New-York tribune., 1909-09-12
CHAPTER XXI.
McCoppes Busies His Mind


| UNFORTUNATELY for Bostwick he knew
| no ruthdnS IN the Camp,-none OF the
| Ir1mners. who would perhaps. accept a sum of
/ money TO waylay a man, bash HIM over the
mead and hlch required letters from his pocket
/ tie was not precisely willing, moreover 10
broach such an undertaking TO the gambler.
| his, after all. was his private affair
l. ne man had arrived at the truth concern
| ing the letters with Commendable skill in de-
ductlOn He had himself DESTROYED Beth'S
earlier letter to her brother. for reasons of DOL
| icy. lie had found her conduct cold if not SuS-
piclouS, this morning. How far she had been
| eXcIted to diStrust himself OF the mails he
could not estimate He was certain. however
'Itt She mad sent request 10 Van Buren 10
carry letter 20 Glen. Her reasons for taking
precautions so extraordinary were undoubtedly
Signincant He was CALLED; his anger against
an buren was consuming. But first and fore
most ne must block the harm Beth's letter To
her brother might accomplish. For two davS
more young Kent and Beth must remain in Il-
horance OF what was being done through the
use use oil her money! the fact that no mine of
@ @t'Iel ulScoVery was the object of the scheme
ne was workl1 :, and that none of his own al
legged money was being employed in the game
lie made up his mind 20 90 10 Starlight him
sell, TO be on hand when Van Buren should
arrive; With Glenvllle ILL., OF injured in his
bed the case might offer very simple bandIi0,r
FURTHER neglect OF Glenville might indeed he
tatal at a Juncture so delicate From every
possible viewpoint the thing To do was 10 inter-
cept Van Buren,
He found McCoppet lust returned from,
~ launching Lawrence forth upon his work
Three OF the gambler chosen men had a,ro11-
panied the Governments surveyor. They had
taken boStwick car. Instructions had been
SIMPLE enough: Push over the reser,-.ti(,-, ~.
70 cover the Laughing Water claim bv ni,,b+ lf
the following dav '9''' Va
Searle was taken 10 the private den NJ
most brevity We" sue u'-
Nothing for us 10 do but 70 VA, +;,1 -.
% cl9cS' day after tomorrow morning he com
GUIDED Then play our cards-and play 'ern
You've taken nv car," s,id R...u..,.
whose personal plans were thrown into uft~r
CONFUSION ior the moment Il wanted thaf ,1r
LOT my own use I've got 10 90 to Starlight To-
ms unsmoked cigar and taking anotbIr -!
ms ms, pocket r." What's going on down in Srar-
Bostwick had no intention of divul.,in., b,s
personal affairs. but there was sonrfbine /,
TINS that trenched upon "cor1par,, ,sS 80
Van Burens going over therr y, ~, ,..'.-,,
Nent he admitted I've got To- see. bir3
MeCoppet looked up at him sharply .y,rr,
MN "a, an, next 20 anything he demanded
LOOK here s,id the gambler whose wits
y, H1tt ere inGrdin4tely keen is ANYTHING lc.kine
l,,91"lSN What about the girI the. vou0l,
tb'. sister You're not putting her next to
'eTtainly not said Bostvi,k ~Sb,.
T,.9~s ,I,.5 nothing But IT wouldn't Do safe f,r
~. ,t,u ,..lN-uP t' Yycur Vt any rate intend o.
'e llnCo,|, IlC[g when Van Ruren arrives
oPPet rose plunged his hands into Pm,
J. P"N NNe'S and Paocd up and down rrtlrctivrIv
H@heW1yS I'm glad Van Burens poinF b..
et',l ,-i' We been irving To- figure how could
~. , ~ F"ny 20 nave hum away when we
! GUESS n all right. Don't need You her
~ In copper any possible harm down thrr,
~ l,iI'ght and meantime I'm see If there's
turn. '''''S '"' "U'VH 81 rS-