Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-27

upon them from among the stones, 1t
IL possib.,, II IL not?"
by Joye'" Was Dayton's ejacula-
ton. iietfy nodded his approval.
Osborne frowned as he considered the
suggestion.
AT that rate he remarked at
length, your idea would be that The
thing struck either Wingarde o. the
Indian, that it was torn from its hold
and in the excitement and darkness
may have been thrown or swung
against the other?"
Laredo nodded
1T is possible, at least" Osborne
went on. In fact, lis the only way in
which can see il could have happen
ed. They certainly were struck by
something with deadly venom.
which killed quickly and entered
through those little pinholes or pricks.
As | said, I've never met case like
it"
which one of 'em died first, doc?'
Helfy inquired on a sudden
"Wingarde, think" stated the
physician.
"Then if il hit him in the breast,
an he grabbed it and palled it off, he
could easy have hit Charley with il.
trying TO throY it away" Hetfy sum
med up.
Oshorne's eyes lighted. You're
right" he exclaimed. Il think we can
safely cali il snakebite, after all.
The things other fang might even
have caught on Winsarde's coat and
been broken or doubled back so that it
never scratched him. That would eX-
plain why it only had one tooth to
fang Charley with
"And how long would YOU say they
had been dead. DOCTOR" ! asked.
Since perhaps ten O'Clock. II is
now about five. Seven hours say,
roughly
well lefty stretched his arms
with yawn eff It's snake bite, that
lets me out. reckon. Let's get out
By one accord We moved toward the
door DAYLIGHT had come az We work
cd. aud the lights were out in the lob
hy. where the morning sunlight play
cd. The night OF tragedy and sorrow
WAS past
"lnt there's one thing" said Hetfy.
What about that emerald Glace was
speakin to me about? Was il worth
muchi How big was the thing %
As large as hens egg, Dayton
says, | replied,
"A hens egg" Hetfy exclaimed.
"Say, lis worth n fortune Wait a
mo YOU chaps" He walked swiftly To
The desk where Gfiggs still cat, Say
Tim. any folks goin away This nom
in'?'
Gnggs nodded Several parties.
yes, why?'
Hold on min" Heffy beckoned
us to him. Say, Dayton, that stone
amt up in the professors sweet, is
it,"
Dayton shook his head "No. Mr..
Dual. Mr. GlaCcs friend, asked Ey-
eiyn that, and she said she knew her
father had it on him last evening"
"Then--" Hetty turned back To
Cfiggs you tell them folks to can
eel their leayin'. Nobody leaves this
dump till that stone is found. Get me?
As biz as a hens egg some stone
some stone' | wanter lamp that, an |
will, too, or pull this shack to pieces.
Say, Glace, where's that friend Of
yourn? | wanter see him. Bryce
told me once about some of the things
he done
"Tell you what" suggested.
Lets all have "A bath and get fresh.
cned up Il bit, and then we will all
meet at breakfast and talk this thing
over. You arrange for table to our.
selves, will you, Heffy?"
sure" He nodded. "All right,
then; see YOU later" Taking Os.
! borne he walked off.
/ Laredo swung away up the stairs
/ with nod. Dayton and Went out on
4 the veranda, where we had sat during
/ the night Il was brilliant July
morning. with the cool Of the night
/ still in the air. We stood and drank
/ It in My companions face looked
/ tired and drawn. Suddenly he spoke.
"What became of the idol and that
cursed stone?"
shook my head.
We went back inside and upstairs
/ | entered the suite and found Semi
seated at the writing table in The par.
i Tor. It's top was covered with sheets
OF paper on which We're figures and
symbols. | knew that while we had
questioned each other he had ques
i toned the stars.
He glanced up as | entered and
greeted me with smile, "St down
and report lie directed. Mrs. Glace
Is with Miss Wingarde, whom ] have
asked Dr. Osborne to see, as soon ~
she awakes. What have YOU leaned?'
| dropped in chair and began al
the beginning talked straight
through TO the end what do YOU
Think" ! asked,
THAT Heffy did right in forbiddina
any ones leaving before we lay hands
on th1 inapa of Duptgal - said Sam,