The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-06-19
CHAPTER VIII-Cont;nued.
80

From what I hear the man Paul
was shot through the lungs, directly
from in front. The bullet went
straight through his body. He was
riding very rapidly down the road.
When he came to a point not far
above the crossroads he was fired
upon. 1t is safe to assume that he
was looking intently ahead, trying to
snake out the crossing. He was not
shot from the side of the road, gen.
tlemen, but from the middle of it. The
bullet came from a point almost di-
rectly in front of him, and not from
Mr.. Curtis property here to the left
or Mr.. Conley's on the right. The
chances r that Paul did not accom-
pany Room to the meeting place up
the road. He remained near the horses.
That's how he managed to get away so
quickly. 1t remained for the man at
The crossroads to settle with him. But
we're wasting time with all this
twaddle of mine. Let us be moving.
There is n point on which we must
alt agree. The deadliest marksman in
the world fred those shots. No bull
Cling on that score, bedad."
In the course of time the party. trav-
crsing the ground contiguous to the
public road, came within sight of the
green dwelling among the trees.
Barnes interest revived. His second
view of the house increased his Won
der and admiration. If O'Down had
not actually located it among the trees
for him he would have been at a loss
to discover 1t. although it was imme-
dtately in front of him and in direct
line of vision.
De Soto was seen approaching
through the green sea, his head ap-
pearing and disappearing intermit-
tently in the pillows formed by the
undulating underbrush. He shook
hands with Barnes a moment later.
"1'm glad you had the sense to
bring Mr.. Barnes with you. O'Dowd,"
said he. "You didn't mention him
when you telephoned that you were
personally conducting a sightseeing
party. / tried to catch you afterward
on the telephone, but you had left the
Tavern. Mrs. Collier wanted me to
ask you to capture Mr.. Barnes for din
e tonight"
Mrs. Collier is the sister of Mr..
Curtis" explained O'Dowd. Then he
turned upon De Soto in%credulously,
'For the love of Pat" he cried, whats
come over them? Why, 1 made SO
bold as to suggest last night that you
were a chap worth c%ultivating, Barnes
and that you wouldn't be long in the
neighborhood-but to save your feel
tngs I'll not repeat what they said, the
two OF them. What changed them
over, De Soto?"
"A ciance remark Of Miss Cameron's
at lunch today. She wondered if
Barnes could be the chap who wrote
the articles about Peru and the Incas,
or something Of the sort, and that set
them to looking up the back numbers
Of the Geographic Magazine in Mr..
Curtis library. Not only did they find
the articles but they found your pic
ture. I had no difficulty in deciding
that you were one and the same. The
atmosphere cleared in Il i;Ty. It be-
came even clearer when it was discov-
cred that you have had a few ances-
tors and are received in good society
both here and abroad, as the late Fred
eric Townsend Martin would have
said. I hereby officially present the
result of subsequent elaboration. Mr..
Barnes is invited to dine with us to.
night"
Barnes heart was still pounding
rapidly as he made the rueful admis.
sion that he "didn't have a thing to
wear" He couldn't think of accept.
ing the gracious invitation
IF they'll take me as I am" began
Barnes, doubtfully.
II say" called out O'Dowd to the
sheriff, who was gazing %longingly al
lhe horses tethered at the bottom Of