and the three men, getting no answer to their repeated knocks at the stateroom door decided to enter by the deck door. It was Macdonald who entered the cabin first, and he recoiled in horror as he stepped over the threshold and saw the huddled figure of Constable Aston lying in a pool of blood on the cabin floor. Quickly the injured man was placed on the lower bunk. Momen- tarily conscious, he opened his eyes and smiled up at Macdonald. When the Okanagan reached Gallatly at about 8.00 o’clock that morning, Const. Tooth at Kelowna was advised of the tragedy and again the lakeside telephones hummed with news of the Kelowna bandit’s latest exploit. Big Geoff. Aston had gained the respect of settlers old and young throughout the district, and many a grim- faced rancher expressed himself in strong terms as to how the desperate young gun- man should be dealt with. When the sternwheeler docked at Kel- ~ owna, Dr. Austin H. Huycke was waiting on the wharf, and the injured police officer was rushed to the hospital. There it was found. that the bullet was imbedded so deeply in his brain that an operation was out of the question. Only a miracle, declared Dr. Huycke, could save Aston’s life. When the prisoners walked ashore at Peachland on the fateful morning, they might have been certain of one thing. They could be sure that the police throughout the Okanagan, in fact throughout the Province, would spare no effort to get them —dead or alive. RALLY TO MANHUNT Chief Constable P. G. Routh of Vernon district headquarters took personal charge of the manhunt, and squads of special constables were posted on all roads and trails on both sides of Okanagan Lake. Small boats manned by specials patrolled The World’s Universal Cars— FORD V-8 MERCURY 8 Victoria Dealers NATIONAL MOTOR CO. LTD. 819 Yates Street VICTORIA, B. C. When in Victoria a Welcome Awaits You at SIX MILE HOUSE Most Modern Licensed Hotel on the Island Courteous Service Island Highway - - - - Page Ten Licensed Premises Phone Belmont 76 @ Bill Buxton (formerly of Calgary and Van- couver) and his staff are always at your service. offshore to intercept the killer should he attempt to take to the water by boat or raft. Indians from the Westbank Indian Reserve, noted for their skill as trackers, were pressed into service, and although, for the next twenty-four hours many false tips kept the police busy, Routh and Tooth felt that with every avenue of escape blocked by armed Percy H. Seeley, who with R. D. Ramsay disarmed and captured the murderer of Const. Aston. A vet- eran of the 29th Bn. C.E.F., Lieut. Seeley is serving again at Vernon's Military Training Centre. He has a son with the R.C.A.F. ranchers, there was little chance for the fugitives to slip through the cordon. Here and there strangers were held up until their identity was verified, but despite these set- backs there was no slackening of vigilance. The second day of the intensive search dawned cold and clear, the sno hills offering scant shelter to tl men. It was for this reason thai L. Seeley and R. D. Ramsay, two of Wilson’s Landing, felt that the f if they managed to get further than West. | bank, would stay close to the lake side ane the wagon road. As they went to work t] morning, Seeley and _ his compan Walking along the wagon road, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Two Quietly the ranchers took up a posi behind a large rock at the side of the r oad, and as they did so each took the precautic to pump a shell into the breach of his gun. They were going to take no chances - Boyd James. Nearer and nearer trudged the strangers and with occasional glances round the | of the rock, Seeley confirmed his suspici It was James and Wilson all right. As the fugitives passed the rane ea hiding place, Seeley stepped out be them: “Throw up your hands,” peremptoriy commanded the young rancher. James whirled around with a startled oath, whipping out the .38 revolver from his pocket, the revolver he had taken from Aston’s kit bag. : “Drop that,” snapped Seeley, as he & a bead on the trapped desperado. The ominous tone in Seeley’s voice warned James that he had met his match, COLWOOD STORE GENERAL GROCERIES — IMPERIAL GAS and OIL * Phone 23 Colwood, B.C HALFWAY HOUSE A. M. GORE, Manager Licensed Premises 856 Esquimalt Road ESQUIMALT, B.C. Your Advertisement is snetiing all the time and brings Genial Company Excellent Results. Advertise in THE SHOULDER STRAP Victoria, B. C. THE TUDOR HOUSE — WILF GOUGE, Manager Licensed Premises Corner Admirals and Esquimalt Roads ESQUIMALT, B.C.