Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-05-22
SYNOPSIS.

wealthy New Yorker. on n walking, trip
through New. England, is caGeht N y
crossroads point he meets a girl In ne II
same plight. While they diacnss the 81
uation an automobile. sent TO meet 'ho ne
girl. arrives and Barnes IL given II M 10
on a't to h ha,d cstination' which She tells
Barnes Is a place called Green Fancy.
CHAPTER 1I-A the tavern Barnes
falls in with a stranded troupe of barn
storming'' actors, headed by lyndon
Rushcroft. and becomes Interested Ill
them.
CHAPTER Has the storm grows.
Barnes finds himself Worrying over me
safety OF the girl. travelling over the
mountain roads at what he considers dan.
gerous speed. lie learns that Green
terry. Two mounted men leave the tavern
in a manner which arouses Barnes curl
Osity.
swell" said the sheriff darkly. 81
guess I'll have to ask ynu to stick
around here till we clear this business
up. We don't know you an Well,
we can't take any chances. You un-
dorstand, l reckon"
~ certainly full to understand, Mr..
Sheriff. | know nothing whatever of
this affair and l intend to continue
on my way tomorrow morning"
swell. | guess not. You got TO stay
here till we are satisfied that you
don't know anything about this bust
ness. That's all"
Gam ! to consider myself under mr.
rest, sir?"
II wouldn't go so far as to say that.
You just stick around here, that's all
4 got to say. If you're all right, Wen
soon find it out. What's more, if you
are all right you'll be willin' to stay.
Do you get meT"
II certainly do. And I can now as
sure you, Mr.. Sheriff, that I'd like
nothing better than to stick around
here, as you put it. I'd like to help
clear this matter up. In the mean
time, you may readily find out who l
am and why | am here by telegraph
ing to the mayor of New York city.
This document, which experience has
taught me to carry for just such an
emergency us this, may have some
weight with you" He opened his bill
folder and drew forth a neatly creased
sheet of paper. Read it, please, and
note the. date. the signature, the Off
cial seal of the New York police de-
partment, and also the rather interest
ing silver print pasted in the lower
left hand corner. l think you will
agree that it is a good likeness of me.
Each year l take the precautiOn of
having myself certified by the police
department at home before venturing
communities"
"Yes," said the sheriff obviously;
"but how do | know ii amt a forgery?"
"YOu don't know, of course. But in
case 1t shouldn't be a forgery and l
am subjected to the indignity of ar
rest or even detention, you would have
a nasty time defending yourself in Il
civil suit for damages. I shall remain
here, as you suggest, but only for the
purpose Of aiding you in getting to
the bottom of this affair"
Standing on Jim Conlcy'S front
porch Il little after sunrise. Barnes
made the following declaration:
Everything goes to show that these
men were up here for one of two rea-
sons. They were either trying to pre-
vent or to enact a crime. The latter is
my belief. They were afraid of me-.
Why? Because they believed l was
trailing them and likely to spoil their
game. Gentlemen, those fellows were
here for the purpose of robbing the
place you call Green Fancy"
"What's that?" came a rich, mellow
voice from the outskirts of the crowd.
A man pushed his way through and
confronted Barnes. He was Il tall,
good-IoOking fellow of thirty-fve, and
1t was apparent that he had dressed in
haste. my name is O'DOwd, and l am
a guest of Mr.. Curtis at Green Fancy.
Why do you think they meant to rob
his placer"
SWELL" began Barnes dryly, at
would seem that his place is the only
one In the neighbOrhOod that would
bear robbing. My name is Barnes. OF
course, Mr.. O'DOwd, 1t is mere specu-
lation on my part"
But who shot the manT demanded
the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't
winged by anyone from our place.
Why, Lord love you, sir, there isn't a
soul ut Green Fancy who could shoot
a thief If he saw one. This is Mr.. De
Soto, also n guest at Green Fancy. He
will, I think, bear me out in upsetting
your theory"
A second man approached, shaking
his head vigorously. He was a thin,
pale man with a slngularly scholastic
face. Quite an unprepOssessing, I'M
s%anguinary person, thought Barnes.
Mr.. Curtis chauffeur, | think 1t
was, said the killing occurred just
above this house." said he. visibly Ak
cited. "Green Fancy is at least a mile
from here, isn't 1t? You don't shoot
burglars n mile from the place they
are planning to rob, do your"
"Ill admit It's a bit out Of reason"
said Barnes. "Tlle second man could
only have been shot by some one who
was lying In wait for him."
"Bedad," said O'Dowd, at beats the
devil. There's something big in this
thing. Mr.. Barnes-somethiDg a long
shot bigger than any of us suspects
"YouIl find that 1t resolves itself
into Il problem for Washington to
solve" said De Soto darkly. Nothing
local about II, take my word Tor II.
These men were up to some interna-
tlopul devilment. Thcrell be II stir In
Washington over this, sure MS any
thing"