Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-22

his half-closed eyes had a murderous
CLINT in them.
me, for instanceT' 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,
Mr.. Stanton" said the ex-railroad clerk
slowly. I'm not getting money enough
out of this to cover the risk--my risk"
The man at the desk looked up
quickly.
whats that you say? By heavens,
Shaw, I've spoken once. and I'll do
1t just this one time more: you sing
small if 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. l can find two men who will go
into court and swear that you paid
Pete Simms money to have Smith sand
bagged. that day out at Simms' place
at the dam! / may have to go to Jail,
as you say but I'll bet you five 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
| henchmen, Crawford Stanton left his
wife chatting comfortably with Miss
| HIGHLANDER in the hotel parlors and
went reluctantly to keep an appoint
ment which he had been dreading ever
since the early afternoon hour when
wire had come from Copah directing
him to meet the Nevada Flyer" upon
its arrival at Brewster. The public
knew the name signed to the telegram
as that of millionaire statesman; but
Stanton knew it best as the name of
hard and not prescriptions master
The train was whistllng for the sta
ton when Stanton descended from his
cab and hurried down the long plat
form. A white acketed porter was
waiting TO admit him to the presence
when the train came to a stand, and as
he climbed into the vestihnie of the
luxurious private car, Stanton got what
comfort he could oft of the thought
that the interview would necessarily be
limited by the ten minutes engine
changing stop of the fast train.
Stanton. ten minutes later, made
flying leap from the moving train. At
the cab rank he found the motor cab
which he had hired for the drive down
from the hotel. Climbing in, he gave a
| brittle order to the chauffeur. Stimuli
| taneously man wearing the softest
of hats lounged away from his post of
observation under "a nearby electric
pole and ran across the railroad plaza
to unhitch and mount a wiry little COW
pony. Once in the saddle, however,
the mounted man did not hurry his
horse. Having overheard Stanton's
order giving. there was no need to keep
the motor cab in sight as it sputtered
| through the streets and out upon the
backgrounding mesa it's ill-smelling
course ending at a lonely roadhouse in
the mesa hills on the Topaz trail.
When the hired vehicle came to a
stand in front of the lighted barroom
of the roadhouse, Stanton gave a wait
| Ing order to the driver and went In.
OF the dog-faced barkeeper he asked
an abrupt question. and at the mans
jerk of thumb toward the rear. the
promoter passed on and entered the
private room at the back.
The private room had but one occu-
pant-the man Lanterby, who was sit
ting behind round card table and
yainly endeavoring to make one Of the
pair Of empty whisky ilasses spin in
complete circuit about a black bottle
standing on the table.
The hired car was still waiting when
Stanton went out through the barroom
and gave the driver his return orders.
And, because the night. was dark, nei-
Their of the two at the car saw the man
in the soft hat straighten himself up
from his crouching place under the
Darkroom window and vanish silently
in the gloom.
CHAPTER XIV