Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-26

PRODUCTION to Miss La Rue, and the
rest is easy"
Westcott's purpose in visiting the |
La Rosita mine was rather vague |
one. His thought had naturally asso-
ciated Bill Lacy with whatever form |
of deviltry had brought Beaten to the
neighborhood Of Haskell, and he felt |
convinced firmly that this special
brand of deviltry had some direct con-
nection with the disappearance of |
Frederick Cavendish. Just what the
connection between these people might
prove to be was still a matter of
doubt, but as Miss Donovan was seek
ing this information at the hotel, all
that remained for him to do at pres
ent was an investigation of Lacy. The
careful review Of all Miss Donovan
had told him only served to increase
his confidence that his old partner
still lived. No other conception seemed
possible, or would account for the
presence of Ned Beaton in Haskell, or
the hurried call for Miss La Rue. Yet
it was equally evident this was not
caused by any miscarriage of their
original plans. Apparently every de-
tail of the crime, which meant the win
ming of Frederick Cavendish's fortune,
had been thus far successfully carried
out. The money was already prac-
tically in their possession, and not the
slightest suspicion had been aroused.
1t had been a masterpiece Of criminal
ingenuity, so boldly carried out as to
avoid danger Of discovery.
Every step had been taken exactly
in accord with the original outlines,
except possibly that they had been
hurried by Cavendish's sudden deter
mination to return West, and his will
disinheriting John. These had com
PEELED earlier action, yet no radical
change in plans, as the machinery
was already prepared and in position.
Luck had been with the conspirators
when Frederick called in Enright to
draw up the will.
Enright! Beyond doubt his were
the brains dominating the affair. The
whole foul thing lay before Westcotts
Imagination in it's diabolical ingenuity
-Enright's legal mind had left no
lOophOle. He intended to play the
game absolutely safe, so far, at least
as he was personally concerned.
The money was to go legally to John
without the shadow of a suspicion
resting upon it; and then-well, he
knew how to do the rest; already he
had a firm grip on a large portion.
Yes, all this was reasonably clear;
what remained obscure was the fate
of Frederick Cavendish.
Westcott came back from his mus
ings to this one important question.
The answer puzzled him. If the man.
was dead why should Beaton remain at
Haskell and insist on Miss La Rue's
Joining him? And if the man was
alive and concealed somewhere in the
neighborhOod, what was their present
object? Had they decided they were
risking too much in permitting him to
live? Had something occurred to
make them feel 1t safer to have him
out of the way permanently? What
connection did Bill Lacy have with the
| gang?
Westcott rose to his feet and began
following the trail up the canon He
was not serving Cavendish nor Miss
Donovan by sitting there. He walked
rapidly, but the sun was nearly down
by the time he reached the mouth of
his own drift.
While waiting word from the East
which would enable him to develop
the claim, WestcOtt had thought it best
to discontinue work, and hide, as best
he could, from others the fact that he
had again discovered the lost lead of
rich ore. To that end, after taking out
enough for his immediate require
ments in the form of nuggets gath
cred from single pocket, which he
had later negotiated quietly at a town
down the railroad, he had blocked up
the new tunnel and discontinued opera
tions. He had fondly believed his Sc
cret secure, until Lacy's careless words
had aroused suspicion that the latter
might have seen his kilograms to Cav
endish. His only assistant, a Mexican
! WHO HGu De6u WIN MIN IOr some time,
remained on guard at the clubhouse
and, so far as he knew, no serious eff
fort had been made to explore the drift
by any of Lacys satellites. Now, as
he came up the darkening gulch and
crunched his way across the rock pile
before the tunnel entrance, he saw the
cheerful blaze of a fire in the Mexi-
cans quarters and stopped to ques-
tion him.
"Senor-you
yes, Jose" and Westcott dropped
on a bench. Anything wrong? You
seem nervous"
mo, senior. l expected you not to-
night; there was man there by the
big tree at sunset"
zone of the La Rosita gang likely.
Don't fight them. Jose. Let them poke
around inside if they want to; they
won't find anything but rock. Got a
bite there for me?"
Isl, senior, aplenty."