Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-09-06
CHAPTER vlll-contlnued.

FF0n 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 fred
upon. Il is safe to assume that he
Was looking intently ahead, trying to
make ont the crossing. He was not
shot from the side of the road, gem
flemen, but from the middle of it. The
bullet came from a point almost di-
EBctly in front of him, and not from
AlF. Curtis property here to the left
eF Mr.. Conley's on the right. The
chances are that Paul did not accom-
pany Room to the meeting place up
Ghe read. He remained near the horses.
dARt's how he managed to get away so
quickly. It remained for the man at
tbe crossroads to settle with him. But
we're wasting time with all this
awaddle Of mine. Let us be moving.
There is one point on which we must
an agree. The deadliest marksman in
the WOrld fired those shots. No bur
Cling on that score, bedad."
Ia the course Of time the party, tray
eESing the ground contiguous to the
WuDIic road, came within sight of the
green dwelling among the trees.
BnBRes' interest revived. His second
view OF the house increased his won
der and admiration. If ODown had
not actually located It among the trees
for him he would have been at loss
70 discover 1t, although it was imme-
diateiy in front of him and in direct
Hne Of vision.
De Soto was seen approaching
through the green sea, his head APP
peaTing and disappearing intermit-
tentIy IN the pillows formed by the
undulating underbrush. He shook
hands with Barnes moment later.
I'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. AIRS. Collier wanted me to
ask you TO capture Mr.. Barnes for din
ner tonight"
Mrs Collier is the sister Of Mr..
Curtis" explained O'Dowd. Then he
turned upon De Soto incredulously
@FOr the love Of Pat" he cried, whats
oozAe over them7 Why, / made SO
bold as to suggest last night that you
weFe a chap worth cultivating, Barnes
and that you wouldn't be long "a the
neTghbOEhood to save your feel.
kngs III not repeat what they said, the
two Of them. What changed them
sres, Re sOtO?"
"a chance remark Of Miss Cameron's
at lunch today. She wondered ii
Barnes could be the chap who wrote
the articles about Peru and the meas
e. something Of the sort and that sci
2haM to looking up the back numbers
q the Geographic Magazine in Mr.
Cmtis' library. Not only did they find
she articles but they found your pic.
tUFe. ] had no difficulty in deciding
-aet you were one and the same. The
atnsphere cleared in jiffy It be
eaae even elearer when 1t was discov
cred that you have had a few ances
tcs and aFe received in good society
heEh here and abroad, as the late Fred
erie Townsend Martin would have
mid. I hereby officially present the
realt Of subsequent deliberation. Mr.
Eanes Is invited to dine with us TO
mieRt.
Barneg heart was still pounding
rapidly as he made the rueful admis
rn that be didn't hive q thing "a
u. lie couldn't think Of accept
ns me gracious Invitation
they'll take me SIS ann began
H doubffuliy
called ont o'Dowd 10 thf
he $40 waa gazing longinelY II
efel g the bottom 8