The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-10-07

being n fair-minded man, he sent for
me to talk 1t over. However, he real
ICES that an argument Of that nature
might easily become personal and that
If anything unpleasant occurred he
would require a witness. SO he ar
ranges to have you present. Do you
see the point, Mr.. Enright2"
The lawyers eyes sought Lacy, and
then returned to the stern face con-
fronting him. His lips sputtered:
"As-as q witnessY"
"Sure; there may be honor among
thieves, but not Lacy's kind" He
strobe forward and with one hand
crushed Enright back into his chair.
snow, listen to me-" he said fercely.
i've got only one word Of advice for
you: don't take any hand In this af-
fair, except as a peacemaker, for IL
you do you are going to get hurt. Now,
l came to ask you a question and n
of you W are going to answer before
l leave-keep your hands up, and In
sight, Lacy; make another move like
that and it's liable to be your last. l
am not here in any playful mood, and
1 know your style. Lay that gun on
the desk where / can see it-that's
right. Now move your chair back"
Lacy did this with no good grace
his face purple with passion. "SOme
considerable gun-play just to ask a
question:" he said t%auntingly, must
be mighty important. All right, what
Is it2"
where did your man Moore take
Miss Donovan last night?"
Neither man had anticipated this;
neither had the slightest conception
that any suspicion Of this kind pointed
to them. The direct question was like
the sudden explosion Of a bomb. What
did Westcott know? How had he dis
covered their participation In the af-
fair?
"You have rather got the better Of
me, Westcott," Lacy said, struggling
his shoulders, as though dismissing the
subject. "You refer to the New York
newspaper woman?"
II do-Mlss Stella Donovan
II have not the pleasure Of that
lady's acquaintance, but Timmons in
formed me this morning that she had
taken the late train last night for the
East-isn't that true, Enright~
The lawyer managed to nod, but
without venturing to remove his gaze
from Westcott's face. The latter never
moved, but his eyes seemed to
harden.
81 have had quite enough OF that,
Lacy" he said sternly, and the watch
full saloon keeper noted his fingers
close more tightly on the butt Of his
revolver. This Is no case for an
alibi. know exactly what l am talk
ing about, and-I am going to have a
direct answer, either from you Or En-
right.
This Is the situation I was the man
listening at the window Of your shack
last night. Moore may. or may not
have recognized me, but, nevertheless,
| was the man. l was there long
enough to overhear a large part of
your conversation. l know why you
consented to close down La Rosita for
the present; l know your connection
with this gang Of crooks from New
York l know that Fred Cavendish was
not murdered, but Is being held a pris-
oner somewhere, until Enright, here,
can steal his money under some legal
form. Enright told you who Stella Dono-
a was, and what he suspected her
object might be. Force is the only
method you know anything about, and
no other means occurred to you where
by the girl could be quickly put out Of
the way. This was resorted to last
night after you returned to Haskell"
"You are a good dreamer. Why not
ask Timmons to show you the letter
she left?"
81 have already seen 1t. You thought
you had the trail well covered. That
note was written not by Miss Donovan,
but by the blonde In your outfit. The
whole trouble is that your abduction
Of Stella was witnessed from a back
window of the hotel"
Lacy leaped to his feet, but West
colts III rose steadily, and the man
stood with clenched hands, helpless
in his tracks.
"Tll get you for this, W~estcott," he
muttered savagely, hate burning in his
eyes. Il haven't played my last cards
yet"
The miner smiled grimly. but with
no relaxation of vigilance. He was
into 1t now, and proposed seeing 1t
through.
II have a few left myself" he re-
turned soberly. "Your man Moore
drove south, taking the road leading
into the Shoshone desert, and he had
another one Of your gang with him.
Then you, and two others, went back
into The hotel, using the outside stairs.
take 1t the two others were Enright,
here, and Ned Beaton."
He leaned forward, his face set like
flint.