Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-03-21

What had Lyman Chiider in common with
those two mens How was it that he should
be shaking hands with he thief who vas
caught in the very act of piundering his
house but q few weeks beforcl
They were uuanswerable questions. The
distrust which Norris had felt once before
was back again with u new force. He
shrank from the dark speculations which
forced themselves into his mind. What
ever motives had brought ChiIder to such
an association with those two frequenters
of Mite Maloncy's establishment, Norris
felt that he was not the one to pry into
them. Better, even, that Abraham Stone
should continue TO eVade justice, than that
act Of his should disclose unsupported depths
that would end III sorrow end humiliation
to her toward whom his heart yearned in
that moment with q wonderful mingling Of
pity and tendernsss-so young, so bright,
so innocent. so joyous. Let Lyman Childer
beware of his deeds, that the shadow of his
evil should not fol- upon her.
"Sort of wondering what could take our
Strengthened young partner into that she
bang, Ell? What would you give me to tell
youl I'd ought - be able to strike a good
bargain seeing the interest you seem to
take in him.
Norris faced about with an irrepressible
start. He had Eeard no step, but Hiram
Ingot stood at his elbow, his face well
guarded by cap and collar, his shaggy over
coat white with the falling snow, his atti-
tude one of easy assurance, as he laid his
hand Familiarity upon the others arm.
i" j reckon you've been making a Mount
ain out OF a moie-hill," he added, with an
amused laugh. Confess now that you've
been suspecting our friend Lyman Of
something little short of murder or arson.
Sayl what would he think If he'd seen you
come out Of this crib over there: I'm not
asking your business, but you see it might
have an ugly look"
"Have you beer watching me, sir?"
/ wear / haven't. Never was more
surprised than wien | saw you dodge over
here and go to peeking into our friends
business. That's the way it looks to me,
shether you like it or not"
"Do you know his business there3" ques-
toned Norris, sharply. Ingot gave his
shoulders a significant shrug.
"Think L could make a close guess at it.
But come, if you're done playing spy let
rs move OH. The officer that belongs to this
beat will be aioag pretty soon, and get it
into his head that there's mischief between
Is. It's an easy thing to make mistakes of
lila blS IaiESS W dDptat dltto-
At another time Norris would have re-
scented the book-,ieeper's o~fficious compan-
ionship, but for once the latter came as a
relief to his own troubled thoughts.
AZ shall be glad if you can explain Chill.
der's conduct to me- he exclaimed, i'm
pulsively. at seems scarcely honorable
to try to fathom it in this way, bnt how can
I help having my doubts! Did you see him
shake hands with those two meu3 Do you
know that one of them was Abraham Stonei
I want to be Lyman Childer's friend
Heaven knows, though am afraid be does
not care much for my friendship; yet hoy.
a I help suspectng villainy of some
sorti"
1t was a minute or more before the Other
answered him.
"You're right. There is yillainy, and it..
to get to the bottom of it that Lyman has
knuckled down to going handin-glove witt
two rascals. You think he ought to turf
the fellow Stonc over for house-breaking
but / telI you, there is a mighty sight big
ger game behind the scenes than that
iTain't for me to say what Lyman hasn'
took me into his confidence. but he ough
to, for I'll swear that we're both on tn
same lay. You amt so sharp witted as yo'
ought to be if you don't get the idea In
DRIVING AT.
"You mean that, knowing Stone to hav
been Implicated in the express robbery, b
would rather fix that upon him than tn
smaller crimeln
"Just so Giving him rope to hang hin
self, don't you sect Aud there's the res
Of the gang to be got at through him.
"But / don't see why Childer should b
on their track cried Norris, ii, preplexitJ
"His own loss WIGS not an important one
He reused TO take any steps when tn
matter was fresher than it is now.n
How do you know he didi May Do h
emily refused to 20 10 work with you, an
It's likely he had his reasons for it. dar
say, now, you can't see why / should b
after them, either. Say, did you ever +
that bit of scalp into its right placei 1 fe
Ike that scratch on my head was AFT
when / see that thing mounted under you
microscope"
Norris was taken perfectly aback. Il
did not knox. what 10 mako of the man
assurance. Was it possible that he biz
been mistaken after all, and that Ingot WI
only the go~od-natured, fneddling busyhod