The Clovis news., 1916-03-03


I'VE heard about the robbery" he
announced, in his leisurely. drawling
way. I'VE came to sympathize with
Miss Brunelle. to offer our services"
Thanks" bowed the Judge. but the
police, are on the scent and we have
a sure clue as to the identity Of the
thief"
"lndeed?" commented young Willis.
"Yes-it was Black Donald"
Walt fidgeted. Burt looked over his
shoulder as IL afraid of something
Ned Powers spoke up promptly.
Il know Black Donald" he said
quickly. III you are certain OF that,
Judge, l think l could penetrate his
haunts."
lone is too distressed to see you
young gentlemen" said the Judge
"She cares very slightly for the loss
of her diamonds, for they can be re-
placed. There was, however. a coral
necklace her dead mother gave her
years ago, when she was a child. In
trinsically 1t is worthless, but would
give a small fortune to recover It,"
Il shall send for city detective at
once" announced Walt-"a corps OF
them, II necessary. That necklace
shall be recovered"
Il know relatives OF some OF the
old gang" observed Burt. "I'll see II
they won't help me recover IT,"
Ned Powers said nothing, but there
was set expression OF resolve in his
face as he left the place. and Walt
observed laughingly:
I'VE are all in the race, fellows.
fancy the one who recovers that sto.
len necklace will stand in high favor
with Miss Brunelle'
So at least Ned Powers thought and
believed, and he went on his way. TAX.
ing no counsel and detailing naught
OF his plans to his chattering compan.
ions.
Walt made q call at the Brunelle
home two evenings later. He made
great play before lone Of his vast ef
forts to have Black Donald apprehend
ed and the stolen necklace recovered.
Then came Burt. A relative Of one
OF the mountain families was under
obligations to him and he had gone
to see II he could not secretly ferret
out the thieves and the booty.
But lone thought little OF their in.
terest in her behalf. One OF her cava-
liers was simply spending his money
with plenty to spend. Neither under.
took any personal risk.
Then both valorous champions came
up against disappointment and cha
grin. The detectives learned that
Black Donald after the raid had stayed
only two days with his friends and had
gone back to New Mexico presum.
ably with his plunder
The emissary OF Burt simply aroused
suspicion for his investigations and
learned nothing Of Importance
Father, what has become OF Mr..
Powers?" one day lone inquired and
there was a conscious blush on her
pretty face which the Judge did not
fail to notice.
Ned Powers answered the inquiry in
person two days later. Bronzed. tat.
tered. weather.worn, he came into the
town. His first call was at the Bru-
nellie home. Its object was to place
In the hands Of its lovely young mis-
tress the cherished coral necklace.
lone went extravagantly wild over
1t. Her eyes sparkled with gratitude
and admiration for the one man who
had risked his life to restore to her a
precious memento.
II recovered II from sister OF Black
Donald" explained Ned. THE rest OF
the plunder her brother took away
with him."
A month later the engagement Of
lone and Ned was announced. One
afternoon the happy pair were seated
in a hammock. conversing
you are sure you never cared for
anyone but me?" inquired lone.
"Never!" was the stanch. truthful
reply.
"Nor--nor ever fiirted with any
other grill" persisted lone.
Once"
Her fair brow shadowed
YES" admitted Ned. with a quizzi.
cal smile-"it was by paying strong
court to the sister Of Black Donald
that got hold of the coral necklace"
"Oh, that doesn't count" cried lone
effusively-"that was simply the STRAIT
egy Of war!" and she rewarded him
with a kiss of perfect confidence and