Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 August 1938 — Page 14

Page PDF (15.71 MB)

Back to issue view

eR RN KH RINE

we TR TRO BINS tv ory

_ SERIAL STORY—

~ MYSTERY

atthe LAZY R

. By Clarke Newton

CAST OF CHARACTERS . NIKKI JEEROME, heroine; blond, pep2. ular,

_ STEVE MALLORY, heros who is accompanying her on a trip to Nikki's " aunt and uncle on a Wyoming dude

- -ranch. Nikki's father,

= PETER JEROME, is a wealthy New ~~ York jewe!r merchant. »

‘ Yesterday: Returning to the clearing, Steve and Nikki are held up by Sarto. He pats his pistol. “I don$ miss with this,” he warns. - :

a CHAPTER TWELVE

5 8 Nikki and Steve moved over

ge into the center of the clearing “s-under the waving directions of the

- black automatic in Sarte’s hand, ~ they heard a rifle shot in the distance. It was followed by a second “and a third and the sounds dotted a semicircle in the direction Steve

# and Nikki and Woody had taken ~ when they left camp the day be-

- fore. Three shots, thought Steve, meant Uncle Jim, Rance and © “Woody were searching separately. - Fiske probably was with one of ~them. One shot meant, of course, ‘they hadn’t found anything. They couldn’t very well when the persons they hunted were safely back in "camp. He glanced at Sarto. The man was backing toward the. cabin against which a rifle stood. Of course, thought Steve, he’ll _ complete the signal system. He watched Sarto jab the pistol into his hip pocket and stoop for the rifie and for a moment thought of making a break. Then he as quick-

ly discarded the idea. Nikki would

be left alone with the gunman. Sarto’s thoughts had gone along the same line. “Don’t try it,” he said with an ‘evil grin. “I'll get one of you and ~ it might be the girl.” He picked up the rifle and fired, not once, but twice in the air. That will bring the others back, thought Steve, startled. If one shot meant no luck, certainly two shots ~- would mean he and Nikki had been found. Before he had time to go further along that mental tangent, _. Sarto spoke. “You two sit over by that tree. Face toward the fire and don’t try anything. When the others come in,” he waved a casual arm in the direction from whence the shots had come, “don’t try to give ‘em

-~ any signs. I'll do the talking.”

® » = HEY sat down, their backs to the tree, facing the clearing and the cabin at their right. Sarto placed the rifle on the bench by the cabin and sat down also, the pistol held carelessly in his two hands. “What's he going to do,” whispered Nikki. “Ambush the others when they come in I suppose,” Steve whispered

_ back. And then as he found the

answer: “He’ll need someone to guide him back to the ranch.” They sat quietly for several minutes. Nikki shifted uncomfortably. After Sarto had ambushed the oth-

- ers, then what? He had murdered “Bancroft. A man who had killed

once probably wouldn't worry very - much about repeating the crime. She remembered, suddenly, the day they had walked through Grand Central, she and Steve and her father. No hint of tragedy in the bright sunshine of that day, no warning of the things ahead, Then ~ the money on the train and the realization that the father was , somehow involved with the sinister

~ Bancroft and his companion. She

looked at the hunched figure on the bench. No, no. Her father couldn't - be to blame for all this. He just couldn’t. © But Bancroft’s reference to the “Jerome affair” kept coming . back. “Hungry?” asked Steve, with a quick glance at the gunman. “I guess s0,” said Nikki. “I hadn’t thought about it.” “Sarto,” called Steve. “We haven't

eaten much lately. Could we have |

a little food while we're waiting?” “Shut up,” said Sarto. “Youll get something to eat later—maybe.” “Isn’t there some way we can warn the others?” whispered Nikki. “I'pe been trying to think of a way,” answered Steve. “But it’s too dangerous now. Wait until the others get here.” “Cut out the chatter,” said Sarto roughly. “Can it—all of it, see.” . Sh

MOMENT later they heard a |

halloo. Sarto came to abrupt attention. He slipped the rifle behind the bench where it would be out of sight but within easy reach. The automatic he held between his knees. “Give ’em a call,” he ordered Nikki, “Just one and don’t try anything or—" “Hello,” called Nikki, but her voice wasn’t very strong. They could’ hear the crackle of the brush and the sound of footsteps now. A bird fluttered up in frightened haste. A second later " Rance burst into the clearing. “Nikki,” he cried. “Thank God youre safe.” He started toward the couple sitting by the tree. “What's the matter? Hurt? What's wrong?” “Drop the rifle.” It was Sarto. He was standing by the bench and the pistol in his hand covered all three. “Nobody’s hurt yet,” he said. “Drop the rifle.” Rance let it slide slowly from his hands. -“Walk over and sit by them.” Rance sat on the other side of Nikki, his face a bewildered puzzle. - They sat there in a tight-faced little semicircle, waiting for the next . returning searcher. Nikki breathed a little prayer as another call was heard. Please Uncle Jim be care-

“Answer it,” commanded Sarto and she called out another “hello.” . 8 8 = MOMENT later her uncle hurried into the clearing. + “I knew you two'd turn up safe and sound,” he shouted, his ruddy face lighting up. Then he stopped

« ghort as he saw them all three

seated silently by the tree. “What in thunder—” Nikki's hands clenched. f “Shut up,” said Sarto. ‘Drop the gun.” Uncle Jim let the rifle slip

- to the ground as he turned slowly

to face Sarto and took in the pv has gun. ’ : “ r,” he drawled. “You seem be the boss right now. But I think itll last.” gor

B® 5

7 is -engaged- to six-foot, black- _ haired

- HOLD EVERYTHING

2 : . COPR SAS: vice. we. 8-3

“So you're sorry you came home with a black eye last night! Let me inform you that you didn’t have ‘it until you GOT home!”

By Clyde Lewis!

FLAPPER FANNY

“She’s going to be all right, Chuck!

fusion and she said ‘Mama’ before I left.”

By Sylvia

-3 They gave her a sawdust trans-

GRIN AND BEAR IT

by United Feature Syndica

“He was just demonstrating what a. marvelous mattress it was, and just dozed off!” ;

THIS CURIOUS WORLD

A POINT

TORTOISES HAVE THEIR SHOULDERS | INSIDE OF THER. Ris.

By William Ferguson

ON THE EQUATOR, OF THE PLANET JUPITER REVOLVES AS FAR IN ONE HOUR. AS A POINT ON THE EARTH'S : REVOLVES ABOUT THE AXIS IN

WHICH 15 RIGHT 2

ANSWER--Both are right.

A bird is also an animal.

down,” said Sarto. “And shut up.” “Where's Bancroft?” asked Uncle Jim, disregarding the last command. “Dead,” said Steve laconically. “Yeah, he’s dead” Sarto said. “And that ain’t the half of it, either.

So will you be, all of you, if you try to stop me from getting out of

here.” He jabbed the pistol in Uncle Jim's direction. = ° : “Where's ;

“They’re comin’.” “Well, watch yourself when they get here. If anyone makes. a move I'll start shooting and I'll shoot in this direction.” He gestured toward Nikki. He added Uncle Jim's rifle to his collection behind | the bench, just as. the crackle of brush heralded the approach of the last two searchers. :

(To Be

‘INDEED, MADAM ~ ZZ

‘AND

UR BOARDING HOUSE Lad a I AM PLANNING TO VISIT MY + 7 7¢ SISTER WHEN THE BOYS LEAVE 1 ON THEIR VACATION! THE LAST. TIME L LEFT YOU TO ROOT = FOR. YOURSELF THE PLACE = LOOKED LIKE A HOG PEN WHEN 1 GOT BACK, SO DON'T HOLD ANY OWLS CLUB REUNIONS WHILE IM GONE. YOL'LL. PROBABLY BE GOING AROUND WITH A PERPETUAL. CASE GF ‘HICCUPS, SO I'LL LAY IN A GOOD SUPPLY OF HEADACHE

n iY

Mn 7

J WKS

ND) \

on NN NN Sti

8 AN

oS \J

NN v/

= at AN DONS : NY ENN

LI'L ABNER a VERY WELL-I L JUST A LITTLE TIME JE TRUTH | LEFT P-BIT IL LAUGH a Qo - GRAVEZ”-EALL MY LAWYERS! \ SIRSR TA DO ig t= EVERYTHING OVER H

} A CHANCE...YOU'LL

NOTHING FURTHER ADOPTED SON-NOW/”~ Jo FOR You-- ,, BLAST ITZZWHY HASNT HE _ & z “ARRIVED YET 7 ~

MYRA NORTH, SPECIAL NURSE

SHUT UP! HE'S TRYING TO TALKS

You FIENDS/! GIVE HM KILL THE MAN! -

17'S A MAN LOOKIN’ FER MY, YOU'VE WORK-—ODD JOBS, AT «BECOME VERY KIND, AN'OUR CELLAR OBSERVING ALL ASHES SPILLED AN’ TH } TAKEN SUCH AN FURNACE STUFFED WITH : ‘EM — AN' OUR ATTIC IS TEREST N TERRYBUL LOOKIN —STUFF THE HOME! SCATTERED ALL OVER — : AN' OUR LAWN 1S FULLA, WEEDS AN TRASH ~- AN’ TH’ GARAGE IS A FRIGHT!

RJ HTT

> ;

Cd X

Rad We lp

Nao

NAMEN

-. > ~~

\ RRA fe ; : \ NS dal | : = 3 El

—By Al Capp '

WHEN | SIGN MY an OF POWER pl

-—By Thompson and Coll |

JAY MYRA, ATTENDS TO ROCCO, HER MIND 1S; BUSY SEARCHING FOR SOME PLAN IO SAVE THE "MYSTERY SHIP* FROM DESTRUCTION.

WAVE LENGTH FROM ROCCO! TE

Es) - rr 4 STI,

8-3

—By Crane |

(ou, WASHIE! WHAT A DARLING VASE FOR THE ROSES THAT WEBBIE |S TO

ME»

HAPPY BIRTHDA VIRGINIA

ke A PARADE OF SNAILS IN SLOW MOTION, THE HOURS PASS, WEBBIE DOES NOT APPEAR.

THAT POOR CHILD HASN'T TOUCHED HER LUNCH, SHE'S STILL SITTING BY THE WINDOW. ¥ GEE W\Z! . MAYBE WEBS!

NH FORGOT,

ANY MINUTE WEBBIE WILL BE BRINGING WY ROSES, PLEASE, MOTHER, I WANT TO SIT BY THE WINDOW AND & WATCH FOR HIM.J7~ OF COURSE Yo 2 YOU 0, DEAR, A 4

a m—

—By Blosser |

THEN I'M GONNA HELP You!

You'RE ®O FRESH FOR A , LITTLE SQUIRT YouU'tL HAVE TO BE TAKEN DOWN A PEG OR TWO/

PEOPLE HAVE TRIED THAT BEFORE —-- BUT THEY RAN

RIGHT ! AND THE NAME'S

WINIFRED === BETTER KNOWN

TO MY FRIEN AS NWINKIE

¥ Now, semis, “74s 1s A HEMLOCK - AND OVER, ‘Here 16 & SPRUCE

No, I cuEss THAT 18N'T TURRY ARTER

etx" Ws Rieut ON THE LANE, Too -

ABOUT HER “=~ NOBODY --LIKE HIM

Nl TA

No! Th Sost woe ST AND NOL CAN START RAGHT BACK | THANKS FOR SLERY TRING , WAND SOME

—By Raeburn Van Buren

ALL BECAUSE | WANTED TO HIM eee Te OF BOYS WHO'D ANYTH #

SUDDENLY THE STILLNESS ‘OF THE OLD COUNTRY HOUSE IS BROKEN BY A SHARP -- _PERSISTENT===---

Re. NE

Ems