Fiery Cross, Volume 3, Number 46, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 September 1924 — Page 2

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SYNOPSIS , PROLOClf:. Kenneth Gwynne live years aid in the spring of 11 2 when his father ran away rrom Kentucky with Rachel Carter, a widow. They took- with tham Mlnda Cartar. Rachel's baby daughter. In the fall, Ke ineth'a mother did of a broken heart. His grandparents brought hlra up to hate the name of Rachel Carter, "an evil woman." CHAPTER I. Kenneth, now a yotinjr lawyer, soekn lodging for the night at the farm of Phlneaa Striker, near Ijifayette. Ind. It appears that Ken's father has recently died and that he is on his way to take pos- . sesirion of extensive lands he has Inherited. The Strikers bought their farm of Ken's father and a mortgage runs to his father's widow the Rachel Carter. A beautiful nineteen-year-old girl, who says she knew his father well and refuses to give her name, is visiting the Strikers. Ken is much interested In her. CHAPTER II Viola Gwyn. SMILIXr; over the settler's whimsical humor, (Jwynne turned to his companion, anticipating a responsive smile. Instead, he was rewarded by an expression of acute dismay in her dark eyes. She met his gaze for a fleeting instant und then, turning. away, walked rapidly over to the little window, where she peel ed out Into I lie darkness. He waited a few moments and then spoke not without a trace of coldness in his voice. 'Tray have this chair. You need not be afraid to be left alone with me. I am a most inoffensive person." She faced him, her chin raised, a flash of Indignation in her eyes. "1 am not afraid of you," she said haughtily. "Why should you presume to make such a remark to me'.'" "I be? your pardon." lie said, bownz. "I ain sorry if I have flffended you. No doubt, in my stupidity. I have been misled by your manner. Now, will you sit down and b friendly?" Mis smile was so engaging, his -humility so -penuliw: Hmt her man-' rer underwent a swift -iwd (rpmoble change. Slid' advanced slowlv " nrepiace, a sny, abashed smile plnyinc about her lips. "May I not stand np for a little wlille?" she pleaded, with mock submissiveness. "I do so want to grow tall "' "To that I can offer no objection." be returned; "although in inv 1mmMe opinion you would do yourself n very Brave injustice if you added so much as the eighth otjtn inch to your present height." "1 feel quite small beside you, sir." she said, taking her stand at thv opposite side of the hearth, from which position she looked up Into his admiring eyes. "How old are you?" she asked, abruptly. Again she was serious, unsmiling. 'Tuciity-nvo," he replied, looking down into her dark. Inquiring eyes with something like eagerness'in his own. lie was saying over and over ngaln lo himself that never hud he seen anyone so lovely as she. "I am six years older than you. Somehow, I feel thut I am younger. Ilathr odd, Is it not?" "Six years," slie mused, looking Into the lire. "Sometimes I feel much older than nineteen," she went on, shaking her head a If puzzled. "I remember that I was nprsed to be very large for my age when I was a little girl. Bat," he continued, shrugging her pretty shoulders, "that was ages ago." He drew a step nearer and laaned an elbow on the mantel. "You say you knew my father" he said haltingly. "What was he like?" She raised her eyes quickly and for an Instant studied his face curiously, as if seurching for something that baffled her understanding. "He was verv tall," she said in a low voice. "As tall as you are." "1 have only a dim recollection of Mm," he said. "You aee, I made iriy home with my grandparents after I was Ave years old. Did you ov him well?" '- If she heard, she gave no sign as he turned away again. This Una Identification Klansmen, Masons, Odd Fellows, Pythians Address with Emblem on KEY KING CHECK, 25c (Bend coiu.) I've met the blgheared fellows in the south and west. I know you will respond. Address: YANKKEY BRADSTREET Box KWl Portland, JIaJne Any Information- ferwnrrird T Tne Fiery CrT an4 which I considered confidential Iry tn writer, wll kl47y b aaAretoetl to 77 Tentury uIWng, Indian, apelfe, Dept. 1. -

VIOLA

wYN

Br GEORGE

McCUTCHEON she walked over to the cabin door, which she opened wide, letting in a rush of chill, damp air. He felt his che'-r rise. It was a deliberate. Intent 1 act on ner part. She desirei ,o terminate the conversa--tion and took this rude, insolent means of doing so. Never had he been so flagrantly insulted and for what reason? lie had been eourteous, deferential, friendly. What right had she this insufferable peacockto consider herself his superior? He had it in his heart to go over and shake her soundly. It would be a relief to see her break down and whimper. It would: teach her not to be rude to gentlemen! She turned Jier head and glanced up at lilni over her shoulder. He "Sometimes I Feel Much Older Than Nineteen.,".. aught 41 strained,- appealing gleam in her eyes. "l'lease forgive me if I was rude," she said quite humbly. He melted a little. He no longer desired to shake her. "I feaied I had In some way offended you," he said. She shook her head and was silent for a moment or two, staring thoughtfully at the (lames. A faint sigh escaped her, and then she faced him resolutely, frankly. "You have succeeded fairly well in concealing your astonishment at seeing -ine here in this hut, dressed as I am," she said somewhat hurriedly. "You have been greatly puzzled. I am about to confess something to you. You will sse me again often perhaps If you remain long in this country. It Is my wish that you should not know who I am tonigiit. You will gain nothing by asking questions, either of me or of the Strikers. You will know In the near future, so let that be sufficient. I can at least account for my incomprehensible costume. That much yotl shall have, if no more. frock is a new one. It has if Vme up the river from St. LoirfL Jave never had it on until todaAr) other one, equally as startling, lies in that bedroom over there, and besjde It on the bed Is the dress I came here In this afternoon. It is a plain black dress, and there Is a veil and a hideous black bonnet to go with it." . "You you have lost I mean, you are in mourning for some one?" he exclaimed. The thought rushed int ills mind: Was she a widow? This radiantly beautiful girt a widow? "For my father,'he stated succinctly". "He died almost a year ago. I was in school at St. t'oula when It happened. I had not seen 1dm for two years. My mother sent for me to come home. Since that Hffl I have worn nothing but black plain, horrible black. Do not misjudge me, I am not vain, nor ara I as heartless as you may be thinking. I had, and still hare the greatest respect for my father. He was a good man, a fine man. But lit all the years of my life he never spoke a loving word to me, he never caressed me, he never kissed me. He was kindness Itself, but he never Rooked at roe with love in hia eyes. . .v "As I grew older I began to thin that he bated me. That is a terrible' thing to say a ad moat think It vile of me to say it to you, a stranger. But I have aaLd it, and. I would not take it hftek, AVTin t was thirteen years old he hfred n out as a servant In a farmer'a.famIly, and I worked there until I was fourteen. It wns not in :hl neighborhood. I wrtvked for my board and keep, a thing I could not understand and bitterly resented, because he.was prosperous. Theu my mother fell 111. She was a strong woman, but she broke down In health. He came and got me anal took roe home. I was a big girt for my age as blft as I am now and strong. I did all the work about the house until my mother waa welL affair. He never gave ma a word of appreciation or one of encouragement.

Be wa never unkind, he never found fault with me. he never In all his life scolded or switched me when I was bad. Then on dayit was three years ag he told me to get ready to go down to St. Lonis to school. He- pat me in charge of a trader and Ms- wife who werejjoins down tlve river by perogtre. He gave them money to buy swltBble clothes for me a large stun of money It mnst have been and he provided me with some for my "own personal use. ' "I stayed theVe until I was. called home "By" his death. I expected to return to school, bat my mother refused to let me go back. That was last fall. She still in the deepest mourning, and I believe wilt never dress otherwise. I have said all there Is to say about my father. I did not love him, I was not grieved when be passed awav. It was almost as If a stranger had died." She paused. He took eecasloa to remark, sympathetically: "He most have been a strange man." "He was," she said. T hope 1 have made you understand what kind of a man he was, and what kind of a father he was to me. Now, I am coming; to the point. Trris finery you fee me in now was pupchased without my mother'8 knowledge or consent with money of my own. The box was delivered to Fhineas Striker day before yesterday up In Lafayette. I cam here to- spend the night in order that. I mtgtifr try them on. I live In town with my mother. She left the farm, after ray father's death. . She adored him. She coal not bear to live oct there on the ronery but that is of no- Interest to you. A faw weeks ago I asked; her If I might trot take off the black. Sne refused at first, bat finally consented. So I wrote to the woman who used to make my dresses In St. Louis my father was not stingy with me. so I always had pretty frocks ami now they have come. My mother does not know about them. She-will be shocked when I tell her I have them, but she will not he angry. She loves me. Is your curiosity satisfied? It win have to be, for this Is all I care to divulge at present." He. smiled down Into her earnest eyes. "My curiosity Is appeased," he said. "I should not have slept tonight If you had not explained this tantalizing mystery. Therefore, I thank you. May I have your permission to say that you are very lovely In your new frock and that you are marvelously becoming to It?" "Walt till you see me in my black dress and bonnet and mittens.' she challenged. Eliza appeared in the doorway. She was rolling down her sleeves. "How are you two gettin' along?" she Inquired, looking from one to the ther keenly. The girl spoke quickly, before her companion could reply. "We have had a most agreeable chat, Eliza. Are you through in the kitchen? If

' " i unuu vtrmillg ill-to-thfrbedreetn with mer Jwint" you to see the ,otlrer-;dress?tm "Wr: uooa. nigiir, ' she said to Qwynne.- . "So doubt we shall meet again." He was dumbfounded. "Am I not to see you in the new dress?" he cried, visibly disappointed. "Surely you are not going to deny me the Joy of beholding you in " She Interrupted him almost cavalierly. "Pray, save up some of your compliments against the day wheu you behold me in my somber black, for I shall need them then. Again, good night." "Good night," he returned, bowing stiffly and in hiffh dudgeon. Eliza, in hurrying past, had snatched one of the candlesticks frofo the mantel, and now stood holding the bedroom door open for the queenly young personage. -A-mornent later the door closed behind them. Gwynne was- still scowling at the Inoffensive door when Striker came blustering fnto the room. "Where are the women?" he demanded, stopping short. A Jerk of his thumb was his answer. "Gone to bed?" "I believe so," replied Gwynne carelessly, as he sat down in the despised rocker and stretched Ids long tegs out to the Ere. "I fancy we arc safe to smoke now. Striker. We have the parlor all to ourselves! The ladies Have deserted ns." Striker took the tobacco pouch from the peg on the mantel and handed it to his guest. "Fill up," he said shortly, and then walked over to the bedroom door. He rapped timorously on one of the thick boards. "Want me fcr anything?" he Inquired softly, as his wife opened the door an inch or two. "No. Go to bed when vou're ready an" don't ferget to smother that fire." "Good night, Phineas," called out another voice merrily. "Good night," responded Striker, with a dubious shake of his head. He returned to the fireplace. "Women are funny things," said he, dragging uf another chair. Then be set forth his views at great length. ? Throughout the dissertation, Gwynne had sat with his moody gaze faced upon the flaring logs which Striker had kicked Into re riewed Ufe with the heel of one of his ponderous boots, draining the stoat charred poker that leaned against the chimney walL He was pulling dreamily at the corncob pipe. His thoughts were of tho perplexing' girl who eagerly gave him her confidence in one moment and ahrank into the iciest reticence the next. Her unreserved revelations' concerning her own father, uttered with all the frankness of an Intimate, and the childish Ingenuousness with--which she accounted for ner raiment, followed so elosely, bo abruptly by the most Insolent display of bad manners he had ever known, gava him ample extuae for reflection. He was debating within himself the advisability of asking hit host a few direct and pointed Questions. A"flne regard for Striker' position deterred him. This ts admirable tobacco." h aid. , "Do yon core .It yourself or

THE FIERY CROSS

tfSes It come ueJuc rlrer triSm Kentucky? "Ownes from Kentucky. We don have rauefc. fuck trvin' to ralae terhaerer in these parts." Whereupon Mr. Striker went Into a long and intelligent lecture upon the products ef the soil in that seetiew. of ImfiAHa. "Whenever yon feel like gjoin' to bed. Just say so," he said at last. "T have been doing a little surmising, Mr. Striker," said the of her. "I am wondering where you. and 'I are to dispose ourselves." j "I reckon I'll have to make up a bed here In front of the fireplace fer myself, an' let you go up to the attic. We got a " "I wa afraid of this. Mr. Striker. Ton are putting; yourselves out terribly oa my ae count. I can't allow It, sir. Tt Is too much to ask" "Now don't you Worry about us. Yon ain't putting us out at alL There's a spare tick up In the attic what we nse fer strangers when they liappea along, an Zacliarlab, baa put yur blanketa right here by the door an' your pistols, too, I see, so whenever you're ready, I'll lead the way up the ladder an' show you where you're -to roost." They stepped briskly outside the cabin. Into tfi fresh, brisk gale tijat was blewfarg. Striker pointed off Into the night. "Lafayette's off In yan direction. There's a big stretch of open prairie -ta between, one ysa git out'a thes woods, an further on there's, more, timber. The townV down. ha a sort of valley, shaped sometbla' like a saucer, with btHs on all side an' the- rrror ?uttln straight, ttrroagh the middle:. Considerable buttdin" goin' on this sprlag. But yu-'l see all tale fer yeBrseif when you gtc there;:. ". It was & few minutes past nine when Kenneth followed his host up the ladder through the trapdoor into the stuffy attic. "I'll leave the ladder here," 'said Striker, depositing the candlestick on the floor. "So's I c'n stick my head In here In the mernin' an' rouse you up. There's your strawtick over yauder, an I'll fotch your blankets up in a - minute or two.-1 reckon you'll have to crawl, on your hands" an' knees,; this attic wasn't built fer full-size men." "I will be ail right," his guest assured him. The clapboard roof was a scant three feet above the dusty floor of the attic. Stooping, the young man made his way to the bed-tick near the little window. He did not sniff with scorn at his humble surroundings. He had traveled long and far and he had slept In worse places than this. He was drawing oif his boots when Striker again stuck his head and shoulders through the opening and laid his roll of blankets on the floor. The trapdoor was slowly lowered into place as the shaggy head and shoulders of the settler disappeared. The youn man heard the scraping of the ladder as it was being removed to a place against the wall, v H& PJiypen the.tight little window-.-letting S'dnrfF'of fresh" air rMff istb -the fatiflfflfe attic. Then he sat on the edge of the tick for a few minutes, ruminating, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the splutter 'ing, imperiled candle. He snld his prayers he never forgot to sav the prayer his mother had taught' him blew oat the candle, pulled the blankets up to his chin, and was soon fast asleep. He did not know what time It was when he was aroused by the barking of Striker's dogs, loudi furious barking and ugly growls, signifying the presence in the immediate neighborhood of the house of some Intruder, man or beast. Shaking off the sleep that held him, he crept to the window and looked out. The moon was gone and the stars had almost faded from the Inky black dome. Suddenly his gaze fell upon a light moving among the trees some distance from the cabin. As he w-atched he heard some one stfrring In the room below: Then the cabin door creaked pir Its rusty hinges and almost Immediately a Jtrmble of subdued hoarse, voices came up to him. He felt for his pistols and realized wth something of a shock that he had left them in the kitchen with Zacfcartah. The dogs, admonished by a sharp word or two, ceased their barking. This reassured him, for they would obey no one except Phineas Striker. Whoever was at the cabin door, there was no longer any question in his mind as to the peaceful nature of the visit. He crept over to the trapdoor and cautiously attempted to lift It an inch or so, the better to hear what was going on, but try jis he would he could not budge the covering. The murmur of voices went on for a few minutes longer, and then he heard the soft, light pad of feet on tne flsor below ; sibilant, penetrating whispers; a suppressed feminine ejaculation followed by the hw Jajgh of a man, a laugh: that might wB have been der scribed as a chuckle! i Tat a long time fie lay there listening, to th Confused sounds of whispers, the stealthy shuffling of feetv the quiet opening and closing of a door, and then there was silence-. ' ': Several minutes passed. He stole back -t the window-. The light in the forest had vanished. Just as he .was on the point of "crawllag into bed again, another sound struck Ma ear; the unmistakable rattle of wagon wheels' an. , their' axles, the , straining of harness, the rasp of tug , e4ia, qutfc Mar at band. Presently the front, door, of the cabin squealed On tta hinges, the latch snapped and the bolt fell carefully into place. He could not go to sleep again. His brain .was awake and aetlve, filled with unanswered questions, beset by endless speculation. The first fatal sign of dawn, creeping through the window, found him watchlag; eagerly, Impatiently for lts appearance. The square little aperture was clearly defined against the graying sky- before h distinguished alga of activity In the room below. Strife was up and moving about j Kenneth, despite hi longing for

rwsely wisfced to sleep. A btated but beatlfie drowsiness seized him. He wasrtty half-conschwts of the noise that attended the lifting of the trapdoor. "Wake up! Time to git up," a distant voice was calling, and he suddenly opened his eyes very wide and found himself staring at a sbZSy, ankempt head sticking up out at the floor. "That you. Striker T he mumbled. "Yep. It's me. Time to git up Five o'clock. Sleep well?" "Passably. I wa awakened some time In the night by your visitors." Striker was silent for a moment "Thought maybe you'd he disturbed spite of all we could do to be as quiet as possible. People from a farm 'tother side f the plains." The head disappeared, and in a very few minutes Gwynne, carrying lUs coat and waistcoat, descended the ladder Into the presence of a fen you all this, Mr. Gwyiraa. causa I got a sneakin' id ee vrm'rA

goln' to see- a lot of that girl, an' J mayoe you H turn out to be a source of help la time o' trouble to her." "I fail to understand just what you mean. Striker. She Is an absolute stranger to me." "Well, .well see what we shall see," said Striker cryptically. Half an hour later Kenneth and bis servant mounted their horses and prepared, to depart "Follow this road back to -the crossin' an'., torn ity your left.", directed Striker,, "an' Tore you bmv lt youll :b ln .tay-ftat, as theyall It down In CrawfbrdsviUe. Remember,, you're alius- most welcome here. I reekonwweU see somethin' of each other a trme goes on." He walked alongside Gwynne's stirrup as they moved down toward the road. "Some day," said the young man, "I should like to have -a long talk with you about my father. You knew him well and I by the way, your lovelorn friend knew him also." Th& other was silent for half a dozen paces, looking .straight ahead. "Yes," said he, with curious deliberation. "She was sayin" as how she told you a lot about him last night what sort of a man he was, . an' all that." "She told me nothing that" "Jist a minute, M Gwynne," said Striker, laying his hand on the rider's knee. Kenneth drew rein. "I guess maybe you don't know who slie was talkta' about at tlie time, but it was your father SHOCK TROOPS The advertisers of the Fiery Cross are the Shock Troops of Klandom. They expect and deserve the patronage of all Protestant Americans. .

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"We All Three Knowed Somethin' That You Didn't Know." she wa describin. We all three knowed somethin' that you didn't know, an' it's only fair fer me to tell you the truth, now that she's out of the way. That girl was Viola Gwyn, an she's your halfsister." (TO BE CONTINUED.)

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Friday,, September 12, 1924

RAILWAYS WILL SEE COLUDM AIJTOET WASHINGTON, Sept. 9. The railways, it is reported, will launch a national movement to stop reckless auiomobilists from crashing into trains that are -attending to their business on their own right of ways. Automobilists generally have become so careless that railroad trains are not safe from damage on their own tracks. The Great Northern railway recently collected damages from Stewart Johnson of Great Falls, Mont., who drove his automobile into a freight car. While the amount of damage was small the case tarnishes a legal precedent and General Solicitor Dorety announces the Great Northern will bring collision suits in all similar cases where it can be shown that the collision was the fault of the automobile driver. "Only last week," said Attorney Dorety, "a flivver collided with the Observation platform of the Oriental Limited, knocking off part of the brass railing and this with the train standing .still." Av movement has been started at Kentville, Nova Scotia, for the raising of the necessary money to erect a monument to Longfellow, who immortalized the Annapolis valley by his poem, "Evangeline.' The movement will be a Joint effort of the people of the maritimes and New England states. British farmers are having to fight a new weed that belongs to the mustard family, but smells like garlic. Postage Prepaid Anywhere la U. S.

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