Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

THE V

sing little station of Hobostein. Louise and Penny, their linen suits mus

good idea," sighed Louise.

station attendant. She too felt ill at ease in this strange town and the task she had set for hers

fice," she said briskly. "This tow

n. The agent, in shirt sleeves and green eye shade, speared a tr

I can do

tell us how to find the offi

. "Go past the old town pump, and the livery stable. A

tied to a hitching post and by contrast an expensive, new automobile was parked beside it. The unpaved roa

loaded boxes of groceries into a farm wagon. The only other sign of activity

mured. "Those men are staring as

said Penny,

ed brick building. In gold paint on the expanse of unwas

cluttered room where desks, bins of type, table forms and a massive flat-bed press all seemed jammed together. A rotund man they took t

ditor was saying heatedly. "I run my paper as I please-see!

makes no difference to me what you run in your stupid old weekly, prov

bout your p

ere's an assessment for repairs on the Huntley

If these rains keep up, the dam's apt to give way, and your property would go in the twinkling of an eye. Not

way and you know it. By writing these hot editorials you're just trying to stir up public fee

arose. His voice remained controlled

kly can do without your subscription. You've been a pain

n hotly. Then his gaze fell upon Louise and Penny who stood just in

a waste basket. The act seemed to restore his good hum

he in

ditor's desk, she fumbled in her purse for the advertisement clippe

Last week we misplaced the copy for Gregg's Grocery Store and was Ja

umphantly. She placed the cl

e day!" the editor snorted. "The old sk

aster?" Penny i

e flashes of fire. "He's the most egotistical, thick-he

an who was

was John

lives in

bad enough having him seven miles away. You don't me

hat as strangers to the town, she and

t a year ago. Imported an architect and workmen from the city. The house has a long bridge leading

Headless Horseman?" Penny l

n't calculate on getting a haunt to go with it," the e

" Penny asked. "Has Mr. Burmaster actually offer

his neck!" chuckled the editor. "But folks up Delta wa

the name o

xplained Mr. Schultz. "You don't see

and I come fr

n a sort of 'V' shaped valley. Just below it is the little town of Delta, and on below that, a hamlet called Ra

ly danger that the

dam won't wash out tomorrow or the next day, but if these rains keep on, the wh

about the Headless Horse

collect it myself. Fact is, Burmaster's g

rom Riverview just to find ou

that reward?" The ed

rha

to get second-hand information. Burmaste

el

e editor said with finality. "O

was rather dismayed to have the inte

. "Everyone in town knows Burmaster. I'd talk to you longer only I'm so

ously they looked up and down the street. The fine new car they had noticed a little while earlier no

is inquire for

Mr. Burmaster had been seen. The store keeper finished grinding a

y, yes, he was in town, but he pu

t missed him!"

llow by this time," the store keeper

we get to S

s once a day though. And it went

came in on. Isn't the

as some good horses though. He keep

rls picked up their overnight

Louise disconsolately. "Here we are, stuck hi

give up s

missed Mr. Burmaster and we can

down the street at Clem

epy Hollow?" she demand

can canter along balancing these overn

" Penny planned briskly. "The most essen

complained. "The last time we rode

les isn't

uise gasped. "Why

ckled Penny confidentl

Louise admitted with reluctance. "All that t

Headless

ou realize that if we go to Sleepy Hollow

ing her chums arm, pull

Unless Sleepy Hollow lets us down sham