The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-08-06

so include Miss DOnovan?"
Not unless they can get you out of
F the way first" decided the marshal
grimly. THAT is Lacy's most impor-
tant job-you are more dangerous to
+ them now than the girl. That meet
/ ing today was prearranged, and Bea-
ton was expected TO land you. That
! was why he hid behind the curtain,
( but something caused him TO make
+ false move; they never expected you
to put up that sort o. fight, jim, for
nobody knew yer in this camp fer Il
fightin' man. But what's yer theory
bout Cavendish? Let's leave the dead
man in New York 90, an get down
ter cases."
Il figure it out like this, Dan. l
believe Fred got my telegram, and de-
cided to come out here at once with
out telling anybody what his plans
were. All he did was to make n will,
50 rs to dispose Of his property in
case anything happened. His employ
ing Enright for that job unfortunately
put the whole thing in the hands of
this crowd. They were ready TO act,
land they acted. Beaton must have
taken the same train, and the two men
got friendly; probably they never knew
each other in New York, but being
from the same place, it was easy
enough to strike up an acquaintance
What occurred on board is all guess
work, but a sudden blow at night, on
an observation platform, at some
desert station. is not impossible; or it
ifrhf no sir h0
left behind to seek a physician. Here
was where Lacy must have come in.
He goes east occasionally, doesn't hep"
Sure; come to think of it he was
in New York bout three months ago
on some cattle deal an l heard he had
an agent there Sellin' wildcat minin
stock. There amt no doubt in my
mind but ne knew some O. these fell
lers. They wouldn't "a planned this
unless they had some cache fixed out
we're in this country-that's plain as
Il wart on the nose. But whar is it?
I'll bet yer that if we ever find Caven-
dish, Wen lind the girl along with
him; an what's more, that spot amt
liable ter be mOren fifty miles from
Haskell"
What makes YOU think that?'
"'Cause this is Lacy's bailiwick. an
thar amt no man knows this country
better'n he does Then. why should
Enright an his crowd come we're. un-
less that was fact? They must have
come for something; that lawyer amt
we're on no mimi deal; an no more
has Beaton been layin' round town fer
a month dom nuthin' but drinkin'
whisky. The whole blame outfit is
right here in Haskell. and they
wouldn't be if this wasn't headquar-
ters. That's good common sense, amt
it? What made yer ask me bout Pas
cual Mendez this mornin'? You don't
hook the Mexican up with this affair,
do yer?'
Sadie told me she heard Enright
speak of him at breakfast; that was
all she heard, just the name"
sadie? Oh the red-headed wait
ress at Timmons, you mean? Big
Tins girl?"
Yes she was the one who saw Miss |
Donovan forced iltO the wagon, and |
driven Off"
And they took the old Shoshone |
trail; out past Hennessey's ranchY"
so she described it. Does thar
mean anything?"
Brennan did not answer at once. sit |
ting silent, his brows wrinkled. staring /
through crevasse of the rock up the I
stream. Finally he grinned into the
anxious face of the other.
DANCED if I know" he said drawl-
ingly. Maybe il does, and maybe I.
again it don't. I was sorter putin
this an that together 1 never got hold
ov any proof. but Lacy has shipped Il
pile o cattle out o. villa Real. al
though why he should ever drive his
cows there across the desert in5tead
o Shippin them here in Haskell or
l never could understand.
That's the principal reason I've got for
thinkin' he an Lendez are in cahoots,
an if they be- then the Mexican must
have some kind o. a camp out there
in the sand whar he hides between
raids; though, damn If l know whar it
can be-" He paused refiectively. It'll
be like hunting needle in the haystack.
Jim, but l reckon you an I'll have to
get out that way, an we might have
luck enough to stumble onto the old
devil
Westcott changed his position, in
bringing his head above
the protection of the rock. Instantly
there was a sharp report, and speed
ing bullet grazed his hair. lattening i
out against the stone. The rapidity
with which he ducked caused the mar
shall to laugh.
Not hurt. are you? No. That was
a rifle; Mike isn't such a bad shot with
that weapon. He's over there behind ,
that tree-see the smoke? If the cuss
pokes his head out. I'll try the virtue :
Of this 45; it ought to carry that far. :
Hah there he is; made the bark fiy. :
anyway"
The afternoon wore away slowly,
he two men realizing more and more
Hearty the nature of the siege. Their s
'nly safety lay In the protection of |
he rocks. as they were now entirely {
and fired upon from I
ether bank the moment either raised
| head. No attempt was made, how s
yer. TO assault their position. nor did /
hey often return the fire. desiring TO :