Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-28
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.

Judson had scarcely found his breathing
space between the floor timbers, and had
not yet overheard enough to give him
| the drift Of the low-toned talk. when the
bell Of the private-line telephone rang in
the room above. 1t was Flemister who
| answered the bell-ringer.
Hello Yes; this is Flemister. .
Yes, l say; this is F1emister; you're talk
ing to him. $50 What's that-a message
about Mr.. Lidgerwood? All right
fire away.
"Who is it?'' came the inquiry. in the
grating voice which fitted, and yet did
not fit, the man whom JudsOn had fol-
lowed from his boarding Of the train at
Angels to Silver Switch. and from the
gulch of the old spur to his disappear
ance on the wooded slope of Little Butte
ridge.
The listener heard the click OF the tele-
phone earpiece replacement.
It's Goodloe, talking from his station
Office at Little Butte" replied the mine
owner. The dispatcher has just called
him up to say that Lidgerwood left
Angels In his service car. running spe-
ciai, at $40 which would figure 1t here
at about II. a little later
who is running it, inquired the other
man. rather anxiously. Judson decided.
Williams and Bradford. A fool for
luck. every time We might have had to
ecraser a couple of our friends
The French was beyond Judson, but
the mine owners tone supplied the miss
ing meaning. and the listener under the
floor had a sensation like that which
might be produced by a cold wind blow
ing up the nape OF his neck
ed the other voice. my time was
damned short-after I found out that
Lidgerwood wasn't coming on the pas
senger But | managed TO send word to
Matthews and ester, telling them to
make sure Of Williams and Bradford. We
could spare both of them if We have to-"
Good said Flemister Then you
had some such alternative in mind as
that I have just been proposing"
No" was the crusty rejOinder. Il
was merely providing for the hundredth
chance. / don't like your Alternative
why don't you?
wen. for one thing it's needIessly
bloody. We don't have to go a this thing
| like bull at gate. I've had my finger
on the pulse Of things ever since Lid
geruood took hold The dope Is working
ordinary run of things, 1t will be only a
| few days or weeks before 1.idgerwood
| will throw up his hands and quit. and
when he goes out, | go I'm. That's straight
| goods this time.
| You thought il was before" sneered
| E-lemister and YOU got beautifully left. -
| Then: You're talking long nat
urals' and the ordinary run of things,
| but I notice you schemed with Bart Ruff
ford to put him out of the fight with a
| pistol bullet.
| Judson felt sudden easing of strains.
He had told McC'ioskey that he would be
| willing to swear to the voice of the man
whom ne had overheard plotting with
| RufYord i'm Cat Biggs back room. After
| ward. after he had sufficiently renIem-
| bered that a whisky certainty might cas-
Tv lead up to a sober perjury, he had ad-
| mitted the possible doubt. But now Flem-
listers taunt made assurance doubly sure.
| Moreover. the arch-p lotter was not deny
| ing the fact of the conspiracy with The
Killer.
Yourself" tho other man was saying.
| calmly. las / have told you before. I've
"Rufford il a bioodthirsty devil-like
discovered Iidgerwood weakness - he
can't call a sudden bluff. Rufford's play
the play l told him TO make-was to get
| the drop on him, scare him up good. and
chase him out OF town-out of the coun-
try He overran his orders-and went to
| Jail for it,
l@"WeIl?' said the mine-owner.
| Your scheme. as you outlined il to me
in your cipher wire this afternoon, was