemed to be coming down the canyon. The kid rode slowly along the canyon bottom, playing his mouth organ as he went, and letting his long legs sway to the rhythm of the tune. The kid's eyes lightened | with a peculiar gleam but the tune he was playing never missed a note, until a black horse and rider came into view. The kid gave one start- led look and the music ceased with a squawk. : Nellie Murray, dressed in her dead brother's overalls and blue gingham shirt, with ber thick bratd of yellow hair sweeping the cantle of her saddle as she rode! She carried her dad's rifle in the crook of her arm as if she meant to meet danger a little more than . halfway, and as the two horses stopped of their own accord, she lifted the rifle midway to her shoul- der, then let it down again. The kid looked at her with that curious, steady stare of his yellow right eye, and his face had the ex- pressionless look of a trained gambler. Cold and hostile and ready for war he looked, but he didn't feel that way. Hot crimples went chasing up his spine, and the back of his neck had a queer tight- ened feeling, as he stared at her. "Well! I've found one of you, anyway!" she exclaimed, in a tone that was worse than another cut of the ouirt. "Where are the cattle?" "What cattle?" "Our cattle that you Poole men stole out of our pasture last night. Every hoof we ewn! I'm going to get them back, if I have to fight every Texas killer in the country." "I'm a Texas man, all right, but I'm no killah, Told yo'all that befo'." "Well, that remains to be seen. You're a Poole man, anyway. You wihicre our cattle are." of riding outside the valley. The Poole claimed he was rustling calves, but that's a lie. I know how we got every hoof we owned. We only had forty-two head, Now we haven't got any." "If yoh brothah got proof--" "He got enough to put the fear of the Lord into Walter Bell," she declared bitterly. "We don't know whether they saw Ed, watching them, or whether the Eastern own- ers wrote back and told Walt what Ed said about him and his outfit. The Poole certainly must have found out somehow, and it wasn't from any of the valley folks, for they didn't know it. The Poole started in--dry-gulching, if you know what that means, and I sup- pose you do, all right." She sent him a quick. glance and looked away again when the kid failed to meet her eyes. "Before, it was just mean range tricks--hogging the range and accusing the nesters of rustling calves and killing beef and all that. But all at once they start- ed killing. Ed was one of the first "Well! "Shoah wish I did. The Poole's fighting nestahs, I know that, But they don't steal cattle, Miss Mur- ray." "Oh, don't they? Walter Bell ought to raise your wages for say- ing that]" "He kain't, the Poole." "No? How long since?" "Since that night we got Babe outa Cold Spring cabin." "I suppose the Poole fired you for poor shooting!" Her short scornful laugh turned the kid's ears red as if she had slapped (hem, but he made no ans- wer to the taunt. What was the use? He wrapped the bridle reins around the saddle horn and began to roll a cigarette, taking plenty of time. A man could do a heap of thinking over a cigaretie without giving himself away. "You must know off with our cattle!' "No, kain't say I do." "Well, they did." "You'all right shoah it was the Poole?" "I wouldn't say it if I wasn't sure," she retorted sharply. "None of our neighbors would do it, and besides, I trailed them up on the Bench and over ' this way. The Poole wants to run us out of the country. You know why, don't you?" "Kain't say I do, lessen it's be cause yoah a nestah." "Oh, of course all the nesters are being made the goats for Walter Bell!, He's got to lay the blame somewhere for his stealings. But he's scared to death of us Murrays and he means to drive us out. He's got Ed and father out of the way, but he's afraid of Mother and me too. You know why, don't you?" "Kain't blame 'em for that," he said drily. Nellie flushed and looked down at the rifle sagging in her grasp. "It's because old Walt Bell is afraid Mother and I know what Ed found out about the Poole. Ed caught the Poole cowboys stealing Poole cattle, that's why! Some of them--that stand in close with Walter Bell. Joe Hale for one, and Jess Markel for another, He caught them running a wildcat brand on Poole calves, over this way some- where. He found out a lot, and then he wrote back to the head moguls in New York and told them what was going on." She bit her lip. "That was away last March, and they haven't done a thing about it, though Mother says Ed sent enough proof to put the whole out fit in the pen." "Shoah had nerve, that boy." The cigarette was lighted but the kid forgot to smoke it. His mind went shuttling back and forth, weaving Nellie's story into certain puzzling fragments of information he had never been able to make anything of. "Of course he had merve! Too much, He wanted to get the goods on that bunch without dragging the neighbors into it. He mever told them 'what he was doing, but he told Father." "Plumb strange yo'all nevah men- tioned it, when we talked these things ovah at the cabin. 'Peahs like I wasn't trusted at no time." "I didn't know it then. Mother knew, but they were afraid to talk about it. much. She only told me early this morning, when we found out our cattle were gone. I rode down to the pasture-to bring up the cows and there wasn't a hoof in sight. I saw where they'd been driven off, and then when I went #~ 4nll Mathar, she told me the whole story." "suuah would like to know what yoh mothah said," he observed, in what would have been a cold and formal tone, except that the kid's soft Texas voice made a pleasing melody whenever he spoke. "Mother told me Ed was always trying to figure out why the Poole had it in for the nesters, after let ting them settle in the valley with- out making a fuss, Ed did a lot I'm not working for the Poole ran I've found you Where are the cattle?" she demanded. "If yoh'd give me the brands so I'd know yoh mothah's cattle when 1 find 'em--" "Well, it's Reverse E. But I couldn't think of troubling you, M Reeves. I intend to get those cattic myself." "It's 2 man's job," the kid said gruffly. ' "Well, I'm the man of the family now, 80 it's my job. So long, Mr.: Reeves! She gathered up the reins and tapped her horse lightly with the quirt--just as if it had never been put to a more sinister use--and rode on past the kid with her chin tilted upward and her gaze bent ostentatiously upon a strag- gling, small herd of cattle feeding over on the farther slope. "Adios, Miss Murray!" The kid kieked Pecos into a trot and rode on into the rocky pass, playing his mouth organ so loudly he cracked a reed so that the note buzzed like a bee in a bottle, He rode on ahead of her. Didn't act like she was goin home. Didn't try to catch up with him, either, The kid got to worrying about what she meant to do, and finally he pulled in behind 'a ledge and waited for her to come along, so he could give her another piece of his mind. Yet when she rode up she didn't give him a chance, "If you're bound to hunt our cat- tle, I guess we better work togeth- er," she said cheerfully. "This is awful rough country." . all." "Oh, forget it!" she snapped. "I'm not geing, and that settles it, If you want to get rid of me so bad, hufry up and find our cattle." "If it wasn't fo yoah mothah, 1 wouldn't tuhn my hand ovah foh yo'all!" the kid blurted fiercely. (To Be Continued) Schoolmaster: "What is an ale bino?" Boy: "Please sir, a man who- can prove he isn't anywhere." « « « to comfort and enjoyment on the money you've saved through an Excelsior LOW RATE "Endowment At 65" Policy. Send for booklet to-day J. W. McCLELLAN District y Alger Bldg., Oshawa, Ont. EXCELSIOR rsmoa | | Ff es "A Strong Canadian Company" HEAD @FFICE - TORONTO, ONT. -eee==MAIL THIS COUPON: 36 Totents Street, Toronto 3, Baer: 'OF Please send me descriptive folder about "Endowment at 65" at my present age "Go awn home like I told yo' | | | | { | | | | erly by morning and stipation will pe} i / action as free and easy as na- ture at her best--positively no Pain, no gripi i Mild, ng. Try it. ~ ¥