The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-12-06
CHAPTER V.-(Continued).

CHAPTER V.-(Continued
he'd not looked at 1t in that light,
yet felt that he was right. There
could NOT be a moment of happiness
for the girl loved until the black
shadow that menaced her home ana
those she loved had been dispelled'
Yes. Davis was right. | would go 10
Ardway that evening | stopped only
long enough to telephone Louise OF
my intention and to go to my rooms
for bag.
IF you have a revolver you'd better
take II with you" said Davis.
IT never owned one in my liie' l
replied.
He drew out his own and handed
IL to me. 1t was of the hammerless
variety, fiat and almost square.
"Be careful how you use it" he
warned me. its magazine gun ana
goes off with a very light touch
What do you expect me to find in
Ardway7" | asked him as taXicab
hurried US to the Hudson funnel
There are two things. First find
out If Hugh Crandall is there. when
he arrived and what he has been do
ing. Probably If he is at the hotel
he will be registered under an as
sumed name. Second: find out who
has Lock Box II. There is a list of
boxowners kept in every office. with
Names of the two references. Find
out all you can without arousing sus-
rpicion III be out and join you there
tomorrow evening I'll come out on
this same train. I'll leave it TO you
to find a plausible pretext for ques-
tioning the postmaster.
Tedious as the trip to Ardway would
ordinarily have been, so absorbed was
I in puzzling over the mystery | hard
tly noted the passage of time and was
startled to hear the brakeman calling
my station. had learned from the
conductor that II was village or less
than two thousand inhabitants anC
that there was only one hotel, about
a block from the station. 1t proved
to be a country hotel of the better
sort. doing a thriving business in FEED
ing motor-car folk who passed through
and in taking care of traveling-mel
tied the neighborhood.
AS signed the register | scanned
the names, hoping TO see that o
CrandaT. but it did not appear. We
registered the night before was
name Henry Cook" that caught IN,
eve. Something about the WRITING
made Ii AS distinctiyely that of cit.
nan as his clothes would have dislin
Is, gpy him from the country boy be
the desk
Where will | find the post.oflce?"
asked the clerk. Il want TO get spo
ciai delivery letter of tonight"
ITS couple of blocks up Mali
street" he told me, but you'd bette
go In and get supper. The dining
room closes al half-past seven and th'
post-of1ice stays open until eight.
| took his advice and, after an eX
oeIlent meal, lighted my cigar ant
walked in the direction he had indi
Gated. The streets were lighted afte
n manner by oil lamps at the corners
There was no moon and the villager'
for the most part seemed TO live in th'
rear part of their homes. Few OF The
straggling stores had their windows
lighted, so Il was with difficulty ! reaC
the signs on the buildings | passed
vet ] had little trouble finding th'
most office. Ii was q one-story build
ing that stood on a vacant lot In the
middle of the block. 1t evidently haC
heep built By some local politician fol
the purpose, as IL was not quarteret
in the corner of a cigar or grocery
store. as lost country offices are
reering into the darkness | read the
sign s'Post-Ofce." and noted witt
acme surprise that the windows We're
without lights. | drew out my watch
and striking a match locked at The
time. II was half-past seven. Fol
lack of something better TO do
walked round the building. To my
smazement when ! reached the enc
away from the street ] found the real
door standing wide open. Thinking
perhaps that the postmaster NIGH
merely have gone 10 supper, relyinl
IN the honesty of h's neighbors e
cave things undisturbed, loitered II
the vicinity for full half-hour. A
last, growing impatient ! entered Tax
rear door and striking another mattel
cooked about me. AS far as the uncer
tain light permitted me TO see, The
Slaea looked as II the postmaster hac