The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-10-23
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

"BOut week. maybe morn dat,
ago. De Warrior brought de body
down. sah."
"The Warrior? Did anyone go
ashore with it?"
"'Pears like thar wus two men
stopped off at de Landin'. disre-
member de names, but one OBJ 'em wus
an OIL friend oU de jedge's."
l turned my head away silently, but
only Tor a moment. The two men were
in all probability Kirby and his satel-
lite, carver. doubtless the Bcaucaire
property was already legally In Kir-
by's possession, and any possible
chance I might have once had to foil
him in his nefarious purpose had now
completely vanished.
To be sure I had reasoned out no
definite means whereby l could cir
cumvent his theft, except to take legal
advice, confer with Governor Clark,
and warn those threatened girls Of
their danger. But now II was too late
even TO do this. And yet II might not
be. II Kirby and his confederate be-
WINGED that I had persisted beneath
the waters Of the river, they might
Nfeel safe In taking time to strengthen
their position; might delay final ac-
ton, hoping thus to make their case
seem more plausible. II Kirby was
really serious In his intention Of mar
rying Beaucaire's daughter he would
naturally hesitate Immediately to ac-
knowledge winning the property at
cards, and thus Indirectly being the
cause of her fathers death. He would
he quite likely to keep this hidden
from the girl for while,' until he
tried his luck at love.-If love failed,
[ then the disclosure might be made to
drive the young woman TO nina
threat to render her complaisant.
"Do you know lawyer named
Haines?"
"Livin' down at de Landin'? Vas.
sah."
lifted myself up in bed, too deeply
interested to lie still any longer.
snow listen, Pete" explained ear
nestly. "Tve got sufficient money to
pay you well for all you do, and just
as soon as you get me something to
eat / want you to go down to the
Landing and bring Lawyer Haines
back here with you. Just tell him
sick white man wants to see him at
once, and not word to anyone else
"Yas, sah," the whites Of his eyes
rolling. "He done know OF Pete
Til sure bring him back yeyS
1t was dark when they q
fire alone lighting up the interior On
the dingy cabin with fitful glow of
red flame. I had managed to get out
Of bed and partially dress myself, feel
ing stronger, and In less pain as l ex-
ercised my muscles. Haines was a
small, sandy complexioued man, with
strasgiing beard and light blue
eyes. Ee appeared competent enough,
bundle of nervous energy, and yet
there was something about the fellow
which Instantly impressed me unfavor-
ably-probably his short, jerky man
ner of speech and his inability to look
\ straight at you.
"Pets has been telling me who you
are, Lieutenant" he said, as we shook
hands ''end putting some other things
together ! san guess the rest. You
came south on the Warrior?"
"Fr1m Fort Armstrong-yes; who
told you thIs?"
''CAptain Throckmorton. I saw him
In st. Louis. and he seemed deeply
grieved by your sudden disappearance
No one on board was able to explain
what had occurred"
'Yet there were two men on the
boat who could have explained II they
had cared to do So" answered dryly
II mean Kirby and Carver; they were
the ones who threw me overheard"
He dropped into a chair, his keen
ferret eyes on my face.
"Kirby and Carver2 They went
ashore with the judges body at the
Landing. So there is story back OF
all this" he exclaimed jerkily. "D-r
Il, thought as much. Was Beau
caire killed."
"No-not at least by any violence
NO doubt the shock of his loss has
tened his death. Surely you must
know that he risked all he possessed
on a game of cards and lost?"
'sThrockmorton knew something
. about II, and there were other rumors
floating about the Landing. but
have heard no details"
~ have every reason, Haines, to fee
convinced that both Kirby and Carver
& traiied Beaucalre up the river with
the ipt0,tion Of blocking him. Kirby