Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-01

.@@Y
GO
1UGaOS?

up there now two men could be MUIR
dered by snake bite, let's go git il.
Was the murderer carryin' killer
around with him for a pet?" Some
thing akin to petuiance Wa growing
in his tone
Dual nodded. He favored Heny
with a glance Of slow regarding. In
a sense you are not far from correct"
he responded.
"And he lifted the emerald an the
image after he had cfoaked 'emY' ex-
claimed Eeffy in growing excite
ment.
He killed to obtain them" said
Semi Duals
'Dios." muttered Laredo Then
why did he not make his escape be-
fore anything was discovered"
1T is my opinion that he never
dreamed of being suspected said
Semi. "He faneied himself safe, and
that to remain would be as safe as to
depart. Come, let us 90 up and see
what evidence the three actors in last
nights murder have left Tor us 10
/ read
Three said Laredo.
Three. The two who remained
hotel"
"Dios" You seem Sure, senor."
| the Mexican made comment.
"One should be in matter like
this Dual answered Come"
Hefiy pulled the door open. We
/ passed out and he locked it behind
him. We went out on the veranda and
I down it to the sun.lighted grounds.
The porches We're full of women in
the light, fluffy things of summer,
Dual led the way with Osborne, the
two walking along. their voices now
and then speaking in low toned con-
yersation. Heffy and Laredo and |
came next. We vent out of the
/ grounds and turned up along the
course of the canon. We went up
along It's edge toward the spot where
death had stalked tie night before.
! Abruptly We came on two men
walking back toward the hotel one
of them nodded to Osborne as they
came up.
This place is getting worse than a
private park" he observed They We
got man up there to warn every one
away from the spot whore those two
men were found last nigh Maybe
+ they'll let YOU go around. hut nix ON
! the rank and file"
"A precaution TO avoid the oblitera.
/ ton OF any possible clues" the physi-
elan explained
"Oh," said the fellow well. YOU
know. never thought about that"
He walked Oft with his companion.
Helfy grinned Il reckon Bills
still on the job" he remarked. Yep,
there he is, standin' right on the
edge"
looked forward TO see a dark fig.
ure outlined against the sky. Plainly
the guard had been faithful to Hetfy's
! Instructions AT least any signs which
had escaped the trampling of the les
cue party the night before would be
visible still
And now Dual abandoned all seem.
ing mystery in the matter, and became
on the sudden the everyday detective
in search of clues. Turning to Heffy
ne requested him to have Bill point
OUT the exact spot at which the In
dams body had been discovered the
night before.
Without a question the fellow
turned and led us all to iuubled
piece of tumbled stones little way
further along and back perhaps some
fifty yards from the edge of the
canon In a few words he described
how one of the searchers had noted
it's shadow in the darkness. and walk
ed in that direction to stumble over
the body and give halloo which had
brought them all to him.
Charley was lynn all doubled up
ike lis u Ht VI udu III VI e'uiStAilt
before he died and hadn't straight
ened out he explained 1T wa.
right here we picked him lp.'
As IL to confirm his words. w
could see the blurred outlines OF some
object which had lain there Gu the
ground, and about it the imprint Of
several pairs of feet.
Dual went down and began an in
speclion OF the ground and the foot
prints. lietty and stood by
ana watched him. Laredo went
over and sat down on pile Of stones;
lighted a cigarette, ana sat smoking
with one leg crossed over the other
apparently at ease
Dual, crouched low, was moving
slowly about the Outline where the
body nau lam.
Suddenly he paused, bent lower, and
anelt down. lie beckoned Osborne
ueily, ana me to him. lie WAS point
ing toward the outline OF Il footprint
IA long. narrow footprint. DIS
unciny from the others IL You VIII
notice" he remarked. "ObeefNe II
closely. There may be others here
abouts.'
"Uthtr what, senol" came the
voice vi Laledu.
"footprnts, Dual told him with
sidewise glance.