The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-03-16
OF RU SSIA
CONTINUED from paee l2)


On his first visit to the Chimneystack
building Wilkins had said little to Caruth,
but that little had been calculated to dis
turb the younger man, and show him how
thin was the ice over which he was skat-
Ing ::r, :. 49,. ~,
lost between me and jim, he declared. Il
amt laid eyes on him for years. Jim
stayed here in the efete east and played
the human doormat; went west and
played pretty nearly everything and every
body in reach. Once in often I'd hear
of chance in stocks Or horses or some
wise about it, Now and then Jim would
learn of something that could use and
he'd put me wise. Jim cat-footed through
life. and bulled through it. We played
into each others hands reasonably WE'LL
'Yes?'
Yes l got sort of tired last MONTH an
made up my mind to emigrate had a
bunch of sheep over on the Gunnison that
I'd been herdin and l was yearning for
the company of something that wouldn't
say baa whenever YOU addressed EN-.
what it used to was when shepherds carried
crooks and Wore loose effects. and found
1t mighty monumentous and unsattated. so
l shakes the job aud lines out for Denver.
and there l finds Il letter from Jim telling
me to come to New York p. d. Q. So
comes. and gets here to find he got crooked
just about the time his essay was post
marked How about it?'
AS gently he could Caruth repeated the
gist of his tale concerning the theft Of the
money and the murder. 1t some
what delicate matter to tell this violent
looking individual that his brother was a
thief, and Caruth stumbled more or less
over the details.
Wilkins, however, did not seem worried.
81 never thought Jim would go into the
hold-up business" he commented; 'espe-
cially for a measly $500 Maybe you don't
know it, but Jim was gettin tolerabe pie
thoric. He was mighty saving and pro-
pinquous, Jim was; and he had some prop
erty out west-maybe $4,000 worth. IN
his heir. aud as amt been in no ways in
undated with him. of course l amt in
consolable about his decease,. nor l amt
pretendin' to be. But this hold-up story
don't explain none about that letter from
Bill that he sent me-"
Caruths heart. stopped for an instant n:
then raced madl VI, What ,a oo, letter.: he
a9 ..This one wilkins v drew paper from
his pocket. ''Jm enclosed it with note
of his own. lie says: Come at once
Bill's letter explains. Bits letter is mon
Notwithstanding :nonumentous; nut "
amt to say illumination. Maybe Jim forgot
to send the key. spose you don't know
anything about it?'
Caruth thought for moment To cover
his pause he poured out a drink and showed
the bottle across to wilkins, VINO promptly
followed his example.
Perhaps do he said at last About
an hour before your brothers flight. spe-
cial delivery letter arrived here from some
place in Europe 1t addressed to me.
but when l opened it. found it enclosed
another, stained and rum ,ppl which was vas
addressed in my care. The name OF ,, tne
washed out. Your brother saw 1t and
claimed it was for him. He asked mt, to
open it and see if it was not addressed to
was, and gave it to him. Perhaps that Is
the letter he sent you"
reckon it h is And DON'T San de spdse k9 5im
Showed it to you. But he nigh, have in
undated something about it You don't
know nothin' at al?" Plainly the western
er was disappointed.
well, I'll tell you unequivalent. Mr..
Caruth. don't believe Jim robbed you
none Jim wasn't damn fo"l none non, w wni.
rustic that money the way You think he
did I'm apostrophizins that the same par
ties stole it that did for jim An We got
an idea they croaked him to get this here
cryptic cable. I'm gamblin' . that It's It worm
could onS slnn ore ,b5 5 f s"Fs you a0n
Mo-" Caruth's lips. We're dry ana ms
tones were not convincing
The big plainsman studied him for a mo.
ment. ..well." he said, I've told you how
| feel .Jims dead, and l don't say ia go
out of my way to envenom him. But l 90
say that want some light on TINS mlsslNe.
and I'm going to nave NJ - s''u NV II ' soshiu.,
g gr6uDa lur # Won't ns y fault You said
didn't know no more about it. didn't you?"
looking. That's the third time you've
asked me that" he exploded DO You
mean to insinuate-"
Not at all! Not the least bit in r,, The he
treated me square and amt dangerous to
nobody who does that. But I'm excerbatin'
over that letter wouldn't t, mind ,, dolng
the ngsnpeus thing by anybody 'hat helped
The frowp faded from Caruth's lips and