Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

FROM TH

his overcoat. Deliberately he took his time hanging the coat over a chair in fr

id you ever act in any manner

aster snapped. "But I'll not be drawn i

ter of fact, I was on my way to your house. Saw your car

telegram for me

red Quigley. "Our mayor from Delta, Bradley Maso

t doesn't i

torted. "If the dam gives way flood waters will sweep straight down the va

mile was a sneer. "Let me w

dly. "But I am thinking about Mrs. Lear and the people living in Delta. Not to me

are endangered why don't th

we can't raise the

t in the matter. I'm will

ey and you'd be doing the community a great service to lend help. We're not aski

angrily. "Not a particle. It's only

into the rain. In driving out of the yard he turne

remarked with a shrug. "I s

r announced tartly. "Will you

plied. "I'm due for my trick at the Depo

disappeared into the rain they tried without much success to draw more information from Mrs. Lear. The old lady

Red River's floodin' to the brim, an keeps pourin' more and more into the Huntley Lake

cted the dam recently?" Pe

h ago and took a quick look and said the dam wo

ley. We want repairs made and w

uses to help is there no

ers might help," Mrs. Lear said, giving Penny a quick,

ns the Rive

had the old lady learned that Mr. Parker was a newspaper man if not from Silas Malcom? More than ever Penny was convinced

g from the table. "Louise and I appreciate your hospitality.

he old lady laughed. "Further

ere's an aft

Why, you'd catch your death o' cold rid

should let

y don't you stay until tomorror anyhow? Then you c

them. Though the long journey to Red Valley had proven interesting, it scarcely seemed worth the exhausting effort. They had

t hoss-ridin' ghost," Mrs. Lear said slyly. "Seems lik

s. Lear sew on a rag rug. At intervals they wandered to the window

It's settlin' for a good healthy pour. You might

l be expecting us ho

Lear urged. "Reckon this rain'll

sought without success to draw information from Mrs. Lear about the mysterious prankster. From the

"Maybe it's a real haunt. I mind the time somebody witched my cow

hey gave up attempting to solve such an enigma. By noon they had reconciled themselves to staying anot

couldn't possibly ride our horses back to Hob

ue little town of Delta. There they dropped in at the depot t

ttle jaunt to the Huntley Dam?" the station agen

r horses and took the pike road to a well-marked trail which led up into the hills. D

alk?" Penny speculated as they rode along. "In case of real dang

rocks and stones. The roar of rushing water warned them that they were close to the dam. In another

as they piled sandbag upon sandbag

an and woman who wore rain

and Mrs. Burmast

y did not observe the newcomers. The roar of water drowned the sound of hoofbeats. But the wind

nished her husband. "You're not to give the people

aid, pointing to the fa

tensely, saw several sandbags swept over the brink. Workmen raced to repair t

goes into this dam! It will hold. Anyway, I'd rathe

Mat

this Valley-tear down her shack! If you don't,

. Burmaster walked an