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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1935)
COPYRIGHT .Y ^ f’ jBKm MINTON,BAICH,K0._WW.Q. H AVIt \ Ji ? SYNOPSIS John Spencer and his cousin. Geof frey Bohun, are vacationing in Aus tria. Geoffrey is a gifted portrait painter but prefers to paint land eeapes. While strolling In the forest, John hears Hnglish voices and de cides to investigate. From safe cov er he finds four men burying a man In green livery who, evidently, had been murdered. Pharaoh is the lead er of the gang; the others are Dew drop, Rush and Bugle. Unfortunately, John makes himself known to the assassins by dropping a letter with his name and address on It. He tells Geoffrey and hla chauffeur. Barley, of his adventure. Geoffrey, realizing that John'a life Is In danger, declares he must vanish. Spencer discovers that the livery of the murdered man corresponds to the livery of the serv ants of Yorlck castle, and tells Countess Helena, mistress of the castle, what he had seen. With Oeoffrey and Barley, John starts for Annabel, a nearby village. They en counter Pharaoh. In making their getaway thsy exchange shots with the gang, without serious result. They arrive at the Yorlck estate, where Lady Helena had requested John and his cousin to meet her. CHAPTER II—Continued “Now, how d’you think they feel about Mr. Spencer? They know that he has the power not only to ruin their game but to send them to prison and death. Of course I can’t answer for them, but If I were In their position, I’ll tell you how I should feel. I should not rest until Mr. Spencer was dead.” 'Tm inclined to agree,” said Geof frey. "We bumped Into them at Annabel. They’d made the Inn there atheir headquarters, and John ^Walked into their arms.” “My God.” said the girl. “But. as you see,” said Geof frey, "he also walked out. To tell you the truth, we had the best of the brush. "We put their car out of action. They won’t be able to move for twenty-four hours.” “That’s a start worth having. He (, could be In London tomorrow If you left Salbzurg tonight.” My cousin sighed. “My lady,” he said, “for one thing, he wouldn’t go: and, for an other, it wouldn’t be any use. Their finding that letter was deadly: it bore his London address.” “Then what’s to be done?" “He must have his wish,” said Geoffrey. “Fate has played Into his hands, and the only thing he can do is to stand and fight” Lady Helena arose. As Geoffrey and I stood up— “I’m sorry," she said coldly. “From what Mr. Spencer told me, I fully believed I could count upon your support He’s very young and downright, and he can see nothing but red. But I fully believed you would see that my consent must be given before you took on these men. The man who is dead was my servant, and the men are after my goods. If you stand and fight you will therefore be fighting my battle, and that gives me the clear right to decline your help. And I do decline it, Mr. Bohun. If Lon don’s not safe, then leave for Paris tonight.” “I’m damned if I’m going,” said I. Lady Helena turned upon me with blazing eyes. “I beg your pardon.” My blood was up and I gave her back look for look. “I said ‘I’m damned if I’m go ing.’ And I’ll tell you another thing. I’m damned if I’m going to be treated as though 1 were seven years old." Lady Helena did not reply. I suddenly felt ashamed. Uneasily I turned to my cousin, but he hnd strolled down the apron and wus regarding his barn. For a moment I hesitated. Then I made my way to the farther side of the Rolls. . . . And there 1 was sitting, on the running-board, staring on the beau ty before me and cursing my un ruly tongue, when I heard a step on the pavement and before 1 could move my lady sat dow n by m.v side, (j “Where are you staying?" she said. I swallowed. "I don’t quite know,” I answered. “We haven’t found a place yet.” The girl gazed into the distance “I hope you’ll stay here." I could hardly believe my ears. "Here? At Plumage?” I cried. “I hope so. I can answer for the man and his wife: and you'll have a privacy here that you wouldn't f get at an inn.” “It’s ideal.” I heard myself say ing. “Simply Ideal. We’ll be on the spot, yet in hiding. But why— I don’^ understand.” “If you insist on fighting my bat tle, the least I can d*> is to billet you.” “You’re very generous," I said. Her eyes left mine—to light on the driving mirror, all splintered and starred. After a long look, they returned to me. “Was that?” she said, nodding, “a present from Annabel?" “Yes." “And you were driving?” "I wns." “Tell me exactly what hap pened." When 1 had told the story, she drew a deep breath. “If you'd knocked on that door. . . .“ She shivered. "May I look at that letter of yours?" I put It into her hand. She examined the envelope care fully. Then— “Have you h>oked inside." she said, “since you got it back?” I raised my eyebrows. “As a matter of fact I haven’t. I never gave it a thought." She pushed aside the torn edges and drew out the shoemaker’s bill. The note on its hack was print ed and easy to read Dear Mr. Spencer: The gentleman in green had done something which he must have known I should not like. That is why he was being burled. Verbum sap. Yours very truly. We had read the words together, her face two Inches from mine. Then we turned and looked at each other. Hut I had no thought for the note. Her hair had stung my temples, and I could only won der whether she knew how terri bly attractive she wns. She sat very still for a long mo ment. And then she was up and was pushing her hair from her temples as though to he rid of her thoughts. “Come. Let’s talk to your cou sin and then we can look at your rooms.” Over her shoulder she threw me a dazzling smile. “To tell you the truth, they're ready. If you Insisted on staying, I hoped you'd stay here.” **•••• “We must go to bed,” said my cousin. “We've had an Arabian day." We had bathed and changed and eaten and now we were strolling on the apron under the stars. "Never fight Fate,” Geoffrey said. “My one idea this morning was to get you out of the way. To say so would have been foolish, for the blood was up In your head and you wouldn’t have gone. But I meant to cool you at Annabel—let you flirt with the hope of finding your men: then Harley was going to re port that he’d seen Pharaoh in Salsburg: when we meet him at Villach tomorrow, you’ll see It’s the first thing he’ll say. So we should have left for Salzburg. . . . And after a week or two there, young Florin’s face would hnvp faded and ’ w My Lady Sat Down by My Side. you’d have come home. Very dis honest, of course. But put your self in my place, and you would have done the same.” “I don’t think I should,” I said, frowning. “Yes, you would,” said Geoffrey., “I’m your keeper, you know: and when people like Pharaoh get go ing, ordinarily people like us must pass by on tiie other side. The mo ment Barley comes back, we've got to locate these blackguards. First come, first served, you know.” He drew in his breath. “We simply must find them, John, before they find us.” With that, he insisted that we should retire for the night. **•••• Sharply at eleven next morning Lady Helena Yorick rode up to the farm. Her groom led two spare horses, for after we had consulted, Geoffrey and I were to ride to Yo rlck for lunch. As I stepped to her side— “Nothing new?" says she. "Nothing,” said I. ‘‘And you?" She shook her head. "Except that my brother's return ing. I wish he wasn’t Just now, but It can't be helped. At least he’s coming alone. He’s very young, you know: and people spoil him. and— and sometimes he makes the wrong friends. Where’s Mr. Ito hun?’’ “Map-reading," said I. “His man. with our big luggage, will get to Villach tonight He’s got to be met, of course. What Geoffrey Is trying to do is to work out how we can fetch him without fetching Pharaoh, too. That show at Anna bel’s eaten Into his brain." “I wish it would eat Into yours.” Here Geoffrey walked out of the house and gave her good day. “And now tell me this,” said he. “Had young Florin keys upon him?" "No," said the girl. "While he’s within the castle, the night-watch man carries keys: hut before he goes out, he leaves his keys with his mate." “Well, you beat them there.” said Geoffrey. "Young Florin was killed for the keys which he hadn’t got.” ‘i think you're wrong," said the girl. “To enter Yorick won’t help them. I’m the person that matters. They've got to bring me to my knees." Geoffrey looked at her very hard. Then— “Lady Helena versus Pharaoh and others. You know I can’t help feeling thRt you ought to go to the police." My lady pulled off her gloves. "Let’s walk In the meadows," she said, “and I'll fell you one or two facts." In silence, we left the apron and took to the fields. . . . “My father," she snid, “had vis ion. He knew the great war was coming and he saw that after the war the world itself would fall upon evil times. Mother had a very great fortune, and father was rich, and his one idea was so to In vest this money that, while the lean years were passing, it would be per fectly safe. I think he really want ed It for Yorlck. Our inotto is: All things pass, but Yorick endures. And he wanted to Insure thnt Yorick would always be maintained as It has been maintained for about five hundred years. Well, this idea ob sessed him, and I think that my mother's death affected his brain. He threw back to his ancestors, and he put his whole fortune In gold. Golden sovereigns, mostly." She put her hands to her eyes. “I tell you It’s the curse of my life.” "You don’t mean—” began my cousin. “Yes, I do,” said the girl. "Lying In the cellars at Yorick Is the best part of two million pounds. It’s going, of course. We live upon cap ital. But even so. It’ll last for a hundred and fifty years. And long before that, of course, the idea was to change It back.” “Good God,” said Geoffrey. And then, "But what astonishing fore sight your father had." “He was wise—in theory. But how would you like to have charge of two million pounds In gold? The only people who know are old Flor in and 1. I said It was in the cel lars, but It Is not as easy as that. It’s In a private cellar. The way to which nobody knows. “But of course It was bound to come out. I’ve done my very best, but there's been a leakage some where, and Pharaoh knows. “Well, there you are. He obvi ously can’t get away with a million pounds. He could never transport it, for one thing. Very well, what's his object? I imagine to levy black mail. Of course I shan’t submit, but I can't afford to let the posi tion be known. That’s why I can’t go to the police. I’d be an outlaw tomorrow if people knew. Every one's hand would be against me and half the thieves in Europe would be camping outside my gates.” "The remedy’s too obvious," sa.d Geoffrey. “Why don’t you get rid of the stuff?” “Because I have passed my word. My father made me swear that un til tlie world was settled I’d keep our fortune in gold. “Well, now you know why Pha raoh the Great Is here. He may prove hard to deal with, but I’m in no personal danger—I think that's clear." This was too much. "Clear!” I cried. "I don’t think it’s clear at all. I think you’re in very great danger, by day and night. The man Is ruthless—you know It.” “1 entirely agree,” said Geoffrey. “And I’ll tell you another tiling. In view of what you’ve told us this morning, I think it was no mere chance that sent John down to that dell." • •••••• Yorlck was like no castle that I have seen, for though it was moat ed, the moat was not under its walls, and the pile seemed to rise from an island which Nature had , brought from a distance and set in a fold of the hills. We crossed the moat by a draw bridge that could no longer be moved, and a gravel road brought us up to the castle gateway, which must have been twenty feet high. This was now shut by vast cur tains of silver-gray, and to ray surprise, my lady rode straight be tween them, her horse’s heud and shoulders parting them as she went. In the hall my lady left us, to go and change, and, when we had washed our hands, a servant led us to the terrace where a table was laid. The view from here was astound ing. for we looked clean over the forest, which seemed to spread out like a fan, on the foothills and mountains which stood In their an cient order, the nearest some seven miles off. An Austrian lady joined us, a Madame Olava, who plainly lived at the castle, for Lady Helena's sake. But though In this way convention was doubtless observed, as I have shown, my lady went unattended whenever she chose. When luncheon was done, my cousin went ofT with Madame Olave to see the gallery of pictures, but Lady Helena walked with me round the ramparts, showing me certain landmarks and telling me the lie of the land. After a little— “Was that gray all right this morning?'' “Yes," snld I. ‘He gave me a lovely ride.” “I thought lie would. You shall have him to take you hack. I shall keep three horses at Plumage as “This Is the Gentleman of Whom I Spoke." long as you’re there. With a groom, of course. You may have news any moment which I should hear." “1 shall ride to Yorlck,’’ said I. “to see how you nre.’’ “But not too early," says she. “Yorlck wakes up at six, but Its eyes aren’t properly open till eight o’clock. So don’t ride before then, If you please, either m this direc tion or anywhere else." “I'm going to ask you to do a difficult thing. It concerns old Flor in. You see. It’s so awful on him. He knows I can take no action. And what can he do? He’s got to sit down helpless under this shat tering blow, while the men that dealt it go free. And so I want you to see him and tell him what you told me—that you are out to get them and to see that justice is done.” “With all my heart," said L “Let me see him at once.” Without a word she led me across the terrace and Into a li brary. Then she summoned a serv ant and bade him ask the warden to come to her there. Two minutes later a man of some sixty summers was ushered Into the room. Helena spoke In German. "John, this Is my warden. Florin, this is the gentleman of whom 1 spoke.” The warden bowed to me, and I went forward directly and took his hand “I can't bring back your son, Florin, but one day I’ll show you his grave. It’s a pretty place, far better than any churchyard, fit for a king. But before I take you there. I’ve some work to do. I’m going to find the fellows that took his life. And they’re going to pay for It, Florin. I’ll never rest till they’re taken, alive or dead." The warden lifted his head and looked me full In the eyes. Then he turned his head to his mistress and looked at her. Though he nev er spoke, he seemed to -ask her some question, for nfter a moment she nodded and looked away. With his hand still In mine, the warden went down on one knee. “Your servant, sir." he said qui etly. And then, “I am very grate ful, sir. I cannot say more. My son will not rest In his grave if you come to hurt." Then he rose and turned to his mistress, and when she had smiled and nodded, he bowed to her and to me and left the room. As the door closed behind him— “He shouldn’t have knelt," said 1. Helena shrugged her shoulders. “That’s his affair. But please tell i no one he did so. You and he and I know, and that's enough.” (TO BF. CONTINI ED) Sounds Break Glass It 14 possible to break a glass by making certain sounds near It. Cn ruso was able to break glasses b» singing to them—hut he used a cer tain note which he knew the glas‘ could not stand. Glasses have actu ally been broken by sounds coming over the wireless Where Does the World Get Its Supply of Oil? - <$ Three Nations Control Out put of Industries’ Lifeblood. Discussion of oil embargoes in connection with the Italo-Kthtopian wsr raises the question: “Where does the world get Its oil?" Petro leum deposits have been found In every continent except Antarctica, but well-defined pools arc widely scattered. Actually, a very few na tions control the supply of this life blood of modern Industry. “Three countries produce about Ml per cent of the world's petroleum output," says the National Geograph ic society. “These are the United States, Soviet Russia and Venezuela. If all three should cut off their oil supplies, tnnny steamships, trucks, automobiles, armored tanks, air planes and railroads all over the world would be stopped, as well as Industries depending on oil for fuel or lubrlcntlon. Great Britain, through her control of distribution of oil pro duced In her dominions and colonies, and In many other countries, also is n powerful factor In the world's oil situation. Italy Produces Little Oil. “A general oil embargo would practically threaten Italy’s motors with starvation, for Italy, In the en tire year of ll),‘!4, produced only as much oil as the United States does In about two hours. "Almost '.Hi per cent of the world’s oil comes from only twelve coun tries. Italy Is but one of the many nations which would have to .com bine their petroleum resources to make up the other 1 per cent “While the three leading nations are making production history by their thundering progress along the oil trail, four others follow them In a group, although many laps behind —Rumania, Iran (Persia), Nether lands Indies, and Mexico. Almost neck and neck, live more follow along: Colombia, Argentina, Peru. India, and Trinidad, which produce less than 1 per cent of the world’s nnnual output each. Oil Also Found Under Water. “The distribution of petroleum seems to show a slight preference for the western hemisphere and for the northern side of the equator. Nevertheless. It Is found In such extremes as Iraq, where Iron muscled Kurds work In July heat at 128 de grees In the shade, and north of Point Barrow In Alaska, where froz en clods of oll-sonked earth arc burned as a substitute for coal. “Water, as well as earth, may tie above petroleum. Venezuela’s l>ake Maracaibo, black with oil. Is studded with derricks which workmen reach by bridges of narrow planks from the shore, and Is supervised from a floating camp on a barge. The Sura merland field of Santa Barbara coun ty, California, extends beyond the shoreline of the Pnclfie. so that der ricks wade Into tlie ocean to draw up oil from several hundred feet below sea level. “The United States leads the world In oil production. Recently a dia mond Jubilee market! the industry's seventy-fifth anniversary since Col. Edwin Drake sank the country’s first nil w 1 70 feet into the rich Appn lachlan field at Titusville, Pa. Oil Is still produced In Pennsylvania, ospe dally for the manufacture of lubri cants. Texas Fields Date From 1901. ”ki 1001 the rich Texas oil Helds were brought la. starting a branch of Jhe Industry which In 1MH4 pro duced $30,000,000 worth of oil, more than the combined production of the two next richest areas. Oklahoma and California. The latest spectac ular development Is tnat of the 1.00 Isiana Oulf coast, which doubled its production in 1934. One geologist estimates that the United States, al ready producing 91 per cent of the world s oil from Its two million acres of oil fields, actually haR more than a billion acres untouched. “Uunnlng second, Soviet Itussias government-controlled oil production rose in 1934 to IRfi.OfKJ.OOO barrels, witl) acres and acres of oil seepages undeveloped or even unprospected. “Venezuela keeps third place at a gait which is amazing, jU view of the fact that commercial prodactlon began there less than twenty years ago. Petroleum constitutes 75 per cent of the country’s exports. Hu mania, taking fourth place from Iran in 1934, still has many undeveloped areas. Advice of Old Usable for Straight Thinking Today When we become angry our think ing gets crooked, and when we grow too fond of ways that are not right we cannot properly Judge what is th# true course to follow. Archbishop Adalberou, when presiding nearly a thousand years ago at an aasetnblag* for the choice of a king for Lower Lorraine, in what la now France, warned his hearers of these obstacles to clear thinking by saying: “Let us net in such aort that hatred stifle not reason, and affection dis tort not truth.” Could there be s better expresalos of what should be the attltade of folks today? Dog Saved AM Pwmm One of the moat Intelligent dogs was “Barry," a 8L Bernard belong ing to the famous SC Bernard Hoe pice in the Swiss Alps. Before be wns shot by a man who mistook him for a wolf, he saved the lives of 40 travelers who were loot and near death In snowstorms, one being a little girl whom he carried to safety. 15,000 Parte la Car There are about 15,090 separata parts In the modera automobile. WHEN TIRE DELAYS STOLE PROFITS— SENT DELIVERY COSTS SKYWARD ... Y CHANGED TO Tire delays were playing havoc with this man’s business. 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