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LARRY DAVENPORT, author inâ€" vents an electric battery of startling power. GRIMSTEAD,â€" a capitalist, whon Larty meets while he is stranded on a California mountain side by the breakdown of his car, induces Davenâ€" port to sign an agreement by which he and the capitalist make and marâ€" ket the Battery. . KROss» GAKDINY"® Cgiggstead‘s second«inâ€"command, draws‘ up the agreement. He and Grimstead are overheard by Larry as they discuss the manner in which they will profit from the battery and ignore Larry‘s idealistic aims for it. BURTON GRIMSTEAD, the capâ€" italist‘s daughter, has fallen in love with Davenport, impressed by his strange power of prophecy. She sugâ€" gests that he "dissemble" so that Grimstead will think he agrees to his plan for handling the battery. SIMMINS, butlerâ€"chuaffeur, friendly toward Davenport, is perâ€" suaded ts try to steal the signed agreement from Grimstead‘s billâ€"fold. _ AS‘M‘”NS- buller-chu:‘xfi'eur"’ "Listen here, Ross," he said rapidâ€" friendly toward Davenport, is WF-J‘ ly. "The time has come for action, suaded ts try to Asteal the signed| ind we must get busy. Things are agreement from Grimstead‘s billâ€"fold.; at touch and go with us and the menink . ".\mkes are the biggest ever phyed."] CHAPTER XIX Gardiner looked at him blankly. 1 Simmins, a True Knight |__ "Never mind figuring it out. Listen | The campaign of dissembling went|to me, and take orders. This man off with a bang. Grimstead‘s hosâ€") Davenport is a fool, but he has tility melted easily. The impact of}' brains. It was pezfec:ly evident that Davenport‘s identity as a famous | the thought would soon suggest itâ€" author, instead of the mechanic he self that if he could once get hold "i'.l: believed him, was tremendous.[“f ;gt’t filfirfi'rlgm he h’fld‘ signed, he‘ engagement finished him. could tell us go whistle." Davenport was an excellent match,\ "But since he and Miss Burmn-â€"", he was a manly chap, andâ€"if Grimâ€"] "Poppycock! Do you think '-h“' stead could arrange itâ€" he was 30.7 type of fanaticism ever becomes: ing to be immensely wealthy. Of rea:}?:able?: ] course he had a lot of damnâ€"fool| "Then whyâ€"" ideaTistie notions.~ but mmâ€"s;,.,“tl_ blind. It wouldn‘t fool a mudâ€" supposed to be eecentric. . ~ _ ~ | KeB, let alomea wise old coot like Supper passed jovially enough.| °. J‘m an old biÂ¥d; I can put two Then Grimstead caused the hearts| 2nd two together. The first thing of three of the party to skip a bent.s to try was obviously to get hold of "Simmins," he commanded, "here‘s| it peaceably, by stealing it. If that n mames en en ariali d an a ut it." some how, e old us up As he spoke he took off the garâ€"| °t sandbag us. I know the type. ment and hung it on a stub, replacâ€" He‘s a fanatic, and the most dangerâ€" ing it with a sweater. He removed ;‘“5 };‘": He‘d commit murder beâ€" mothing from the pockets, and all| fore he‘d give in." three of the conspirators could dis| Gardiner was excited. ‘tinetly make out a corner of the billâ€"| "Get him before he gets us!" he Sold showing from the inside pocket. | furgested. he was a manly chap, andâ€"if Grimâ€" stead could arrange itâ€" he was goâ€" ing to be immensely wealthy. Of course he had a lot of damnâ€"fool Supper passed jovially enough.{ Then Grimstead caused the hearLs‘ of three of the party to skip a beat.| "Simmins," he commanded, “heu‘s‘J my coat to clean up a little; it‘s got| an awful fish smell about it." i As he spoke he took off the garâ€" ment and hung it on a stub, replacâ€" ing it with a sweater. He removed mothing from the pockets, and all three of the conspirators could disâ€" tinctly make out a corner of the billâ€" fold showing from the inside pocket. Simmins picked up the coat, and with it started toward the creek. "Hey!" called Grimstead after him. "Where you going? I don‘t "No sir; of course not, sir. Mereâ€" ly a triffe of sponging, fresh running water, you know, sir," stammered Simmins, beating a hasty retreat "You‘re not afraid to trust him with a pocketbook?" Larry ventured "I woudn‘t trust him with my roll," he agreed. "But that pocketbook conâ€" taims nothing but papers; and they can all be replaced. There‘s nothing there to interest Simmins." other glance. It was almost too goad to be true. Mmss s of the inside pocket. down to the bottom, and tucked the bill fold beneath the flap. "There! She‘l stick safe enough there until we o. Take it back, Simâ€" "Well, take a drink before you go," offered Grimstead. "Here‘s the key. _ After 10 minutes Simmins glided unobtrusively into the firelight and hung the coat again on the stub. For a moment Simmins limbs reâ€" fused to work; but he succeeded in extracting the pocketbook and bringâ€" ing it to his master. Contrary to expectation, Grimstead did not open it. He examined Simmins curiously. "You‘re trembling like a leaf," he said. "What‘s the matter with you?" Simmins muttered something about being chilly by the stream. "Yes, sir," said Simmins, "and if M is nothing more, sit, I ask perâ€" wWHO‘S WHO IN THE STORY "Here," Simmins gratefully swallowed the "Well, bring me my small leather rimstead laughed. "What gb*vh overs his sit, I cannot Tife of me imagine." > You have acted very nobly in ," Grimstead commanded at ail; here it is," ity, and observe carefully uny peculâ€" flhc-v-v--.hh.h:;: m«uwuâ€"fl- ‘What to happen when M,“.hfi- ‘&Lfi.l.â€"u""‘""m e of me imagine." . |_ "That, of course. I see your idea. BDon‘t worry, Simmine.| We are to steal the battery." o nnnmatane enaaes me m + very h we he. Neither Miss Rurton; | somewhere?" | alf will ever forget 1t! "No, you‘ll drive it out. The rouds kit + co-?., and| "I began to take my measures at e creek. ionce." Grimstead went on. "Obviousâ€" tead after y he‘d try first of all to steal the * I don‘t| bill fold. So I made it easy for him." ® | "Did you suspect Simmins?" sir. Mereâ€"| _ "Not at that time. But I figured sh running | Davenport would begin to manceuvre stammered | to get hold of the coat or near it ty retreat | _ "A test," murmured Gardiner. trust him ‘"Precisely. Well, when he did not, y ventured } began to think I might be wrong. ‘Then Simmins came back scared as The two young people made their way to the bank of the little stream, where they would be screened from the camp. There Larry lighted a match and cast a hasty glance of irspection at the document. "It‘s all right," he assured Burton relievedly. "This is it! Blessed be Simmins!" He tore it into small pieces and cast thent i the «current. *4 Ie&ough the weight of worlds had been lifted!" he cfied "It does seem as though some one or something was helping us," said Eurton soberly. "I think that we should be very thankful that things came about so easily." Discovered The moment the young people were out of hearing Grimstead turned on Gardiner with an almost savage inâ€" tensity of manner. â€" "He‘ll stand that. He‘ll stand for anything now he‘s got his head set! That‘s the sort they used to use the thumb rack on without much success. Could you analyze this battery, if you had it, and reproduce the forâ€" mula ?" a rabbit, and I realized he was in it. T‘ll settle with him later‘" "But the agreementâ€"" "Was not there, of course! I subâ€" stituted the carbon copy." "They‘ll detect the difference; it isn‘t signed." â€" gery, but all he‘ll do tonight will be to examine it with a match to see if it‘s what he wants." "Clever work, chief," cried Garâ€" diner. "But I don‘t see that it gets us far." tinued Grimstead, "for this is what you must do. You‘ve got to get out of here, and you‘ve got to take this agreement with you to the nearest recorder‘s, and get it entered. That capable of laying down on us, no have." "What do you mean*" "Refuse his formpla." ‘ "But you can ruin him." "I signed it for him," grinned the clder man, "it isn‘t a very good forâ€" "It gets us until morning, And it corroborates my suspicions." "Now listen carefully, Ross," conâ€" Simmins retired, his heart glowâ€" "Certainly, if what he says is true, Gardiner nodded. "So far, so good. But there‘s anâ€" CHAPTER XX . Tis man is absolutely ing them. Put the battery back in that rattletrap of his and drive it out." "Simmins is already taken care of," said the »pirate chief calmily. "He will continue to sleep. That drink 1 gave him will fix that." "Doped?" surmised Gardiner. _ Gardiner pondered. , "When we stop that selfâ€"starter it will be noticed," he objected, "and there‘ll be a lot of noise getting away. Simmins sleeps right next door. What do I do with him?" "J uskciâ€"ting‘ ’Iorphine frow "# vÂ¥dicine case. And we‘ll feed Davenâ€" port a little of the same." "Chief, you‘re a wonder! You think of everything!" cried Gardiner admiringly. I‘d suggest you tie him up after he goes under or he‘ll likely raiso hell when he comes to." "I expect to," said Grimstead. "Look out; here they come! You understand your job and remember, ‘t‘s the biggest stake in the world!" Punkettyâ€"Snivvel‘s Revenge Events ran smoothly along the plan laid out for them by the pirate chief. Burton and Davenport reâ€" turned shortly to the campfire. At a suitable time a nightâ€"cap was proâ€" posed and drunk. Soon after, with Burton in her darkened tent and Davenport deep in stupor, the conâ€" spirators had the place to themselves. Silence rushed in upon the dying clatter as into a vacuum. Gardiner paused long enough to look in on Simmins. That worthy had not stirâ€" It was the work of but a few moâ€" ments more to reinstall Davenport‘s strange storage battery in the other Gardinerâ€" found â€" the . engine _ much more flexible Than anyâ€"gasolimeâ€"car he had ever driven. For a few minâ€" utes he amused himself{ by bringing it almost to a stop and then picking up smoothly and positively by mereâ€" ly opening the throttle. He then started out and settled down to the sheer pleasure of driving as fast as his skill would permit. And Rapscallion Does His Staff . ly.-*flrh‘-l‘-hâ€"‘ od his cars to catch the last sounds of Gardiner‘s departure. Things were going very well. They always did go EEEECO®, CnDunemt WRte and bore it shouting way. But Gardiner was not alone in the car. No less a personage than Punâ€" kettyâ€"Snivvies occupied the seat next to him, but the little dog‘s protective coloration had concealed him from Gardiner‘s notice. He was a good driver, and he unâ€" derstood well how to pick up the straightaways and just how much to check at the curves." And he was a safe driver, as genuine skill issusuâ€" ally safe. Even while he reached for the brake his brain photographed clearly the jagged edges of the bridge, tha opposite bank picked out clearly by the lights, and dimly far below a white and phosphorescent tumbel of waters hastening to the sea. The brakes checked the momentum almost but not quite enough. The Now Gardiner had once cuffed Punkettyâ€"Snivvles soundly when that personage had been left in his charge. So, crouched in his place, Punketty~ Snivvles fixed his beady eyes in maleâ€" volence on his enemy, and worked vp a fine big hate. * Gardiner flashed around a last corner to see ahead of him a straight bridge. The lights showed him its approach on a slight rise, and that it was built on a high trestle. Then the nose of the car touched the slight rise and the lights lifted. At the same instant Punkettyâ€" Snivvels, whose hate had worked up to a point of action, reached out and bit Gardiner in the wrist! mit it to leave the road. However, for three seconds his attention was deflected, and that time was sufficient to shoot the car on to the planking of the bridge. corner of his eye and steered straight and true, while at the same time his direct vision was occupied in identiâ€" prise and alarm. The car swerved. but he was too cool a driver to perâ€" fying the cowering little dog. Then he looked back to the front. Before him yawned an abyss. The bridge had been carried away by "Jusk:tng! ,I bdicine case. An Gardiner, who had not known of CHAPTER XXI Burton, as he bad forseen, did not stir in her tent. She was young and slept soundly especially in the first part of the night. * After a while he threw away his cigar, stretched and ‘arose.. First be leaned o%er D#Â¥enport for a moâ€" ment, listening to his ratherâ€"stertorâ€" canvas, and with it returned toward the sleeper. He was thoroughly satisâ€" to the big redwood at whose base the In his brief absence another had added himself to the scene. Rapscalâ€" lion had shared the tent with Burâ€" ton. Now, however, current searching out a channel oi his doggy mind, he had deserted the warm and grateful nest and h,d come forth to sit by his master. Grimstead paid him no attention; but, cord in hand, advanced upon the sleeper. Now the queer happened. of dogs, ever polite and eager, whose experiences with humans had always Grimstead. 1 O 1e s Now, however, he @rose t "stiff legs, his eyes blazing, the codrse hair of his back and neck erect, his lips snarled back. Grimstead paused. Now Rapscallion did not know what it was all about. Only his simple dog mind had received the imâ€" pression that, unexplainedly and for the first time, the proximity of this large human meant trouble to Masâ€" ter; and his simple dog code told him to stick tight, say as much as be could about, and, in extremity to de his utmost. â€" "Here, Rap, you old fool!" he adâ€" monished in a low voice. "What ails you*" And again stepped forward. Instantly Rapscallion uttered two sharp and challenging barks. â€" The sleeper did not stir; no souml came from the tent. . Grimstead stepped forward again. If he had a private thought apart, which is improbable, it was a reflectâ€" ing one of despair at relative sizes and powers; but it did not affect his course of conduct. He began again to bark rapidly and warningly. As Grimstead continued to advance he bobbed forward and back a few sure to tell him oneâ€"thing: That his "'""'""""Z'"L interests are going to be scrupulously protected. He‘ll get every cent that is coming to him." R He down the meadow. mm uatiecccâ€"| â€" Barber, Chay heaving with emotiorts too deep for « 9 *!:h-’:.‘*- Â¥ t loyalty anger on These things impressed Grimstead just so far as to cause him to pick up a heavy, clubâ€"shaped billet of wood, a weapon that plainly outâ€" gunned the armament of a little redâ€" dog who fought at 15 pounds! "Dad‘" she cried, "what are you doing with that club and that rope? I‘ll keep him quiet!" As her mind cleared and focussed, however, her eyes widened with terâ€" ror. Davenport‘s immobilitiy attire; what did it mean? She dashed forward to Larry, and, undeterred by Rapscallion, fell on Ker knees at his side. "What have you done! What stricken before she lost control of herself. "He‘s no* hurt. He‘ll be as well as ever in the morning." But by t!l‘i:_tin._ Burton had asâ€" sudden enlightenment. A deep scorn rose to the surface of her eyes. "And now you were going to tie him! You‘re afraid of what he might do!" On the passing of the danger of hysterics Grimstead became himself restrain the young man by force. "I leave him to you," he told Burâ€" ton. "Try to get some common sense your young man. Indeed, I am savâ€" ing him from himself, and in the future he will thank me for making him a rich man instead of permitting him to ruin himself by foolishness." from the tent "Nothing â€" nothing at all â€" he‘s perfectly ail right!" cried Grimstead, "You‘ve drugged him‘"‘ she decided at last. She pondered for a moment | more, then raised her head. "The engine has stopped â€" you have stolem the car!" she cried in sured herself that Larry was living and unhurt, and rose slowly to het" feet. Her brow was puckered in Burton," said he, "and you must not Still, a slight change in minor tacâ€" ties seemed desirable. It would no longer be possible or desirable to will mever forgive you!" she cried Rapscallion was the most friendly At this moment Burton appeared He shrugged his shoulders. Woâ€" ourteous, Also he was, of Ahoroughly fmzi& had + PROEESSIONAL PHONE H. P. 2048 16 Years Experience For Rent for Parties and Gatherings _ _ FOLDING CHAIRS T y CHAIR COVERS _____‘_ FOLDING CARD TABLRS AND COVERS _ _ â€" BANQUET TABLES | _ CHILDREN‘S TABLES AND CHAIRS 4 Funeral Director 27 North Sheridan Road Telephone H. 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