The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-11-20

turned uown the light and held back
the curtain.
The way Is clear now, Miss Molly"
There was no response, no move.
ment. He stepped outside, thinking
the girl must have failed to hear him.
The porch was empty. He stepped
from one end to the other, making
sure she was not crouching In the
darkness, scarcely able to grasp the
fact OF her actual disappearance. This,
then, was why Mrs. Dupont had failed
to see any one when she glanced out.
But where could the girl have gone?
How gotten away? lie had heard no
sound behind him; not even the lstle
CT skirt to betray movement. 1t
was not far to the ground, five or six
feet, perhaps; It would be perfectly
safe for one to lower the body over
the rail and drop. The matted prairie
grass under foot would render the act
noiseless. No doubt that was exactly
the way the escape mad been accom-.
plished. Alarmed by the presence of
those others, suspecting that the WON.
an within would insist on learning
whom Hamlin was attempting to con.
ceal, possibly overhearing enough of
their conversation to become fright
ened at the final outcome, Miss Nc.
Donald, In sudden desperation, had
surmounted the rail. and dropped to
the ground. The rest would be easy
to hasten around the side Of the house.
and slip in through the front door.
Assured that this must be the full
explanation, the Sergeant's cheerful
ness returned. The company Of off,
GERS and guests had already filed out
through the hall; he could hear voices
Laughing and talking In the street, and
the band tuning up their instruments
across In the dance hall. He would go
over and make certain Of her pres.
ence. then his mind would be at ease.
He passed out through the desert
hallway, and glanced In at the din.
ing-room, where number OF men were
gathering up the dishes. Beyond this
the bar-room was crowded, riffraff
lined UP before the sloppy bar, among
these number In uniform-unat.
tached officers who had loitered be.
hind to quench their thirst. Hamlin
drank little, hut fingered a moment
Just inside the doorway, to observe
who was present Unconsciously he
was searching for Dupont, half In.
clined to pick a quarrel deliberately
with the fellow or with Connors, deter
mined II he found the little rat alone
to brighten whatever knowledge he
possessed out of him. But neither
worthy appeared. Having assured him.
self of their absence. Hamlin turned
to depart, but found himself facing a
little man with long hair. roughly
dressed, who occupied the doorway
The hooked hose. and bright eyes
peering forth 'front.' mass Of un
trimmed gray whiskers, were familiar
"You keep the junk shop down by
the express Office, don't your"
Yep" briskly, seeming business IL
the question. I'm Kaplan; vot coul'
! do for you-hey"
Answer a question II you will
friend. Do you recall selling a haver
sack to traveller on the last stage on
for Santa Fe III June?"
vel, do no; vas he a big fellow
Maybe dc Won vat vas killed-hey?"
Eyes; his name was Moylan, post
sutler at Fort Marcy"
Maybe dot vos 1t. Why you van
to know-hey?"
mo harm to you, Kaplan," the Sci
geant explained. only | picked
up out there after Moylan was killed
and discovered by some writing on tn
flap that it originally belonged to
friend of mine. was curious to lear
how 1t got into your hands"
The trader shrugged his shoulders
'Vud 1t be worth drink" he aske
cannily.
"Of course. Frank, give Kapla
whatever he wants. Now, fire away"
"Vel," and the fellow filled his glas
deliberately, ut vas sold me 81
months before by fellow vat had
black beard"
"Dupont?"
dat vos de name ov de fellar, ye,
ANoN hho" It, saw Kim ueTS dBdi
soon. You know him?"
by sight only; he is not the orr
inal owner, nor the man am trying I
trace. You know nothing of where
got the bag, ] presumed"
81 know noting more as ] tell yo
, alreatty," rather dlsconsolately, as /
! realized that one drink was all he Wa
going TO receive.
Hamlin elbowed his way out to Il
street. He had learned something, bl
. not much that was of any value. U
!, doubleday the haversack had come /
: to Dupont's possession through h
a wife, but this knowledge yielded no /
r formation as TO the present whcT
{ abouts OF lie Fevre. When the latt
t had separated from the woman, Il
old army bag was left behind, an
: needing money, Dupont had dispose
, of It, along with other truck, seemin
ly of little value.
ITO be cOntinued1