The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-02-23
CHAPTER xxV.-(Continued.)
Was that all?"

Was that all?"
DO oil gln'ral he didn't seem ter
know what ter say; he done set dar
lookin' off ober de prairie like he was
clar f~umegasted. He sho' did look
like dat black debble he'd hit him
mighty hard. Den he says slow like.
turnin' his boss round: Bartlett, yo'
am putin up a good bluff, but, by
Gawd. I'm goin' ter call yo'. Yo' don't
get a cent OBJ dat money less yo' put
up de proof. I'll meet yo' whar yo'
say. but eff | can git hol' OBJ some pa.
pers OATS missin' I'll take dat grin of
20 face De odder one laughed, an
de oil gin'ral started TO ter ride away,
den he pull up he's boss, an look
back. 'Yo' sorter herd wild dat kind
OBJ cattle. Bartlett he say, sharp like,
maybe 20 know a gambler roun'
yere called Hawley?' De black debble
nebber chen lose he's grin. DO yo'
mean Black Bart Hawley?' OATS the
man, where Is he? 'Dealin' faro TO-
Mike Kenna In Topeka a week ago
friend oh yours?' OATS none OBJ yo'
Tanned business snorted de oil
ginral, gtvin' his boss de spur. Sho',
Massa Jack. he nebher knowed he was
talkin' ter dat same Hawley, an dat
black debble Jest laughed as he rode
of"
When was all this, Neb?"
Bout de time 20 all vert I'D on
de nil, | reck'n. done come right
yere. and waited"
Keith walked across the room. Sc
iected a cigar. and came back, his
mind busy with the problem. Hawley
a In some manner, then. got into
communication with Waite, and was
threatening him. But Waite evidently
knew the man under another name
mis- given name-and the gambler had
sent him off on a false trail. The lost
papers apparently contained the solu-
don to all this mystery. Waite be-
'ieved Hawley possessed them, but
did not suspect that Bartlett and Haw.
ley were the same person. What
would he most naturally do now
Seek Hawley In Topeka probably:
seize the first opportunity of getting
there. Keith turned impatiently to
the clerk.
Any train running east?"
Well. they generally start one out
every day" with a glance toward the
clock. long bout this time. Maybe
ats gone. and maybe 1t hasn't"
1t was already nearly dark outside
as the two men fastened toward the
depot. They arrived there barely In
time to see the red lights on the last
car disappear. No Inquiries made of
hos lounging about brought results
they had been interested In a lot of
drunken graders loaded on the nat
cars by force. and sent out under
Guard-and not one could tell whether
any man answering Waite's descrip.
ton was in the single passenger
coach. Convinced. however. that the
General would waste nc time In prose.
cutting his search. Keith believed him
already on his way east. and after dis
missing Neb. with Instructions to
watch out closely for Hawley, he
made his W way back to the hotel.
1t seemed strange enough how CON-
pletely be was blocked each time. Just
rs he thought the whole bafHing mys-
terry was about to be made clear. haw-
ley was playing In rare luck. all the
cards running easily to his hand, thus.
at least. gaining time, and strengthen
Ing his position. There could no long
or be any doubt that the gambler pos
sessed some knowledge which made
him a formidable adversary. From
Waite's statement 1t was the loss Of
the papers which left him helpless to
openly resist the claim being made
upon him on behalf of the mysterious
Phyllis. His only hope. therefore. lay