Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-02-12
CHAPTER xli-(continued). 4

I'D
wait minute" said Davis, and
/ the constable checked the horse.
Jumping out quickly the inspector
4 seized the lantern and dropping back
\ = few PAGES began making what ap-
. peared to be minute examination Of
the road. .s.s .t
'""Taint much Of road" the con-
Z stable whispered to me while we wait
ed. "It's only used for logging, though
when we come up here this afternoon
4 there was automobile tracks both go
ing and coming"
Any. idea who made them I
& asked. s " &.
Nope;s but ! guess he knows" with
"a gesture in the direction Of the Ian
4 tern light. ~ 81 ~ N
Just then Davis reJoined US, hang
Il ing the lantern over the dashboard
again. Instead OF resuming his seat.
y he knelt on the floor Of the blackboard,
L peerlng down at the road as it was
Il dimly revealed by the lantern.
# eco ahead slowly" he ordered.
ss8 Az Dodds CLICKED to the horse I
4 leaned down beside Davis and asked:
ss} What did you find Z"
5sss"Just what expected. The auto
/ mobile is somewhere ahead Of us"
555s1 Nv hose Is II?
sss.sIt don't know YET" 'rl'7 tssss, sa 81
N! y My curiosity would be denied no
3 longer. Hitherto had kept silent,
+ hoping that Davis would conflde In
me the object OF our strange journey.
y hom are we coming out here aft
err" i asked. h jHs h
THE postmaster and his accomplish.
/ Of course" : AL e. 5' 4
who is his accomplish"
I'm afraid ! misstated the case" I
said Davis with a grim chuckle. - The
4 postmaster is the accomplice. y The
other is the master criminal"
who is the &other?" ! persisted. lis
is Hugh Crandall?"
He was silent for moment before
answering. l attributed it to hesita-
ton in admitting that he had been
4 wrong and right, and 1t was with
considerable satisfaction that I finally
heard him answer: IT should not be
q surprised If we found Crandall some
where inSthe vicinity"
He continued to peer down into the
road as the horse struggled up the hill
II till we came to comparatively level
plateau.
81 stop here" he called out authori-
tatively.
"The deserted cottage is at least a
mile farther on" volunteered the con-
& stable. " 3z' u 81
wen walk It," said Davis. Eve
cannot take any chances Of the wheels
being heard"
Dodds pulled on the road and fas-
tened the horse to tree. Again tax
ing the lantern Davis made search
4 OF the road, finally returning the Ian
tern to its place, after carefully extin-
gushing it.
Come on this way, as quietly as
X you can" he directed.
:I've got this said, showing him
Y the little pocket electric light with
which I had explored the post office
do you want it,"
Keep it in your pocket. We may
need it, but it is better not to show
q Night If we can avoid it"
! put it back in my pocket and took
f the precaution Of placing the revolver
Davis had given me in the side-pocket
OF my coat where it would be more
h easily available. Davis moved off
Z soundlessly through the clearing with
the constable. I close at his heels
4 This amt the direction OF the cot
tage," whispered Dodds.
Isl know. I want to find something
else first" Davis explained. keeping
Il straight on through the darkness, like
i hound on a fresh scent.
He moved rapidly forward for hun