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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, (Continued From Yesterday) PART TWO THE WOLF-MAN XVI As a wolf might plan « hunt in the forest, Bon planned his war @gainst Nellson and his subordinates. He knew perfectly that he must not attempt open warfare. The way of the wolf is the way of cunning and stealth: the stalk thru tho thicket ‘and the ferocious attack upon the Unsuspecting; and such example Must guide Ben tn his operations. He could net be too careful, too fur- tive, ‘His foes were three against one, and Y were on their own ground. They ‘knew the trails and the lay of the ‘country; and as always, in the Stlence of warfare, this was an ad~- Vantage hardly to be overcome. Ben knew that his only hope lay in the finest strategy. First he must make ® surprise attack, and second, he must utilize all natural advantages. He was well aware that he could He in ambush, close to the mine, and | Probably send one man to a speedy @eath with a rifle bullet. But he Qi not have one enemy; be had three, The survivors of the first shot ‘would immediately seek shelter— Probably returning shot for shot— | Htram Melville's newer and that would insert an clement of Wnoertainty into the venture. At the distance he would be obliged to shoot, he would possibly only succeed in ‘wounding one of his enemiss, and he might miss him altogether. Such a this was wholly too uncer- ive no quarter, and the and bonor must be nm. He must take no world could shatter jer that for all he would| 1OA-Little Brown & Company constitute in itself a satisfactory measure of vengeance, The fear of death was a reality and a torment: for all he kno the thing itself might be a change for tho better, It might be that, suddenly hurled out of this world of three dimensions, his enemies would have no knowledge nor carry no memories of the hand that struck them down. There’ could be no satisfaction fn this To murder from ambush might be a measure of expedience, but never one of = self-gratification. When Bea struck he wanted them to know who | was thetr enemy, and for what orime | they were laid low, | The best way of all, of course, was to strike indirectly at them, perhaps thru some one they loved. Soon, pers haps, he would see the way. Hoe went to his blankets, but aleep 4d not come to him. The wolf stood on guard, Beatrice Neilson had fal- len into happy dreams long since, but there w urther wakefulness In cabin, far- ther up-creek. Ray Brent and Chan Heomtnway stil! aat over thelr cups, the flery Uquid running riot tn their veins, but slumber did not come easily tonight, And when Beatrice was asloep, Neilson atole down the moonlit moose trail and joined his men. | “I've brought news,” he began, when the door had closed out the stars and the breath of the night Chan, his small oyes glared from strong drink, staggered to his feet to offer his chalr to his chief. Brent, however, was in no mood for servility tonight. He had done man's work tm the early evening, and his triumph and his new-found sense of power had not yet died tn his body, Per- haps he had learned the way to all success, There was « curtous sullen defiance in the blearing gaze over his glass “What's your news? Ray's voice harshened, possessing @ certain qual- ity of grim levity. “I guess old Hi. ram's brother hasn't come to life again, has he? | It was a significant thing that both Chan and Neilson looked oppressed and uneasy at the words. Like all men of low moral status they wore secretly superstitious, and these boasting words crept unpleasantly under thelr skins. It ts never a good thing to taunt the dead! Ray had spoken sheerly to frighten and shock them, thus revealing his own fearless- ness and strength; yet his volce rang Jouder than he had meant, He had no desire for tt carry into the silve mystery of the night. “The less you say about Hiram's brother the better,” Neflson answered sternly, “We've thrashed it out once tonight.” He straightened as he read the Insolence, the gathering tn- subordination in the other's con- temptuous glance; and his volce lacked Its old ring of power when he, spoke again. “Jumpin’ clatms ts on: thing and murder ts another,” Ray, spurred on by the false strength of wickedness, drunk with his new sense of power, was already feeling the first surge of deadty anger in his velna. “I suppose tf you! had been doin’ It, you'd let that old | whelp take back this claim, worth a quarter million ff it's worth a cent. | OR ROARDING HOUSE” MRS. HooPLe, TM MRG. BENDER = 1 MISSED MY CAMEO BROOCH AND 1 GUGPECTED ROGER, MY HUGBAND OF “TAKING (Tle AFTER MUCH QUESTIONNG HE FINALLY ADMIT TD INTHE BS \ HOSPITAL, THAT HE SOLD } (TT YoUR HUSBAND FOR A DOLLAR = 1 CAME To GET \T BACK HOW DO You DO.MR. DUFF - I STOPPED IN TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR RENT WILL BE RAISED “TEN DOLLARS A MONTH STARTING ON THE FIRST OF THE YEAR~ (Z HAHA» ort . RIGHT IN, MR SEATTLE STAR BY AHERN ZA, sow! Howl’ Nou Like To BE TieD A SULTANA “THAT G\Z 2 \F YOU CAME “TOEING TW HUT AT A ROYAL JEWEL! Now ~ SHE CROWNED HER SHEIK ON ACCOUNT OF IT POOR ROGER« | /TWo 4M. SHE'D TILL BET SHE ComB Your “TWIRLS A CUBVER] \ Wig WITH TH’ KETTLE WHEN IN ACTION! WHY SURELY, Vou CAN HAVE TT BACK« AND MY HUGBAND SAID IT CAME FROMTHE CROWN JEWELS OF RUSSIA!« WATT TILL 1 SEE HIM? a ed 1 WANT TO CALLYOUR ATTENTION To TWE WALL PAPER IN THESE ‘TWO FRONT ROOMS - THEY’RE IM VERY BAD SHAPE AND NEED NEW PAPER - THE PAPER IN ‘THE FRONT BED Room uP STAIRS 1S ALL SHOT FROM ALEAK IN THE RooF - OH, 19 THAT 60? WELLCOME fit DO NO REPAIRING AT TWS Time! LANDLORD! BY STANLEY, + MANY WILLING RANDS VOLUNTEERED Io RELP LOAD THE Box OF FREIGHT AUNT SARAH PEABODY RECEIVED. EACH HELPER HOPED BY SOME HOOK OR CROOK To DISCOVER WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED. THE FURNACE NEEDS FIXING }AND THE RADIATORS ALL LEAK - BUT IF You Won’T HAVE ‘THESE. THINGS DONE WHY IT WILL BE ALLRIGHT WELL, YOU CAN HAVE Your. OLD HOUSE WITH IT’S LEAKY ROOF, IT'S DIRTY WALLS, IT'S BOM FURNACE AND IT’S HIGH RENT- IVE JUST BUILT A NEW HOME. OF MY OWN = WE'RE GOING “TO MOVE INTO IT IN ABOUT ‘TEN DAYS- Not if I know it, It was the only | way-—and the safe way, too.” | “Safe! What if by a thousandth | chance some one would blunder on to. that body you left in the brush?! migh! . ‘They seemed have a message for him If he could it, @ course whereby he achieve success, Oh, they be cruel, relentiess—mercilesnty their way into sensitive flesh. ‘Were no respecters of persons, creeping, lapping tongues. Nor he have any scruples or qualms how he gained his ends. He ee we nto him of life and death. The slowly came to him that bitnd killing was not nough. all he knew death might bring forgetfulness—and thus not What if some sergeant of mounted Police would say to his man, ‘Go get Ray Brent!" Where would you be then? You've always been a mur- derer at heart, Brent—but some time) you'll sitp up-—" “Only « fool sitps up, Don’t think | I didn't figure on everything. As) you say, there's nét one chance In a thousand any Will ever find him. | If they do, there wouldn't be any kind of a case. Likely the olf man hasn't got friend or relation on earth. I've searched his pockets— there’s nothing to tell who he fs. w have our claim recorded soon, and it would be easy to make him out the claim-jumper rather than ue—" “Walt fust @ minute before you say he ain't got any friends, or at least acdUaintances, That's what 1 came to to see you about tonight.” Netison paused, for the sake of Dense. “Beatrice came up tonight, as agreed, and she had a prospector with her—and he knew old Hiram's brother.” A short, tense silence followed his * « ss Or I Cleland 4 + & Page 872 ‘ A SORT OF “PUMPKIN COACH” “No,” the pionecr said, “no, I don’t think you'd better use any Rames with this story. It’s a per fectly good, true story, but the grandchildren of some of the men who were boys at the time It hap- | pened might happen to read it. No, no names? “And you will not tell even me,” Barbara coaxed, He shook his head and be- gan, “Can't give you the exact date, either, but it was early enough. So early that in Olympia there were no carriages, and only @ very few top buggies. “The town was growing, how- ever, and almost every ship “brought young men fresh from the East or Middle West or South, | Jolly young adventurers as well as | steadier folks. | “Ships also brought cargoes from San Francisco and the fmands, motley cargoes of what- "ever the new country needed, or - go much of whatever it needed as shipped in a huge hogshead which was left empty near the dock, but ft 1s part of this story. “It was the day before New Year's and a bunch of these young men were strolling along, talking of ‘back home’ and holiday cus toms and such things, when one of them said, ‘I say, fellows, we ought to get out tomorrow and make New Year’a calls.’ “ ‘Good idea! said a second, who had been longer in Olympia than the others. ‘It's a custom here, too, People keep open house the same as they do tn the South,’ “*How'll we £07’ asked a third. “'Cal @ cab,’ the fourth sug- gested, ‘a cloged carriage, That's the idea? “About that time they came upon the great, empty cask. I¢ was #0 big as to attract atten- tion; It was strongly bullt and it was clean, mber one had an tnaptra- tion. ‘Boys!’ he eried, ‘the very thing. We'll get old and his dray and team, mount this could be crowded into the small “1 don’t know what hed been thing, and make « cloned carrlags for ourselves!* | (To Be Continued) RaEKKE | It might be that just the reckless light went bis eyes and left them startled and glazing. Then he got to*his feet, “Then God Almighty!” he cried. “What you waiting for? Why don't you croak him off before this night's over? =| “Walt, you fool, till you've heard everything,” Neilson replied. “There's no hurry about killing. As I told lyou, the less work of that kind we |do, the more chance we've got of ying in our beds. It may be reason- able for one prospector to disappear, but some one’s going to be suspicious if two of ‘em do. I think I've al- |ready handled the matter.” | “T'@ handle it, and quick, too,” Ray | protested. “You'd handle yourself up @ gal- lows, too. He doesn't ssem to be a! close friend of this old man; he just | seoms to have met up with him at the river, and the old man steered | him up here, Hs asked me where the old man’s claim was, and said he wanted to go over and see him. He was taking Hiram‘s wolf and his gun up to him, 1 told him I hadn't heard of the claim, that {t must be farther inside, and I think I put it over, .He| ain't got tho least suspicios What he'll do is hang around here a while, I suppose, prospecting—nand likely enough soon forget all about the old devil. I just came down here to tell you he was here and to watch your step.” “Then the first thing up,” Chan Heminway suggested, “is to bury the etre.” 4 | “Spoke up Itke a fool!” Ray answered. “Not till this man ts dead or out of the country. It's well hid~ den, and don't go prowling any- wheres near it. If he's the least bit suspicious, or even tf he's on the lookout for gold, he'd Mkely enough follow you. But there's ono thing we can do—and that quick.” “And what's that?™ : “Start Chan off tomorrow to the office in Bradleyburg and record this} claim in our names. We've waited) too long already.” THERE'S A | NGAH, THAT'S TRAIN COMING — te RESUCAS. DID Wwv HEAR MROVEH FREIGHT. 2 WS @an BEAT IT WHISTLE F TASH To THE @rostina easy! Welc, You AM NOT AT S SISERING wHeece ? we AM WAITING FOR THE THROUGH FRCIGH To PASS! “Ray, you're talking ike a man now,” Neilson agreed. “You and 1 stay here and work away, Innocent as| can be, on the claim. Chan, put that bottle away and got to bed. Take the} trail down first thing tomorrow. | Then we can laugh at all the pros-| pectors that want to come.” xviT fioon after the break of dawn Ben put bis plek and shovel on his| shoulder, and lelsurely walked up the {| creek past Ray's cabin, Since Chan Heminway had already departed down the long trail to Bradleyburg— apprehension, Daylight had brought|The wolf still trotted in silence be- @ more vivid sclousness of his last: hind him, night's crime; and a little of is! qe vivid morning Nght only re- bravado had departed from him, He moved closer to his rifle. tail. The withered form lay huddled Yet ina moment his susplctons) 11 't16 stained leaves; and Ben stood were allayed. Ben was evidently 4/4 jong timo beside it, in deep and prospector, just as he claimed to be, | wondering silence, even now scarcely and was venturing forth to get his|able to believe the truth, How first “lay of the land.” The latter| strange tt was that this old comrade continued up the draw, crossed a| could not waken and go on with him ridge, halted now and then in the/again! But in a moment he remem- manner of tho wild creatures to see| bored his work. a town situated nearly 40 miles from if ho were being followed, and finally| Slowly, Iabortously, with little out- vealed the crime in more dreadful de- | AS BIG AS PAS. AS YOUR PARS. ye ‘LL BECALLIN' & ME ELEPHUNT LEGS NE HOME MADE HEAVIES. He knew perfectly that this was serious risk to his cause, Should the murderer return for any purpose, to his dead, the grave would of course show that the body had been discov- ered and would put him on his guard again Ben. Nevertheless, the latter could not leave these early remains to the doubtful mercy of the wilder- ness; the agents of air and sun, and the wild beasts, He threw the last clod and stood looking down at the upturned earth, “sleep good, old Ex," he murmured in simple mass for the dead. “Ill do Snowy Gulch—Ray alone saw him| by a roundabout route returned to| ward sign of the emotion that rent] what you satd.” pass; and he eyed him with some the lifeless form of his only fricnd.| his heart, he dug a shallow grave i (Continued Tomorrow), 1 FRUIT CARROT PUDDING By Bertha E. Shapleigh Of Columbla University Cream,1 raw carfot, ually, while beating constantly, 1% cups brown sugar. tures and,add grated rind of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon strong Mix 1 cup raisins, seeded and cut in pieces, and % cup currants; dredge with %% oup flour mixed and sifted with 1% teaspoons teaspoon cinnamon, % teaspoon grated nutmeg, 4 teaspoon Add to other mixture; then add whites 4 eggs beaten until stiff, into a buttered mold decorated with raisins and oltron, Cover steam 3% hours, Beat the yolks of 4 eges until very Nght, and add cup suet, add 2% cups stale bread crumbs and 1 cup grat Combine n sy.