The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-10-04
,itw he rasped; "and he's FairbaIrn's

It'll" he rasped; 'and he's Fairbalrn's
own son-in-laww
$50 Is Starbuck, for that mntter;
and he's In for twenty thousand" said
Shaw. "And, by the way. Bin Is
man who viii bear watching. He's
hand-in-glovc with Smith, and he's onto
all of our little crooks and turns.
heard him telling Smith today that he
owed 1t to the company to carry a
gum"
Etanton's smile showed his teeth.
"I wish he would; carry one and kill
somebody with It. Then we'd know
what TO do with him"
The spy was rolling cigarette and
his half-closed eyes had a murderous
CLINT in them.
"Me, for instance?" he inquired Gym
ically.
anybody" said Stanton absently.
He was going over the list of stock
holders again and had scarcely heard
what Shaw had said.
"That brings us down to business,
MFR. Stanton" said the ex-railrond clerk
slowly. "T'm-not getting money enough
out of this to cover the risk--my risk"
The man at the desk looked up
quickly.
"what's that you say7 BY heavens,
Shaw. I've spoken once, and Ill do
II Just this one time more: you sing
small II you want to keep out Of Jail !"
Shaw had lighted his cigarette and
was edging toward the door.
"Not this trip, Mr.. Stanton" he said
coolly. "If you've got me, I've got
you. can find two men who will 20
into court and swear that you paid
Pete Simms money to have Smith sand
nt the dam may have to go to Jail,
as you say but I'll bet you Ave to one
that you'll beat me to IT." And with
that he snapped the catch on the locked
door and went away.
Some three hours after this rather
hostile clash with the least trustwor.
thy but by far the most able of his
henchmcn. Crawford Stanton left his
wife chatting comfortably with Miss
Rlchlander In the hotel parlors and
went reluctantly to keep an appoint
ment which ne had been dreadlng ever
since the early afternoon hour when
n wire had come from Copah directing
him to meet the "Nevada Flyer" upor
its arrival mt Brewster. The public
knew the name signed to the telegram
as that of millionaire statesman; but
Stanton knew 1t best as the name OF
n hard and not overscrupulous master
| The train was whistling for the sta
tion when Stanton descended from hi:
cab and hurried down the long plat
form. A white-jacketed porter wa.
waiting to admit him to the presenc,
when the train came to n stand, and n,
he climbed into the vestibule OF tn,
luxurious private car. Stanton got wha
comfort he could cut of the though
that the interview would necessarily b,
limited by the ten minutes engine
changing stop of the fast train.
Stanton. ten minutes later, made ,
flying leap from the moving train. A
the cab rank he found the motor cal
which he had hired for the drive dow
from the hotel. Climbing In. he gave
brittle order to the chauffeur. Slmul
taneously a man wearing the softes
of hats lounged away from his post o
observation under n nearby electri
pole and ran across the railroad plazi
to unhltch and mount wiry little coy
pony. Once In the saddle, however
the mounted man did not hurry hi
horse. Having overheard Stanton
order giving, there was no need to kcc'
the motor cab in sight as It sputterrt
through the streets and out upon tn
backgrounding mesa. Its ill-smellin
course ending at q lonely roadhouse Il
the mesa hills on the Topaz trail.
When the hired vehicle came to
stand In front OF the lighted barroor
OF the roadhouse, Stanton gave walt
ing order to the driver and went In
OF the dog faced barkeeper he aslSe
nn abrupt question, and at the man
Jerk of thumb toward the rear, tn
promoter passed on and entered tn
private room at the back.
The private room had but one occr
pant-the man Lanterby, who was sit
ting behind round card table an
vainly endeavorlng to make one Of tn
pair Of empty whisky i.asses spin In
complete circuit about a black bottl
standing on the table.
a The hired car was still waiting whe
Stanton went Ouf throurh tho I'M rrOOf
and gave the driver his return orders
q And. because the night was dark. ne
. ther Of the two at the car saw the ma
I In the soft hat stralghten himself u
!. from his crouching place under III
|, backroom window and vanish silentl
e In the gloom.
CHAPTER XIV.