The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-30
1000 ooO-
The 1aninQ of Red Butte
By FRANCIS LYNDE
(Continued.)
900

Lidgerwood felt his gorge rising, and a great contempt for Flemister was mingled with a manful desire to pitch him out into the corridor. 1t was a concession to his unexplainable pity for Hallock that made him temporize.
 "In justice to Hallock, I think you ought to make a statement of some kind that I can show to these men. who, very naturally, look to me for redress. Will you do that?"
 "I'll think about it." returned the mine owner shortly. but Lidgerwood was not to be put off so easily.
 You must think of it to some good purpose he insisted. eff you don't shall be obliged to put my own con struction upon your failure to do so and to act accordingly"
 Flemister's smile showed his teeth.
 ''You're not threatening me. are you. MT. Lidgerwood?"
 "Oh, no; there is no occasion for threats. But if you don't make me that statement, fully exonerating Hal lock. shall feel at liberty to make one of my own. embodying what you have just told me. And if I am com pelled to do this you must not blame me if I am not able to place the mat ter in the most favorable light for you"
 This time the visitors smile was mere barring of the teeth.
 "Is it worth your while to make it a personal quarrel with me, MT. Lid gerwood?" he asked with a thinly yelled clenace In his tone.
 'I am not looking for quarrelsome occasions with youe or with any one," was the placable rejoinder. And hope you are not going to force me to show you up. Is there anything else? If not I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to excuse me. This is one of my many busy days"
 After Flemister had gone Lidger. wood was almost sorry that he had not struck at once into the matter of the thieveries. But as yet he had no proof upon which to base an open accusa- ton. One thing he did do, however, and that was to summon McCloskey and give instructions pointing to a bit of experimental observation with the mine owner as the subject.
 He can't get away from here be- fore the evening train, and I should like to know where he goes and what he does with himself" was. the form the instructions took 'When we find out who his accomplices are I shall have something more to say to him"
 "I'll have him tagged" promised the trainmaster, and a few minutes later, when the Wire Silver visitor sumter ed up Mesa avenue in quest of diver sion wherewith to fill the hours of waiting for his train, a small man, red haired and with mechanics cap pull ed down over his eyes, kept even step with him from dive to dive.
 Judson's report made to the train master that evening after the west bound train had left was short and concise. 4Fa
 "He went np and sat in Sammys game and didn't come out until it was slime to make break for his train. I saw him go into Sammy's,, and know he didn't stay in the barroom. didn't see him talking to anybody after he left here" This was>the wording of the report.
 Thus Judson, who was still sober and who meant to be faithful accord ing to his gifts. He was scarcely blameworthy for not knowing of the existence of a small back room in the rear of the gambling den or for the further acknowledge of the fact that the man in search of diversion had passed on into this back room to join another after placing a few bets at the silent game. appearing no more until he had come out through the gambling room on his way to the train,