The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-09-25

chine after It went pantin' by the
schoolhouse like shot out Of can
non. ! flowed I'd come In and re-
port to tho Sheriff and tell him how
we'll done. Look here!"
He produced an enormous wallet
from his coat pocket and opened Its
flaps with tantalising elaboration.
Wealthy hung on tho edge Of the slip
perry sofa and watched breathlessly.
"Tbese here is'my clues. Here" he
took out a corner Of very dry cheese
with a dentate scallop cut. evenly out
OF It. "his bite. Got It from a woman.
name of Painter. on the Rocky Ford
road that sold him some bread and
butter and homemade cheese that
he ct as he rode along"
Wealthy thought with a sinking
heart OF the beautiful white teeth
that showed in her boys smile.
Greenbriar carefully folded the relic
In bit Of paper and returned II. TAX
ing out another very small package.
"Clue number two. Set down by the
run near Burridge's crossin' and read
a letter. Tore 1t all to pieces and
pieces that blowod over on the other
bank. Can't mako nothing of them
only a word now and then. Looks
like his own writin'. shows the road
he took. Glue number three: Hand
kerchief he cleaned his cogs with.
Letter II I'm the corner. Now, the
beauty Of these clues Ii that II l
hadn't had 'em ! never would have
knowed that he got lost and went
nigh twelve miles ont OF his way and
stayed all night down by the camp
meetin' ground with man name OF
Jones, Whitfield Jones. II I'd started
OF promiscuous the minute they sent
for me I'd like as not went In the
with folks about him and pickin' up
from one and another that had saw
him or give him n drink OF water j
knew his track pretty we'll before l
started. one and another tellin' me
they heard his engine go Dustin by,
That way I've traced up to this point.
Now, when did you hear him pass
your house. Wealthy"
Never heard him pass my house
at ALL" averred Wealthy truthfully.
ale never got by here. You've lost
your trail. Greenbriar. Better go back
and start over again. Besides. didn't
you-all hear Of the three fellers that
/ rested and KEEP over night that
owned M TO dom it? l couldn't man
age so many lonehanded, so they
took and 'scaped."
Now, you don't say" Greenbriar's
comp!acency fell off like n veil.
(Which way did they so. Wealthy"
"Up river. Um-hm. you'd better
light in and find clues o. them"
why didn't the cap'n go TO work
and hunt 'em down."
"Pa was right smart tired when he
got home. Then l reckon he don't
know that new way OF huntin' clues
instead o. the man. Pas ruther old
fashioned. 7 reckon he never heard
of a clue. He wouldn't know the good
OF one II II come and lit on his Shout
der"
Greenbriar had got as far as the
hall and picked up his hat. swelling
with Importance.
well, must look after them.
About what time do you have supper.
Wealthy? I'll go down to the landin'
and see what I hin pick up there
about your three robbers and to-mor-
row III look 'em up. Pity, when I
got my man near caught. I've had a
very nice trip so far; stopped with old
friends ] hadn't visited for years,
Now. like as not, my young man met
up with a gang and they all went of
together Likely that's the reason you
didl't hear him go by. That's a pretty
clear case. amt IT."
Wealthy's black eyes snapped at
him.
81 reckon that's what YOU have to
find out" she said. THAT steam en-
CINE couldn't "a went by my house
and down to the landin' without
somebody hearin' it."
mo. indeed. It's clear now. The
queerest thing about II all Is that Bud
Shaler saw him put the money Into
his bag-a yeller leather bag"
Then why didn't he let on at the
timer
Wsaithy's eyes we're two points Of
mat NJ WeS ligfsatuG o1ogt1y foy