The Washington times., 1909-02-03
CHAPTER XIV.
HHAT IMPORTANT BIT OF ENI-
DENCE.

THAT IMPORTANT BIT OF ENI- !
DENCE.
ESS had managed to retain her |
hold ON the note Tom had tried /
10 snatch. She crumpled 1T again /
in her hand and returned II 10 /
fts former resting place IN her waist
Toms confusion was almost plUaple- /
sIe had fallen into the trap she had set 1
for him, and was now trying to pack /
ont as gracefully as he could
Bess did not hinder his progress in /
making excuses. She was willing 20 ac- /
cept his explanation that he wished TO /
secure the note for George.
she was so thrilled with the p0ssibil- /
Sly that she might unearth something /
"a time TO save Jim that she die not /
care VINO was miXec up with the note /
Tom took his departure IN a hesltat- /
lng, awkward manner. and Bess was /
left alone. Then she realized hOw close /
she had come 20 losing The precious /
note.
To guard against the repeuuon OF |
such danger she carefully removed the
bit of paper. showed il into the envelope
containing the 5000. and then bucded /
down the strap securely over the small /
leather pocket in the bag that now con-
fained her two treasures.
''No one would ever think of looking
there for valuables' she told herself.
It was almost train time when she
had finished with several small details
of departure. and Bess set out for the
station at once.
Luckily she met no close friends on
her was, ard sne took the train with
uut experiencing any dIsagreeabIe en-
counters She had worried continually
lest her father would come at the last
snonent and try 10 force her TO remain
1T homa. Evidently he had decided that
Or would be best TO let her do as she
pleased, for he did not appear at tho
station and she had no word of any
sort from him.
At Dewitt Bess had TO change cars.
She looked ar her watch. calculated the
time closely, and decided that the inter
val would be too small for her to carry
ont little plan she had ia mind. She
would have 10 put that on until her re-
turn from Arizona.
The plan was TO g. 10 the morgUe iu
Dewitt and get q description Of the
tramp that Jim was supposed 10 have
Killed. She had vas he notion that IL
fnight be Harvey Snow. IF it were, and
she could pile up a little more evidence
On the note she already had. things
would lock much brighter
But this matter would have 10 be de-
layed until her return from Arizona.
There was no time for iJ now.
Bess took the through train at Dewitt
IL would be thirty nouns before she
could reach Fickenburg-
The lawyer had secured a lower berth
f0r her, and during the first two or
Ehree hours Bess wondered who had
ahe upper. Sine hoped it was vacant
Tor she felt a little uneasy travelling
alone. Probably The other half of her
secuon was reserved for some one who
rrould get on AT one OF the coming sta
tions,
The girIs mind drilted from one thing
- another, but always it came back 20
the letter she had found That had sud-
oenly changed everything. She marvel
81 at her luck in gaining such a yalu-
sble piece of evidence SO Unexpectedly.
There was stuI "a great doubt as 10
Khethe- Tom or her brother was guilty
or which one was the more concerned
5n.the crime She knew from their ac-
lions that bota must have an interest
init OF some sort
Bess wished she had some one TO talk
20. Ths girl felt that 10 be able 10
areue out her theories and conclusions
rfh any one would help her a great
deal. But she must keep IT. an tu her
.-F not rat sre-sos,. -r-nerf her.
- ,,- ,,-r-5 or siam
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80 ...T.r. -z -...r. mis-.
@oLld il-'D AL .- -i - -
heN2 -r,..
He" P07zs'
elm received ,--.9 ""s 80 - - --
one Il'o Ilii1 1"s
"H5- II "'ol' '''-' .,. --'
t9-toui "o.''7 ~
"euid be -D-- -''8
bess allowed Two o@ss 20 i..i''is al'a.
SNOW III 7-1 ii"" '-' '-'- '. ----- 80