The Washington times., 1904-12-25
CHAPTER V.
In the Hands of Enemies.

Gayin's face spread, and showed the
complacency with which he viewed the
situation. NeIlie's heart suddenly as
sumed strength, and became that ct a
heroine.
You are the sheriff. she said calmly
but sternly, as she took q chair near
him. II understand, o. course, that in
new districts like this. the sheriff Is
man of almost unlimited power But
that power does not extend to such
lengths as to compel unwilling people
to marry him. / know 1t is your duty
to solve the mystery OF this double
murder, and / believe you will do IT. But
the man you have called my lover is
innocent of both charges. He is not ny
lover, and he did not kill my father and
mother"
Who did, then?"
81 don't know
Now, Nellie. listen to me. I amt
going to be unpleasant to you You
know how often I've tried to tell you
how loved you, and you wouldn't fas-
ten And you don't seem to want to
listen now. But you don't appreciate
4his thing as I do. Don't you know you
are in bad place? This looks bad for
you You need a strong friend Jim
Gavin is that man. You need me,
Nellie so don't make me angry
"I am far from wishing to make you
angry replied Nellie, with a slight
smile But will you listen while tell
you just what has happened"
"Of course" said Gavin. But wait"
He got up and walked TO the shed
He could not see the man he had ac-
cused Of murder, but he could hear In
distinctly cheerful whistle in the di-
rection of the neares, barn
He amt runnin' away" said Ga
vim to himself with grin OF satisfac-
ton. He don't know I'm here. /
thought maybe the girl was sparrin.
for time to allow him chance to skip
III see what she's got to say"
He returned to where she was wait
ing She knew why he had gone to the
shed door.
He is sti1I there. is he not?' She
asked with sligkhtly ironical accent
Mr. -Cayright- Is not the kind. Of man
who runs away"
"CayrightI" exclaimed Gavin us it
that young surveyor fellow!
He told me he was surveyor"
I've seen him He's a sort of fresh
youth-stuck up. Well, go on Let's
hear about it,
Gavin settled himself much like a
| man who was to hear very interest
| ing piece of fiction
"Of course you know, Sheriff Gavin, y
said Nellie. that I was guest for a
few days at Justice Gordor.'s house in
Hubbicks.
q saw you there myself" remarked
Gavin.
| I started home, against the advice of
/ Mrs Gordon, before the storm / would
| have reached here without mishap but
for the big oak at the roadside which
had blown down. Ny mare, blinded by
the furious storm and sleet, plunged
| against 1t, and unseated me-
II was numb with cold and half
| frozen I became unconscious. When
I returned to consciousness I was in
| this house, wrapped in a blanket, and
that man out there was taking care OF
me 1 asked for mother and father
| and from his manner l knew that
something was wrong.
| II discovered them-iying in there
on the bed-where he had placed them
1 accused him of the murder, the same
as you do now. He explained afterwaro
that he had come in for shelter and haC
found the bodies.
He has been kind to me. I dom
L
alone here with this horror. Look IL
there See the preparations he has MADE
to preserve them till the burial can takt
i place? See how they are packed in ict
that he froZe himself with ater from
the pump? Would murderer do that?
us them his saddlebags out there?'
asked Gavin.
Yes / suppose you found a bag o.
gold there He showed me that 1t die
belong to my father-Mr. Hubbick-Mr
Cayright found it in the road inst be
fore he reached the house-he was com
ing from McCassatt.''
Gavin scratched his head
Found it in the road. eh? Found :
bag of gold III the road. with the snow
so thick you couldn't see your han;
before your face?"
HE found IT,"
AN the ground covered to the deptI
of TWO feet"'
1T was when the gale was the high
est and portions of the road were swep
bare"
Gavin meditated.
Now. see her. Nellie" he said. :"
do believe that you believe this tale
But 1 don't believe it. It's all too nic
to be true. Who did this. then? And.
Hub5ick has lived here for years. anC
has no enemies. He amt a man Il
make many friends-pretty near. ad
NIT. But no man wanted TO Kill him
Now, this chap comes an wins you
regard
you assume too much Mr.. Cay
right is a gentleman.
Just then a heavy step was hear
in the shed. pail was let fall to tn
floor, and a hearty voice exclaimed:
''AhI That coffee smells good de
J clare. Miss Hubbick. you are my equa
: at coffee making. and that is a grea
admission for me 10 make
As Cayright spoke he came through
: the kitchen and saw the frownins fac
: of Gavin.
: Hello. Sheriff Gavin" he said .
saw a horse out there. / didn't know
] 1t was yours. This is terrible thin,
) that has happened
"Yes. It's terrible" assented Gavin
lingering something hard in his pocket